Prometheus Illbound

"Prometheus Illbound" by André Gide is a philosophical novel written during the early 20th century. This work grapples with themes of human existence, self-awareness, and the effects of one's actions and ideas on themselves and others. It follows the titular character, Prometheus, as he interacts with various symbols of humanity's struggles and delusions, particularly concerning the nature of sacrifice and the burdens we bear due to societal expectations. The story unfolds as Prometheus, after a series of surreal and humorous encounters with different characters in Paris, finds himself imprisoned for making matches without a license. Within the confines of his solitary existence, he contemplates the nature of his "eagle," representing deeper human desires and ambitions that consume individuals, often at the expense of genuine happiness. The narrative subsequently weaves through the lives of Damocles and Cocles, who grapple with their own personal dilemmas stemming from Prometheus’ actions. Gide artfully illustrates the complexities of human relationships and the philosophy of gratuitous acts, making a poignant commentary on morality and the conflicts between self-determination and the deterministic forces of society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

André Paul Guillaume Gide was a French author whose writings spanned a wide variety of styles and topics. He was awarded the 1947 Nobel Prize in Literature. Gide's career ranged from his beginnings in the symbolist movement, to criticising imperialism between the two World Wars. The author of more than fifty books, he was described in his obituary in The New York Times as "France's greatest contemporary man of letters" and "judged the greatest French writer of this century by the literary cognoscenti."