The Spirit of the Earth is a childlike spirit who was very fond of Asia, Prometheus’s wife, before the corruption of Jupiter’s reign. She used to play with and confide in Asia, whom she called “mother.” During Jupiter’s reign, in which man’s relationship with nature was damaged, Asia notes that she has not seen the Spirit of the Earth. Once Prometheus is freed, Jupiter is toppled, and man’s harmonious relationship with nature is restored, the Spirit of the Earth is set free once more and runs careless and wild through the world. It is implied that the Spirit of the Earth is the child of Asia and Prometheus. This suggests that the union of knowledge, symbolized by Prometheus, and love, symbolized by Asia, creates greater communion with nature among mankind. The Spirit of the Earth is associated with appreciation of and freedom in nature, reflecting Shelley’s belief that time spent in nature was extremely important for man’s wellbeing.
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The Spirit of the Earth Character Timeline in Prometheus Unbound
The timeline below shows where the character The Spirit of the Earth appears in Prometheus Unbound. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 3, Scene 3
The Earth calls up a childlike messenger, the Spirit of the Earth , to lead Prometheus, Asia, Panthea, and Ione to this cave, where there once was...
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Act 3, Scene 4
Prometheus, Asia, Panthea, and Ione are gathered at their cave in the forest with the Spirit of the Earth . Panthea tells Ione how the Spirit of the Earth used to visit Asia often...
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The Spirit of the Earth runs to Asia and expresses her love for her. The Spirit of the Earth then...
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Asia returns the Spirit of the Earth ’s affection and tells her that they will not separate until the “frozen and inconstant...
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Act 4
...“Aeolian modulations.” Panthea and Ione see a small, floating islet, around which a sleeping infant, the Spirit of the Earth , is being borne in a basket. They see a vision of all the emblems...
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