This is a retelling of the myth of Pandora’s box. The story briefly narrates the creation of the primordial world, then the emergence of the Titans and their war with the gods. Men are then created by Prometheus and Athena. Next, after Epimetheus gives all of Mother Earth’s gifts to the animals, Prometheus sets out to steal the fire for mankind. Zeus is angry with mankind for their use of fire and decides to punish them. Zeus creates the female Pandora and the other gods grant her gifts such as beauty and charm. She is then sent to Prometheus’ house and while Prometheus cautions his brother, Epimetheus, about Pandora, yet unsuccessfully. When she arrives, they fall in love and she remains with Epimetheus. The god’s messenger brings the couple a box for safekeeping and asks them not to open it. Yet Pandora is curious and opens the box. She unleashes tiny mosquito-like creatures, which sting all the humans, making them feel pain and sadness. Epimetheus and Pandora are also covered in bites which graphically displays the result of the evil creatures’ bites. In the end, Epimetheus discovers another creature trapped inside the box (in the shape of a butterfly), and when he releases the creature, it unleashes Hope to mankind. The story is accompanied by big colourful illustrations which take up most of each page.

The story of Pandora is a famous myth, which is often retold for children. In this retelling, however, we can discern a few deviations from the more common versions of the myth. While Pandora is created as part of Zeus’ plan to punish mankind, there is no indication that the gods were responsible for her most well-known trait, curiosity. In fact, her curiosity is toned down in this version. She does not spend a long time contemplating the box, nor does it take her a long time to open it. As soon as the box is given to them and Epimetheus leaves, she manages to open it easily. There is no struggle (inner or external) within Pandora regarding the box and her curiosity is not emphasized at all.

Furthermore, another important element of change in this version of the myth is that Pandora is described as weeping after letting loose the evils, while it is Epimetheus who hears the sound of the trapped Hope from the box and releases it to the world, not Pandora. Therefore she is responsible for the miseries which befell humankind, while Epimetheus is their saviour, the one who gave men Hope

In the original ancient versions of the myth, by Hesiod for example, Pandora’s curiosity is not emphasized, but her craftiness is mentioned as one of the “gifts” endowed on her by Hermes (on Zeus’ command). However, she is solely responsible for opening the jar and releasing the evils and Hope associated with it. Only in one version, from Aesop, Fables 526, it does appear that Epimetheus might have been the one to open the jar. (taken from theoi.com, accessed: August 6, 2019). The author of this book therefore chose to involve Epimetheus in this story, perhaps as an atonement for his disregarding of his brother’s warning and causing suffering in the first place.

The analysis made on the edition:

Sally Grindley, Pandora and The Mystery Box (Magical Myths). Hove: Wayland, 2000.