The Fall as Allegorical Fiction.

[StealthySkeptic]

One interesting idea I've heard bandied about when it comes to this story, which I might eventually take up in my own writing, is the idea that Lucifer was actually the hero all along for challenging a tyrannical God in the face of impossible odds, then making his final act of rebellion the emancipation of mankind from God's absolute domination by exploiting the most idiotic placement of a forbidden tree I have ever seen.

When you look at it, Lucifer and Prometheus aren't terribly different.

The real question is, why is this theme popular?

Well, I suppose that other than the fact that Prometheus is supposed to be seen as heroic and Lucifer as the villain you're right, they really aren't all that different. Actually, in the original draft, the character that would later become Lucifer was actually supposed to be the "devil's advocate"- haha- who would present God with the death penalty for people who sinned and after a mock trial God would grant them mercy.

I suppose it depends on which theme you're talking about- the idea that humans will bring disaster upon themselves if they are too curious, or the idea that one lone hero will bring back great things for being too curious yet living through it? Perhaps they're two sides of the same coin. Perhaps that's why we like the basic Campbellian hero's journey myth that's in everything from Hercules to Sundiata to Star Wars.

I say this because perhaps we as a species were/are afraid of what's out there lurking in the dark and commend the people who have the nads to venture forth where most of us would crap ourselves and bring fire, save the princess and slay the dragon, blow up the Death Star, etc. It's perhaps the oral tales of the first legends among us that made us all a little braver. Hopefully, one day, Lucifer will be recognized as the hero he is.

(One last thing I want to note. Obviously Prometheus's sacrifice was greater but he doesn't get half the credit Jesus does. I mean, imagine getting your liver eaten by a Middle Earth-sized eagle for decades. That's definitely worse than dying after a few hours- by the way, crucifixion victims were only supposed to die after days, maybe even weeks of agony- and then going to sleep for three days.)