How Does Hesiod Destroy The Race Of Mankind

The myth of the Five Races of Humankind further demonstrates humanity’s helplessness at the hands of Zeus. Hesiod contends that humanity is now in the 5th stage of moral decline since the “golden” age of men, in which men were like the gods in that they lived “free of sorrows, far apart from effort and pain”(97). Men in the golden age were peaceful and good but presumably the evils brought by Pandora took root in humans and caused a degeneration of morality. Hesiod laments having been born in this 5th age of men because it is full of cruel people, who commit evil against family, friends, guests and even the gods. Perhaps the most telling reason for Hesiod’s sadness is his belief that Zeus would “destroy this race of evil people too”. Not only