Charlie Thorne And The Last Equation

Pandora’s Box is a significant symbol in the novel, as seen through both the original Greek myth and the equation hidden by Einstein. Pandora’s Box first appears in the prologue, as Einstein fears its discovery on his deathbed, and closes the book in Chapter 51, when Charlie finally reads the equation and then quickly loses it to the fire. The plot centers on the race to find Pandora first, as all the parties involved (Charlie, the CIA, the Furies, John, and Semel) all believe it will change the balance of power in the world. Unsurprisingly, Einstein (and, by extension, the author) should name this powerful equation that would unlock the keys to matter-energy conversion after the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box. Many stories in the mystery, thriller, and science fiction genres have used the myth of Pandora’s Box as a symbol to represent powerful but dangerous scientific discoveries.

As explained in Chapter 6, Pandora was the first woman created by the gods in Greek mythology. She possessed a box but was ordered never to open it. When she gave in to temptation and opened the box, she released great evils, called the Furies, upon the world. However, the box also contained hope. Einstein names his equation after this myth because he knows better than most that a powerful scientific discovery can become a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands, and he no longer trusts humanity to use his equation wisely. However, he also knows, unlikely though it is, that the equation could also be used to bring hope and light to the world. The symbol of Pandora’s Box speaks directly to the theme of The Ethical Implications of Scientific Advancement, particularly as it pertains to the conflicts between pure intellectual discovery and moral considerations.