In Hesiod’s account, Hermes gives Pandora a deceptive character and the power of speech. His role helps explain why Pandora is both persuasive and dangerous in the myth.
The story in the Works and Days describes Pandora as a divine creation assembled through contributions from several gods. Hephaestus forms her from earth, Athena provides clothing and crafts, and Aphrodite gives beauty and desire. Hermes adds speech and a character associated with deceit, completing the figure Zeus sends to humanity.
Hermes is an especially fitting donor for these qualities because Greek mythology associates him with communication, cleverness, trade, travel, and trickery. Hesiod’s wording is not a modern psychological profile, but it clearly makes verbal ability part of Pandora’s preparation.
This detail is sometimes confused with the gifts of Athena or Aphrodite. Those goddesses contribute other qualities, whereas Hermes is the figure linked to Pandora’s speech and deceptive nature in this passage.