In Hesiod’s story, hope was the thing remaining inside Pandora’s opened vessel.
When Pandora lifted the lid, the harmful forces kept inside escaped into the world. Hesiod’s Works and Days then says that only hope remained within the vessel because Pandora replaced the lid before it could leave. The Greek word is elpis, often translated as “hope.”
The ending has prompted centuries of debate. Some readers see hope as a benefit preserved for humanity, while others interpret it as another ambiguous force held back from people. Hesiod does not provide a modern moral explanation, so translations and commentaries differ about whether hope is comforting, deceptive, or simply another power associated with suffering.
The phrase “Pandora’s box” is also frequently used incorrectly to suggest that hope escaped last. In the original story, the wording emphasizes that hope remained inside after the other contents had gone.