In Hesiod’s version of Pandora’s story, hope remained inside the vessel after the evils escaped. Works and Days says that Pandora replaced the lid after the destructive contents had flown out, while hope stayed within.
The Greek word involved is elpis, commonly translated as “hope.” Ancient and modern readers have debated whether it represents comforting hope, expectation of future events, or something more ambiguous. The poem itself does not provide a simple explanation of why hope remains enclosed.
The familiar expression “Pandora’s box” comes from later retellings. Hesiod’s original account uses a pithos, a large earthenware storage jar. Translators and artists eventually turned that vessel into a box, helping create the modern idiom for an action that releases many unforeseen problems.
A common mistake is to say that hope escaped last. In the best-known reading of Hesiod, hope stays inside when the lid is closed. Later adaptations sometimes change this detail, so the answer applies specifically to Hesiod’s account.