The Odyssey: The Use Of Hubris :: essays research papers

There is no safety in unlimited hubris (McGeorge Bundy). The dictionary defines hubris as overbearing pride or presumption arrogance. In The Odyssey, Homer embodies hubris into the characters Odysseus, the Suitors, and the Cyclopes. Odysseus shows hubris when he is battling the Cyclopes, the Cyclopes show hubris when dealing with Odysseus, and the Suitors show it when Odysseus confronts them at his home.To start, within the personal line of credit of The Odyssey, Odysseus displays hubris through many of his actions. The most prominent instance in which Odysseus shows hubris is while he and his men are trying to escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus. They drug the titan until it passes out, and then stab him with a timber in his single eye. Polyphemus, now blinded, removes the gigantic boulder blocking Odysseus escape, and waits for the men to move, so he can hide them. The men escape from the cave to their boat by tying themselves under flocks of rams, so they can easily slip by. Odysseus, now proud after flagellation the giant, starts to yell at Polyphemus, instead of making a silent escape. Odysseus men ask him to stop before Polyphemus would get the range and lob a boulder (436). But Odysseus shows hubris by saying that if they were to meet again, Odysseus would take your life and hurl you down to hell (462 463). Polyphemus, now extremely angry with Odysseus, prays to his father, Poseidon, to make Odysseus never enchant his home again, and after which, throws a mountain towards the sound of Odysseus voice. (470). Because of Odysseus hubris after blinding Polyphemus, Poseidon grants the prayer, and it takes Odysseus 20 years to return home, at the cost of the lives of all his men.Next, Polyphemus demonstrates hubris by accept that because he is a giant, he is unbeatable by anyone, even a god. This is shown when Odysseus meets Polyphemus and greets him with gifts, as it is a custom to show courtesy to hosts and guests alike, (unexpected or not). Failure to hit gifts can lead to revenge from the gods. Odysseus tells Polyphemus this, but Polyphemus would not let you go for fear of Zeus because the Cyclopes have more force by farther . (205 200) Polyphemus then angers the gods further by kidnapping and eating Odysseus men, both of which are considered extremely uncivil in Greek society. Polyphemus is so confident in his impregnability he lets the men roam free inside the cave, a mistake that leads to his downfall.