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

There is no safety in unfathomable 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 course of The Odyssey, Odysseus displays hubris through many of his actions. The most prominent typesetters case in which Odysseus shows hubris is while he and his men are trying to run for from the Cyclops Polyphemus. They drug the monster until it passes out, and then stab him with a tonicity in his single eye. Polyphemus, now blinded, removes the gigantic boulder blocking Odysseus escape, and waits for the men to move, so he can kill them. The men escape from the countermine to their boat by tying themselves under flocks of rams, so they can consider ably slip by. Odysseus, now proud after beating the giant, starts to yell at Polyphemus, instead of making a silent escape. Odysseus men ask him to wait before Polyphemus would get the range and lob a boulder (436). precisely Odysseus shows hubris by saying that if they were to meet again, Odysseus would take your life and hurl you piling to hell (462 463). Polyphemus, now extremely angry with Odysseus, prays to his father, Poseidon, to make Odysseus never make his home again, and after which, throws a mountain towards the sound of Odysseus voice. (470). Because of Odysseus hubris after crying(a) 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 believing that because he is a giant, he is unbeatable by anyone, sluice 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, (unexp ected or non). Failure to give 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 much force by far . (205 200) Polyphemus then angers the gods further by kidnap and eating Odysseus men, both of which are considered extremely uncivil in classic society. Polyphemus is so confident in his invulnerability he lets the men wander free inside the cave, a mistake that leads to his downfall.