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

There is no pencil eraser 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 genus Cyclopes. Odysseus sights 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 roughly prominent instance in which Odysseus shows hubris is while he and his workforce argon trying to escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus. They drug the monster until it passes out, and then shooter him with a timber in his single eye. Polyphemus, now blinded, removes the gigantic bowlder blocking Odysseus escape, and waits for the men to move, so he can kill them. The men escape from the cave to their boat by tying themselves under flocks of rams, so they can e asily slip by. Odysseus, now proud after lashing 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 purport and hurl you down to hell (462 463). Polyphemus, now extremely angry with Odysseus, prays to his father, Poseidon, to make believe Odysseus never see his home again, and after which, throws a mountain towards the fundamental 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 make up of the lives of all his men.Next, Polyphemus demonstrates hubris by believing that because he is a giant, he is invincible 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 alik e, (unexpected or not). Failure to give gifts can lead to penalize 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 far . (205 200) Polyphemus then angers the gods nurture by kidnapping and eating Odysseus men, both of which are considered extremely bad-mannered in Greek society. Polyphemus is so confident in his invulnerability he lets the men roam free inside the cave, a mistake that leads to his downfall.