Scribd
Upload
77 views2 pages

The Odyssey

In the Odyssey, Homer uses the characters of Odysseus, the Suitors, and the Cyclops Polyphemus to embody the concept of hubris. Odysseus shows hubris when he taunts and boasts to the blinded Polyphemus, causing Poseidon to curse him. Polyphemus demonstrates hubris in thinking he is unbeatable and invulnerable, even to the gods. The Suitors also exhibit hubris through their disrespectful behavior in Odysseus's house during his long absence.

Uploaded by

Clara Adkin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
77 views2 pages

The Odyssey

In the Odyssey, Homer uses the characters of Odysseus, the Suitors, and the Cyclops Polyphemus to embody the concept of hubris. Odysseus shows hubris when he taunts and boasts to the blinded Polyphemus, causing Poseidon to curse him. Polyphemus demonstrates hubris in thinking he is unbeatable and invulnerable, even to the gods. The Suitors also exhibit hubris through their disrespectful behavior in Odysseus's house during his long absence.

Uploaded by

Clara Adkin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

The Odyssey: The Use Of Hubris

699 Words
“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 course 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 monster 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 kill 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 beating 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

see 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 believing 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 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 more force by far ”. (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 invulnerability he lets the men roam free

inside the cave, a mistake that leads to his downfall.

You might also like