The act of constantly tricking others, boasting, and the blatant disregard for others needs or feelings can be considered “hubris” in Greek myth. In the Odyssey many characters show self-confidence, but only a select few actually seemed to have “hubris” such as the suitors and Odysseus. The suitors were immediately characterized as selfish individuals, for instance when they were described in book 1 “suitors trooped in with all their swagger and took their seats”. (Odyssey 1. 169-170) Simply in the way they carry themselves it is obvious they disregard others. “They reached out for the good things that lay at hand, and when they’d put aside desire for food and drink the suitors set their minds on other pleasures” this line proves their lack of Xenia and their abundance of hubris. (Odyssey 1. 176-178) In book 22 the suitors finally meet their fate by the …show more content…
In this case the suitors got their punishment from Odysseus with the help of Telemachus and Athena. Oddly enough my second example is from a contrary perspective, I am convinced that Odysseus exhibits hubris multiple times as well, but in a much less noticeable way. Near the beginning of the story he uses flattery in an attempt to escape the grasp of calypso “Ah great goddess” worldly Odysseus answered, “don’t be angry with me, please.” (Odyssey 5: 237-239) Multiple times Odysseus is seen using his cunning wits to charm his way out of trouble most of the time it does work, but in return causes something detrimental. For example, in book 12 the crew has to restrain Odysseus in order for him to make it home past the sirens. This serves as proof that his main concern his himself and his personal quest to return to Ithaca. Contrary to the suitors Odyssey did finally protect his people and appreciated the assistance everyone gave.
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.
What are the key points you will want to emphasize in your online profile for Character 1 (3-4 sentences)?
Homer’s The Odyssey, a magnificent story of lust, deceit, greed, and heroism, still fascinates scholars and casual readers alike today in the same way it fascinated its audience at the time it was written. The Odyssey, a journey of determination, patience, and virtue, tells the tail of Odysseus, the main character, on his voyage home to Ithaka after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus goes through many unforeseen trials and tribulations, which exemplify his character. During these different happenings, Odysseus makes decisions that do not correspond to his character.
The men and I were stuck on an island, missing our home and almost starving to death. We have been through so much turmoil, and it was usually our leader, Odysseus,’ fault. But, this time, surprisingly, it was the fault of a man I thought to be smart, Eurylochus. He advised we should kill “The Cattle of the Sun God’s” cows to fill our hunger pains. But, I disagreed strongly and out of anger yelled,
The infamous scene in Homer’s Odyssey in which Odysseus proudly boasts his name to the Cyclops is a didactic moment, preaching about the dangers of pride. At times, pride can become an impetus toward positivity, but in many cases, such as Odysseus’, an exorbitant amount can have the opposite effect. This trait is explored in numerous works of literature, including Lord of the Flies, “Harrison Bergeron”, and Anthem. It manifests itself in the leaders of these stories in distinctly different ways, yet in each character, his pride is a defining factor in the outcome of his life. Thus, individuals who are intrinsically inclined to be leaders lack the humility to show respect for those superior and inferior to them on the social hierarchy, as they hold a fixed belief that the ultimate beings worthy of reverence are themselves.
Odysseus displays his desire for glory through his careless actions during his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. The desire for glory Odysseus displays is shown through the words he speaks to Polyphemus. He is a clever character but makes rash decisions that affect the outcome of his original goals and intentions. While Odysseus is trapped inside of the cave of the Cyclops, he begins to taunt Polyphemus. “I called back to the Cyclops, stinging taunts: So, Cyclops, no weak coward it was whose crew you bent to devour three in your vaulted cave—with your brute voice! Filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal” (Fagles, 226). Odysseus was insulting the Cyclops, and those insults caused the rage of the monster to boil over. The Cyclops was already angry with Odysseus blinding him, and was even more demoralized and angry when Odysseus began to taunt him. As Odysseus goes on with his insults and as his anger rises, he says, “Cyclops—if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed—say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, La...
Along the same line as humility comes pride. Odysseus had more pride and cockiness than any of the characters I have read about this semester. He didn’t seem as bad in the Iliad, but the Odyssey really showed him in a different light. He had to swallow his pride when he had to come back to his home and get it back. Just in the fact that he came back at all was pride swallowing. He lost all of his men.
“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.
Arrogance has been the downfall of many great leaders including Odysseus. Examples of Odysseus’s arrogance are clearly discernible at the Cyclops’s island. “Here we stand, beholden for your help, or any gifts you give – as custom is to honor strangers. We would entreat you, great Sir, have a care for the gods’ courtesy; Zeus will avenge the unoffending guest” (Homer 900). This exhibits Odysseus’s arrogance as he threatens a much stronger foe with the god’s power, not his own. “Cyclops, if ever mortal men inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca!” (908). This is another illustration of Odysseus’s deadly ego. Despite his crewmate’s suggestions, he taunts Polyphemus, almost
Although some could possibly call Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer’s The Odyssey, a great leader, the fact that he fails to earn his men’s respect, endangers his men’s lives repeatedly and allows them to die due to his own selfishness states otherwise.
Hubris is defined as excessive, personal pride. As Oedipus is about to learn the devastating truth of his origin and destiny, the chorus observes “Audacity sires the tyrant…” Creon accuses Oedipus of being irrational, and for allowing his pride to lead him into a journey that will affect his life forever. The greeks held reason to be the greatest gift of man, therefore a tyrant’s actions should be governed by reason. Hubris was not the essential cause of Oedipus downfall because of Oedipus’ prophecy, and Religious Incest. Hubris was not the essential cause of Oedipus downfall because of Oedipus’ prophecy.
When people think of Odysseus, they think of a great, cunning, warrior. Who wouldn’t see him that way, he fought his way through Troy and embarked on a journey back home to see his son and wife again. On the surface Odysseus seems like a genius but in Homer’s, The Odyssey, Odysseus shows many instances where he outwits his foes but his foolishness heavily outweighs his smarts; he becomes boastful after a victory which leads to more hardships, he leaves precious cargo in the open for his brutish crew to mess with, and refuses help from the gods which nearly leads to his demise.
Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey, the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this, his men are killed and his boats destroyed.
Picture this: a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that is exactly what makes Odysseus all the more fascinating. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet who wrote The Iliad, had to contain some variety of attributes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. An epic hero is a protagonist of a story that represents the most important attributes of a civilization. Odysseus, being based in ancient Greece, is the embodiment of intelligence, loyalty, and strength.
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The