For a character to exhibit this trait, they must, in a sense, demonstrate their arrogance or inflated confidence as a means of intentionally leveraging power over another due to their own feelings or self-impressions of superiority. As a literary device, hubris is a common trait among protagonists and heroes in literary narratives. Though most heroic characters in literature feature strengths such as courage, perseverance, and honor that allow them to meet challenges, their weaknesses often include over-confidence and inflated pride.
Here are some examples of hubris in literature, exhibited by well-known literary characters:. Is, then, the crown too heavy that I wear? Yet is it bright with many a gem; i, the wearer, see not its far flashings; but darkly feel that i wear that, that dazzlingly confounds. Though Ahab claims that his motive is to rid the world of evil by destroying Moby Dick, his hubris is evident in his pursuit. Ahab puts his own interests and self-importance ahead of his entire crew on the Pequod , and his arrogance becomes an affront against God and nature.
In fact, as Ahab alludes to wearing the Iron Crown of Lombardy in this passage, his hubristic pride grows so great that he behaves as if he is king of Christendom. Fedallah reminds Ahab of the predictions regarding his death and the circumstances under which he will die. Sign in. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better.
Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this entire guide PDF. Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Our Teacher Editions can help. Hubris Definition What is hubris? Some additional key details about hubris: In classical definitions, hubris referred specifically to a defiance of the gods or of divine order. The contemporary definition of hubris, however, is broader. It includes the defiance of other types of authority, such as a general disregard for the limits of human capability.
Both heroes and villains can display hubris. Hubris is a quality that anyone can display—not just characters in literature and myths. For instance, a hubristic student might think that she knows more than her teacher and can therefore pass a test without having to study.
Hubris Pronunciation Here's how to pronounce hubris: hyoo -briss The Evolution of Hubris The meaning of hubris has subtly changed and expanded over time. Hubris in ancient Greece: In Ancient Greece, hubris referred to defiance of the gods or of the divine order. This concept appears frequently in Ancient Greek myths and dramas, with characters openly or more subtly defying the Gods or the divine order, and getting punished for it.
It's worth knowing that in Ancient Greece hubris referred specifically to the defiance of the gods, not to the punishment of that defiance. The punishment had its own name: nemesis , which is also the name of the Goddess who was responsible for doling out the punishments. The contemporary definition of hubris: The definition of hubris has expanded slightly from the time of the Ancient Greeks to its usage in present day.
Today, it refers not just to a defiance of the gods or the "natural order," but to a general lack of humility and the defiance of human limitations more generally.
The idea behind hubris in contemporary usage is that things naturally will end up not working out for anyone who acts in ways that are driven by excessive pride; essentially it is an idea that arrogance makes people blind, and even if hubris leads to initial success it will inevitably lead to disaster. This is different from the Ancient Greek conception of hubris, where punishment came automatically and swiftly.
So the student who thinks she doesn't need to study for her test might actually end up getting all the answer s on that test right, but someone might still say she has "hubris" and that her pride will eventually lead to a fall. Hubris and Hamartia In literature, hubris is often closely related to hamartia , which is the tragic flaw that leads to a character's reversal of fate and downfall.
Hubris Examples Hubris plays a critical role in myths and stories from ancient to modern times. Hubris Examples in Greek Mythology Hubris appears in many Greek myths, often as an example of hamartia , or a tragic flaw that leads to the hero's downfall.
Hubris in the Myth of Niobe The tragic Greek myth of Niobe is a story in which the punishment for hubris far exceeds the crime. Hubris in the Myth of Arachne In the version of this myth that appears in Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid, Arachne was a girl of humble origins who became an exceptional weaver.
Hubris Examples in Literature Hubris appears in texts from ancient Greek drama, to the Bible, to modern literature. Hubris in Sophocle's Antigone The Ancient Greek tragedy Antigone is a great example of hubris, but it may be hard to see why without a certain level of familiarity with Greek religious customs. Hubris Examples in the Bible Two of the most significant stories in the Bible—the fall of Lucifer, and the fall of Adam and Eve—are examples of hubris.
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Your current browser may not support copying via this button. Sign In Article Navigation. He is critical of others but is not self-critical. In the end, this results in his death. The character of Mr. Darcy is a classic example of hubris from Jane Austen. In Pride and Prejudice , written in , Mr. Darcy believes that he is too high in his social standing to consider Elizabeth Bennet as a wife. He later gives up this pride.
In , Mary Shelley wrote the great English novel, Frankenstein. It tells the story of a doctor who is so overconfident in his abilities that he wants to create life from death, in a sense playing at being a god. The life he creates is miserable and monstrous, and it eventually leads to his downfall. Here, the character of Podsnap is xenophobic to the extreme and believes in the superiority of his own culture over all others. In The Old Man and the Sea , written by Hemmingway in , the character of the old man displays hubris when he attempts to catch a marlin.
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