Consequences Of Pride In The Odyssey

Consequences of Pride

Pride is typically perceived as a good thing. To have pride means to be confident in yourself, and it can empower you. However, taking too much pride in accomplishments can be harmful, as is seen in Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad, as well as George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The Odyssey follows the journey of a Greek hero returning from war, whose pride leads him to make a poor choice that results in negative consequences. Book 9 of The Iliad focuses on the Greek fighter Achilles, whose pride keeps him from accomplishment. In the satire Animal Farm, the pride of the animals clouds their judgment, and they are unable to see that they are suffering. In these texts, pride prevents the characters from seeing the consequences of their actions.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus made a rash decision because of pride that caused him years of suffering. When Odysseus arrived in Phaeacia, he told the story of how he was held captive by a Cyclops and escaped by blinding him. During the

Aias had fought alongside Odysseus in the Trojan War. While Odysseus was finding his way back to Ithaca, Aias had killed someone who Athena favored, which angered her. He had escaped punishment, and took pride in doing so. He “in his insolence yelled that the gods’ will and the sea were beaten, and this loud brag came to Poseidon’s ears. He swung the trident in his massive hands and in one shock from top to bottom split that promontory, toppling into the sea” (Odyssey 537). Aias was amazed that he had avoided Athena’s wrath, and his accomplishment filled him with pride. A mortal wouldn’t dare to cross a god, but Aias’s pride caused him to challenge the power of the gods without thinking of the repercussions, and it resulted in his death. Similar to Odysseus, Aias was usually levelheaded and practical, but once full of pride, he became boastful. Because he let pride cloud his judgment, Aias lost his