Examples Of Hubris In The Odyssey

2. The Odyssey holds many themes for the reader to find and dissect, but the lesson Homer attempted to drive in was a warning on the dangers of hubris. Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance. Most of the characters in the Odyssey display hubris at one point or another in the story. For example, many of Odysseus’ troubles are a result of his hubris. After blinding the cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus can not stand the thought of no one ever knowing his accomplishment, so he jeers at the cyclops and tells him that Odysseus of Ithaca is who blinded him. Obviously, Polyphemus is enraged, and since Odysseus had just basically given him his address, the cyclops prays to Poseidon, wishing that Odysseus never returns home. For the rest of the time Odysseus is at sea, he is dogged by Poseidon, as the surly god sends storm after storm to harry Odysseus and prevent his safe return home.

The suitors, who wished to marry Penelope, arrogantly refused to leave Odysseus’ house, act as proper guests, or even treat Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, with the proper respect. They believed nothing would ever happen to them, since they believed Odysseus to be dead, and that Telemachus would never be man enough to stand against them. However, their brashness and arrogance came back to bite them when Odysseus returned and refused to allow any of the suitors to survive his wrath. Homer’s sharp disapproval of hubris in the Odyssey seems to contradict the pride shown in the Iliad. Achilles arrogantly refuses to fight when his pride is wounded, so much so that he prays for the Greeks to start losing. Agamemnon decides that as the leader of the Greek army he can demand anything from the commanders under