Examples Of Hubris In The Odyssey

Johnny Wu Ms. Lane ENG2 Freshman Literature April 18, 2024 The Hubris of Odysseus Man is flawed. The Odyssey by Homer helps to highlight this through Odysseus. As the main focus of the story, it’s not a surprise that we are introduced to the many different facets and layers of Odysseus. Homer assists with his usage of creative narrative techniques in the form of giving the reader in-depth details of the consequences of Odysseus’ actions and the resulting turmoil he faces. Odysseus in a way mirrors the struggles we as humans face, although to a much less grander extent. Despite this, it allows us as the reader to relate to the struggles felt by Odysseus. Homer’s usage of inner monologue and human nature help characterize Odysseus and make him

Now this embittered all the pain I bore, and I cried in the darkness.”(Line 228 - 234) From this point on, it is made abundantly clear that Odysseus has dramatically changed. Odysseus, at this point, has turned into a wandering traveler, lost in his desire to return home after so many years of sea. Just like water weathers rock, the treacherous adventures faced by Odysseus have weathered him. Despite his overall character changing for the better, it’s still evident that Odysseus is not perfect. Making landfall on the island of the wind god, he receives a gift of wind. This gift helps push them further towards their goal of returning home, but just when it seems everything is going in Odysseus’ favor, he decides to take a quick nap. This small, insignificant act ends up becoming a major mistake. As the crew mistake Odysseus’ tiredness and isolation from them as him hiding something, they decide in their curiosity to open the bag containing the winds. “‘It never fails. He’s welcome everywhere: hail to the captain when he goes ashore! He brought along so many presents, plundering out of Troy, that’s

While it can be said that as Odysseus had been basically working tirelessly to get his crew back, it was ultimately his fault for creating distrust in his own crew by not communicating with them. However, not all the blame can be put onto Odysseus, for it can be argued that the gods had been unfavorably working against Odysseus. From the beginning of the story it was stated that Odysseus had been cursed and in this scene we can observe this being put into effect. However, the turning point and what ultimately is where his journey of nostos or the return home occurs after the death of his crew. Odysseus, deciding that he would finally be able to take a nap, decides to take one. However, because of his rocky relationship and distrust with his crew, they decide to ignore his warnings of not eating the sun god’s cattle and do so. In turn, they are cursed and sentenced to death. Ultimately, it is only Odysseus that is spared. We can observe more of Odysseus’ faults in his cry to the gods “‘O Father Zeus and gods in bliss forever, you made me sleep away on this day of mischief! O cruel drowsing, in the evil