Introduction
Hubris is a Greek name that denotes a personality trait characterized by arrogance and foolish pride. Hubris in Greek refers to the characteristics of obstacles and actions that gods give to a person to mean nemesis or demise. Hubris is regarded as a personal trait rather than a social trait (Russell 18).
Hubris and Its Consequences
However, the party to which the perpetrator belongs can face comparable repercussions if the unlawful act occurs. Furthermore, hubris demonstrates a disconnection from experience and an overestimation of one's achievements, skills, and competence (Roman and Monica 16).
Performance vs Tradition
Performance, on the other hand, is not synonymous with traditional expectations such as high esteem. Instead, it relates to variable self-esteem and inflated personal perception in modest reality (Hansen 73).
Disadvantages of Hubris in Mythologies
Regarding the above undesirable characteristics, the Greek and Roman mythologies do not like associating themselves with the quality (Hansen and William 34). The paper will use appropriate examples derived from the lessons to analyze the disadvantages of hubris as perceived in their mythologies.
Hubris in Ancient Greek Society
The ancient Greeks believed that hubris meant the illegal gratification and pleasure that an abuser got through shaming and humiliating a victim in public. The term denoted a strong sexual connotation that portrayed the negative side of the perpetrator. Similarly, in ancient Rome, hubris is described as the forceful use of violence to frustrate a victim, especially sexually assaulting a person. In Aristotle's definition of hubris, you realize that the committer benefits from his gratification notwithstanding what will happen to him in the future. "Hubris is not the requital of past injuries; this is revenge." In this perspective, the Roman and Greek societies disregarded the quality since it was only associated with detrimental activities for personal gains.
The Arrogance and Ignorance of Hubris
A person with hubris was regarded as arrogant and overconfident. In other words, hubris is connected with a lack of humility and ignorance. In the Greek mythology, the accusation of hubris leads to suffering or punishment (nemesis) (Hansen and William 39). As quoted in the Bible, (Book of Proverbs, 16:18) "Pride goeth before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." In modern mythology, a person possessing the hubris quality is said to have "pride that blinds," as it makes the committer lose common sense and act in foolish ways. In literature, we deduce examples from the famous author John Milton's book entitled "Paradise Lost." In the book, Lucifer tries to force all the angels to worship him instead of God. God casts him into hell, and the angels proclaim that it is better to lead in hell than stay in heaven (Roman and Monica 16). The punishment sounds so harsh that no other living being wishes to be associated with the quality again.
The Ant-God Quality of Hubris
The other disadvantage of being associated with the qualities of hubris is because of its ant-God. The Greek mythology poignantly acknowledges the repercussions of going against the wishes of God. In the explanation of the consequences, the myths use the tragic story of Niobe. Niobe was the son of Tantalus and sibling to Broteas and Pelops. Pelops became a war hero, thereby changing his name to Peloponnese. Contrary, Niobe got married to Amphion, the king of Thebes, an event that marked the turning point in his life, coupled with a chain of tragic events that qualified him to join Greek mythology. They gave birth to fourteen children at once (Russell 18). During the celebration of Leto's twins birthday, Niobe boasted of giving birth to fourteen children at once, not as Leto. Immediately, the god of music and light (Apollo) descended from heaven to kill Niobe's sons. Amphion and Niobe died because of the loss of children, and they continued crying in a faint image of a rock. The long tale explains why Greek mythology hates association with hubris, having understood the consequences.
Hubris in Roman Mythology
Lastly, the Roman myth held that hubris meant growing immortal and starting competing with superior gods. This kind of disobedience is standard, but it receives maximum punishment as well. The Romans declared that hubris was a capital sin and during punishments, the gods always showed their jealous sides (Hansen and William 53). In some cases, the mortal side's pride boasts of their capabilities. For example, Arachne boasts to King Athen about his skills of weaving (Roman and Monica 16). When told to prove it, he weaves a cloth resembling the beauty of Athena. The issues prompt Athena to turn Arachne into a spider. In a similar instance, Victor in the story of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein attempts to show his abilities to create life using technology, leading him to death by the Devil.
Conclusion
In summary, the Greek and the Romans share similar mythology regarding the qualities of hubris. The text explains hubris as the personal quality that represents overconfidence, pride, and lack of humility towards authorities such as gods. Besides, the quality might be individual, but the repercussions may befall the group from the computer hails (Russell 18). The price of the class has always been harsh punishments such as death or conversion into other forms. The penalties can be explained by Niobe and Amphion, Victor, and Arachne who at some time disobeyed their masters by showing arrogance or pride (Russell 18). Therefore, the mythology of the two societies dislikes the association with hubris because of tremendous disadvantages than merits.
Work Cited
Hansen, William F. Handbook of classical mythology. Abc-clio, 2004.
Hansen, William, and William F. Hansen. Classical Mythology: a guide to the mythical world of the Greeks and Romans. Oxford University Press, USA, 2005.
Roman, Luke, and Monica Roman. Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman mythology. Infobase Publishing, 2010.
Russell, William F. Classic Myths to Read Aloud: The Great Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology, Specially Arranged for Children Five and Up by an Educational Expert. Broadway Books, 1992.
