Using Hubris-2

Introduction

Creating hubris, a literary device, involves developing a character who possesses excessive pride, arrogance, or overconfidence, and then placing that character in situations where their hubris will lead to their downfall.

Using Hubris in Writing

Here are some tips for creating hubris in a literary work:

Tip	Explanation	Example
1. Strong Sense of Self-Importance	Develop a character with an unwavering belief in their invincibility and exemption from rules that bind others.	In “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, the titular character erects a grand statue of himself, proclaiming his greatness to the world.
2. Consequences of Hubris	Establish situations where the character’s hubris leads to negative outcomes or a downfall, showcasing the repercussions of their arrogance.	Ozymandias’ once-mighty statue lies in ruins amidst a desolate landscape, a testament to the passage of time and the impermanence of his power.
3. Dialogue and Actions	Use dialogue and actions to portray the character’s overconfidence and arrogance, emphasizing their dismissive attitude towards others due to their perceived superiority.	Ozymandias’ inscription on the pedestal reads, “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” – a stark display of his haughty demeanor.
4. Irony and Tragic Inevitability	Establish a sense of irony or tragic inevitability, allowing the audience to anticipate the character’s downfall even when the character remains oblivious to it.	While Ozymandias sought eternal glory, his statue’s ruins and the barren surroundings ironically convey the transience of human achievements.
5. Character Growth or Lack Thereof	Depict the character’s response to their hubris, highlighting whether they recognize their mistake and seek redemption or persist in their arrogant ways, refusing to learn from their errors.	Ozymandias’ lack of growth is evident in the ruins; he remains forever frozen in his prideful stance, unable to rectify his arrogance.

Benefits of Using Hubris

1. Complexity

• Adds Depth to Characters: Hubris introduces flaws and vulnerabilities, making characters more multi-dimensional and relatable.
• Humanizes Characters: Displaying hubris showcases the imperfections and weaknesses of characters, making them more authentic and easier for readers to connect with.

2. Conflict

• Internal Struggle: Characters’ hubris can create internal conflicts as they grapple with their own pride and its consequences.
• External Opposition: Hubris often leads to clashes with other characters or forces, driving the narrative forward through external confrontations.

3. Theme

• Exploration of Pride: Hubris allows writers to explore themes of arrogance, ego, and the consequences of overestimating one’s abilities.
• Moral Lessons: Through hubris, writers can convey moral lessons about humility, self-awareness, and the dangers of unchecked pride.

4. Catharsis

• Emotional Release: Readers experience emotional catharsis as characters with hubris face downfall or redemption, evoking empathy and reflection.
• Impactful Resolution: Such stories often culminate in intense and memorable resolutions, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

5. Realism

• Reflects Human Nature: It mirrors real-life tendencies where individuals sometimes overreach due to arrogance or self-assuredness.
• Heightens Authenticity: Including hubris in characters’ behaviors and decisions adds authenticity to the narrative, making it more believable and relatable.

Hubris and Literary Theory

Literary Theory	Type of Hubris	Example of Interpretation
Psychoanalytic	Unconscious	A psychoanalytic perspective sees hubris as a defense mechanism rooted in the character’s unconscious fears and insecurities. For example, in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ excessive pride and belief in his invincibility actually stems from his unconscious desire to avoid the painful truth about his own identity and fate.
Feminist	Gender and Power	The feminist theory examines it in relation to gender dynamics and power structures. Shakespeare’s Macbeth shows Lady Macbeth’s arrogance and thirst for power to be analyzed through a feminist lens, revealing how societal expectations of masculinity influence her behavior and ambition.
Marxist	Social and Economic Power	In a Marxist reading, hubris could be interpreted as a reflection of social and economic power imbalances. For instance, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s hubris is intertwined with his pursuit of wealth and social status, showing how his sense of superiority is tied to his position within the capitalist system.
Postcolonial	Power Dynamics	Postcolonial theory can analyze it in terms of the power dynamics between colonizers and colonized peoples. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conard shows the character of Kurtz displaying hubris as he arrogantly imposes his will on the indigenous people of the Congo. It highlights the colonialist mindset of superiority and entitlement.
Structuralist	Patterns and Tragedy	A structuralist perspective views hubris as a recurring pattern leading to tragic consequences. For example, Sophocles’ Antigone shows the character of Creon demonstrating hubris by refusing to heed the warnings of the gods and insisting on enforcing his own laws. It results in a series of tragic events that follow a predictable pattern of downfall.

Suggested Readings

1. Aeschylus. Prometheus Bound. Translated by David Grene, University of Chicago Press, 1991.
2. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Penguin Classics, 2007.
3. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
4. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Edited by John Leonard, Penguin Classics, 2003.
5. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2009.
6. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by David Grene, University of Chicago Press, 1991.
7. Tracy, David. “Horrors and Horror: The Response of Tragedy.” Social Research, vol. 81, no. 4, 2014, pp. 739–67. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26549652. Accessed 3 July 2023.