Etymology of Hubris
The term “hubris” originated from ancient Greece. Its first Greek word was hybris. It means excessive pride or arrogance. In Greek mythology, it referred to the act of defying or disrespecting the gods and being punished for this blasphemy.
In the English language, it signifies a disregard for moral or social boundaries and often serves as a warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition. It has been a recurring theme in literature, from the arrogant heroes of Greek tragedies to the prideful villains of Shakespearean plays, offering insight into the human condition and the consequences of overreaching.
Meanings of Hubris
Hubris means excessive pride or arrogance that can lead to a lack of awareness of one’s own limitations and flaws. It is often used to describe an inflated sense of self-importance or overconfidence in one’s abilities, which often leads to reckless behavior and poor decision-making. In literature, it is defined as a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to a character’s downfall.
Hubris in Grammar
Grammatically, it is a singular noun that takes a plural verb. This is because it is an uncountable noun, meaning that it does not have a plural form. When used in a sentence, it takes a singular verb if it is the subject of the sentence (e.g., “His hubris is his downfall”).
Definition of Hubris
It is a literary device that means excessive pride or self-confidence that can lead to a lack of awareness of one’s own limitations and flaws. It is a tragic flaw in literature that ultimately leads to a character’s downfall. Hubris means an individuals who exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance or overconfidence in their abilities, which can lead to reckless behavior and poor decision-making.
Types of Hubris
There are different types of this device that authors use in various ways. Here are a few examples:
| Type of Hubris | Definition | Example from Literature |
| Personal | It means excessive pride and self-importance at an individual level. | Shakespeare’s Macbeth, driven by personal ambition and hubris, brings about his tragic downfall. |
| Institutional | This means arrogance and disregard for rules exhibited by organizations. | The character of Captain Ahab in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick displays institutional hubris as he obsessively pursues the white whale, defying the warnings of his crew. |
| Cultural | This hubris means the belief in the superiority and dominance of one’s own culture. | In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the European colonialists’ cultural hubris leads to the exploitation and destruction of African societies. |
| Intellectual | It is overestimation of one’s own intellectual abilities or knowledge. | In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s intellectual hubris leads to the creation of a monster that ultimately destroys him and those he loves. |
| Moral | It is a belief in one’s own moral superiority or infallibility. | Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter shows the moral hubris of the Puritan community, as they harshly judge and condemn Hester Prynne for her adultery. |
| Physical | It is excessive pride and reliance on one’s physical strength or prowess. | The myth of Icarus demonstrates physical hubris as Icarus, disregarding his father’s warning, flies too close to the sun and falls to his doom. |
| Financial Hubris | It overconfidence and arrogance related to wealth and financial success. | F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby features the financial hubris of Jay Gatsby, who believes his wealth can win back his lost love and lead to happiness. |
| Political | It is belief in one’s own political power and entitlement to rule. | William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar portrays the political hubris of Caesar, who dismisses warnings and ignores the Roman Senate, leading to his assassination. |
| Religious | It is arrogance and superiority based on religious beliefs or devotion. | Arthur Miller’s The Crucible shows the religious hubris of the Salem townspeople fuels the witch trials and leads to the destruction of innocent lives. |
| Environmental | It is overconfidence in controlling or exploiting the natural environment. | Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park depicts the environmental hubris of scientists who believe they can control and exploit genetically recreated dinosaurs, resulting in disaster. |
Literary Examples of Hubris
- Oedipus Rex by Sophocles: The tragic hero, Oedipus, exhibits it through his excessive pride and belief in his invincibility. He deludes himself into thinking that he could outsmart the gods and evade his downfall. When warned by Tiresias about his role in his own ruin, Oedipus reacts with anger and disbelief, refusing to accept his potential responsibility for such a fate.
- Paradise Lost by John Milton: Satan’s hubris in Paradise Lost leads to his expulsion from heaven. He nurtures the delusion that he can overthrow God and assume dominion over the universe. However, his pride blinds him to the fact that he is ultimately powerless in the face of God’s will.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Jay Gatsby, the character-driven by hubris, believes he can reclaim his lost love, Daisy, and recreate the past. His obsession with Daisy blinds him to the reality of the situation, and his tragic flaw ultimately leads to his tragic demise.
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: The character Kurtz, stationed in the Congo, succumbs to his own hubris as he becomes consumed by his own power and a belief that he is exempt from the laws that govern others. His descent into madness leads him to commit atrocious acts, ultimately resulting in his downfall.
Suggested Readings
- Aeschylus. Prometheus Bound. Translated by David Grene, University of Chicago Press, 1991.
- Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Penguin Classics, 2007.
- Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
- Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Edited by John Leonard, Penguin Classics, 2003.
- Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2009.
- Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by David Grene, University of Chicago Press, 1991.
- 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.