Hubris in Oedipus Rex

Hubris in Oedipus Rex
Hubris, defined as “exaggerated pride or self-confidence often resulting in retribution”
(Lewis, 2011, p. 2), is the earmark character trait of King Oedipus of Thebes as well as of Prince Paris of Troy.
Hubris has been discussed by many writers as the reason for their downfall. Without hubris, Prince Oedipus
would probably use calm logical deduction and choose to stay in Corinth in order to keep everybody safe; he is,
after all, as killed and intelligent fighter. Then his foster parents and his biological parents would live. Without
hubris, Prince Paris would listen to the prophecies of his sister, Princess Cassandra, who was also a priestess in
the Temple of Apollo. In those days, seers and divination were taken seriously, even by the royals. He would
have returned Helen to her husband in order to protect his family, his city, and the citizens of Troy. However,
both had so much self-confidence. King Oedipus and Prince Paris were young men who took for granted their
own thinking and problem-solving abilities. Paris relied on the goddess Athena’s prom is that Helen is his prize
and on the invulnerability of walls of Troy against the seafaring Greeks‟ weaponry and might. Why King
Oedipus and Prince Paris did what they had to do and how others probably interacted with them can be inferred
from the following definition of hubris: Hubris is a consequence of an evaluation of success at one’s standards,
rules, and goals…. It is associated with such descriptions as “puffed up.” In extreme cases, it is associated with
grandiosity or with narcissism. In fact, hubristic is defined as to be insolent or contemptuous. Prideful people
have difficulty in their interpersonal relations since their own hubris is likely to interfere with the wishes, needs,
and desires of others, in which case there is likely to be interpersonal conflict.
The three problems associated with the prideful person are
• it is a transient but addictive emotion;
• it is not related to a specific action and, therefore, requires altering patterns of goal- setting or evaluation
around what constitutes success;
• it interferes with interpersonal relationships because of its contemptuous and insolent nature. (Lewis,
ibid.)
Fates, Hubris, and Hamartia in Oedipus Rex and in Helen of Troy: by Jaime Cabrera 5Authors familiar with
ancient Greek agree that Hubris should not be translated as pride but as “the quality of not keeping awareness
of your human limitations: the opposite of sophrosyne (moderation, balance, self-control)which is “moral sanity
and, from there, self-control or moderation guided by true self-knowledge and even chastity” (Anon. [5]. n. d.).
The forces of hubris shaped the story of Oedipus and Paris, both proud men probably because they were male in
a paternalistic society, because they were young with the rashness of youth, and because they were royalty. The
term Hubris has often been used synonymously with pride but the latter is distinct from the former. Pride is the
consequence of a successful evaluation of a specification. The experience is “joy over an action, thought or
feeling well done.” …the focus of pleasure is specific and related to a particular behavior. In pride, the self and
object are separated. Unlike shame and hubris, where subject and object are fused, pride focuses the organism
on its action. The organism is engrossed in the specific action which gives it pride. Because this positive state is
associated with a particular action, individuals have available to themselves the means by which they can
reproduce the state. Notice that, unlike hubris, pride’s specific focus allows for action. (Lewis, ibid)
Action shows Hubris in Oedipus Rex
Action Hubris
(1) He kills a stranger when he felt insulted. YES
(2) He decides to marry the widowed Queen
of Thebes.
YES
(3) He decides to conduct the inquiry in a public
forum.
YES
(4) “There is nothing fear
Though I will be proved slave-born “
(Oedipus Rex P.55)
YES
(5) “Apollo, Apollo, Friend, Apollo
Has laid this agony upon me;
Not by his hand; I did it”
(Oedipus Rex P.62)
YES
(6) Oedipus exiled himself to avoid or escape from

the horrific truth.
YES
(7) when Jocasta committed suicide and was
swinging like a pendulum.
YES
Explanation of Hubris Action shown in Oedipus Rex
(1) He kills a stranger when he felt insulted.
He arrives at a crossroads where one of three roads leading to Thebes. Along with that road comes a churlish,
surly stranger whom he resembles and who is old enough to
be his father. The man presents an insulting, violent challenge
to Oedipus' right of way. Oedipus could have stayed mindful
of the prophecy and avoided killing anyone. He could have
consciously strived to control his temper. He could have
chosen to be polite to an elder person. Instead, Oedipus
responds in kind and kills the man who, later, turns out to
Laius, King of Thebes and his biological father. This is
hubris: this action fulfilled half of the prophecy. If this did
not happen, his tragic end would not have come to pass. This is not hamartia because his goal was to kill the
man,
and he achieved exactly that. He did not “miss the mark.
(2) He decides to marry the widowed Queen of Thebes.
As a reward, the Thebans offer him the vacant throne and the
grieving, newly-widowed queen as his wife. He could have
been mindful of the reason why he left Corinth, and
respectful of the force of divine prophecy. He could have
decided to be humble, respect the age gap between him and
the queen, and ask for another reward instead of the kingship
of Thebes. Instead, he accepted his rewards and married the

royal widow who is old enough to be his mother. This is
hamartia: his goal was to claim a prize by marrying the
queen. He did not aim to commit incest, but that is what happened. This is hubris: he felt entitled to claim his
prize. His decision to do so fulfilled the second half of the prophecy. If he chose not to take this action, his fate
would have been different.
(3) He decides to conduct the inquiry in a public forum.
He did not listen to advice. He rejected logical reasoning and followed his
impulses and passionate sense of justice. He was driven to unearth the
murder and solve the plague. He was self-confident and proud in solving
these two problems before the whole city of Thebes, in the presence of his
people. He could have adopted an attitude of humility or at least more self-control. After all, he was relatively
at peace now, believing that he had
escaped the terrible prophecies. In addition, he was a king and respected by
his people. Finally, he was a husband as well as a father of twin boys and
two daughters. In short, he had a good life and this should have given him a measure of peace and serenity of
mind. However, when Creon suggests that they should discuss the news from the oracle in private, Oedipus
insists on everything all his actions for helping the city must be done in public. In addition, he once again lost
his temper when Teiresias refused to tell him what he wanted to know. As a result, Teiresias lost his own
temper as well and told Oedipus, "You are the murderer you seek." If Oedipus had better control of his temper,
he might have avoided this public revelation or at least learned of the truth in private so that he could examine
other options.
(4) “There is nothing fear
Though I will be proved slave-born “
(Oedipus Rex P.55)
Here he himself is cursing that no matter if I’m
proved to be a slave born either.
(5) Oedipus exiled himself to avoid or escape from the horrific truth
That he would marry his mother and will kill his father.
This was an oracle told by someone. He assumed himself
that they were his biological parents and neither had he
wanted to marry his mother nor he wanted to kill his father.
(6) When Jocasta committed suicide and was swinging like a pendulum.
Finally, when Jocasta committed suicide and was swinging
like a pendulum, he arbitrarily shot his eyes with pins with full
force and lost his eyes forever. Now he could never see
anybody. He nailed out door’s socket and began to beat
himself violently.

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Hubris in Oedipus Rex

Hubris, defined as “exaggerated pride or self-confidence often resulting in retribution”

and desires of others, in which case there is likely to be interpersonal conflict.

The three problems associated with the prideful person are

• it is a transient but addictive emotion;

around what constitutes success;

Action shows Hubris in Oedipus Rex

(1) He kills a stranger when he felt insulted. YES

(2) He decides to marry the widowed Queen

(3) He decides to conduct the inquiry in a public

(4) “There is nothing fear

Though I will be proved slave-born “

(Oedipus Rex P.55)

(5) “Apollo, Apollo, Friend, Apollo

Has laid this agony upon me;

Not by his hand; I did it”

(Oedipus Rex P.62)

(6) Oedipus exiled himself to avoid or escape from

(7) when Jocasta committed suicide and was

swinging like a pendulum.

Explanation of Hubris Action shown in Oedipus Rex

(1) He kills a stranger when he felt insulted.

surly stranger whom he resembles and who is old enough to

be his father. The man presents an insulting, violent challenge

to Oedipus' right of way. Oedipus could have stayed mindful

of the prophecy and avoided killing anyone. He could have

consciously strived to control his temper. He could have

chosen to be polite to an elder person. Instead, Oedipus

Laius, King of Thebes and his biological father. This is

hubris: this action fulfilled half of the prophecy. If this did

and he achieved exactly that. He did not “miss the mark.

(2) He decides to marry the widowed Queen of Thebes.

grieving, newly-widowed queen as his wife. He could have

been mindful of the reason why he left Corinth, and

respectful of the force of divine prophecy. He could have

decided to be humble, respect the age gap between him and

of Thebes. Instead, he accepted his rewards and married the

hamartia: his goal was to claim a prize by marrying the

would have been different.

(3) He decides to conduct the inquiry in a public forum.

impulses and passionate sense of justice. He was driven to unearth the

at peace now, believing that he had

escaped the terrible prophecies. In addition, he was a king and respected by

(4) “There is nothing fear

Though I will be proved slave-born “

(Oedipus Rex P.55)

Here he himself is cursing that no matter if I’m

proved to be a slave born either.

that they were his biological parents and neither had he

wanted to marry his mother nor he wanted to kill his father.

Finally, when Jocasta committed suicide and was swinging

anybody. He nailed out door’s socket and began to beat

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