Pride In The Odyssey

Heroes are Proud Greek culture has been the center of many of histories’ elaborate stories portraying striking characteristics of heroism and adventure. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer, translated by Mandelbaum, the Greek hero Odysseus renders a prominent theme of hubris throughout the book. The protagonist, Odysseus, displays this excessive pride through his actions, and encounters as he struggles to reach his beloved, and longed-for home, Ithaca. After the land off the lotus eaters, Odysseus reaches the land of the Cyclopes, where his distinguishable pride was demonstrated as he avenged the death of some loyal men against the one-eyed cyclops, Polyphemus. Initially demonstrating cunning, Odysseus and his crew blinded the …show more content…
Throughout books VII and XII, Odysseus boasts about his majestic characteristics and the glorious deeds he accomplished. For instance, when Odysseus reaches Alcinous’ palace, Euryalus accuses Odysseus of being unskilled at sports, causing Odysseus to reply with conceit words like “[n]ow you, young men, just try to match that mark; though soon I’ll fling another just as far or even farther” (Homer 152). In this quote we see Odysseus’ elevated vanity as he communicates to the challengers that he is able to toss farther than any man. Odysseus also says “ [o]f all the rest, I say that I am best by far-I mean the men still on this earth, who feed on bread” (Homer 152). We can see Odysseus’ very self-regarded personality as he claims that he is the best bowman, within the mortals of course. We also see pride when Odysseus reveals himself to king Alcinous and queen Arete as he gloats and firmly says “ I am Odysseus, Laertes son. Men know me for my many stratagems. My fame has reached the heavens” (Homer 169). He acknowledges that he is known widespread; that even the divine gods and goddesses have heard about him for his superior qualities. Odysseus continues to make these prideful remarks as he tells his story to the hospitable …show more content…
Before leaving Aeaea, Circe warns Odysseus of the “beguiling Sirens and their flowered meadow” (Homer 242), for they can will lure in any man who hears their song. While on the ship, Odysseus gives his men beeswax to put in their ears in order for them to avoid hearing the lucid song of the Sirens. Odysseus, however, takes this as an opportunity to add to his kleos and pride, and be the first man to hear the song of the Sirens, and evade their dangers. In order to accomplish this monumental task, he says to his crew,” [t]ie me then hard fast-use knots I can’t undo...if I plead with you to set me free, add still more ropes and knots most carefully” (Homer 242). Although he pleaded to the men to set him free, Odysseus was able to escape the luring voice of the sirens. Essentially, Odysseus does this because of his hubris. At this point, he had been the only man who had experienced such a situation, allowing him to flaunt of yet another glorious deed and add to his venerable

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