What is the definition of hubris?
The definition of hubris is excessive pride or arrogance, a quality depicted as reprehensible in ancient Greek literature.
Hubris
Last Updated on October 19, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 142
Hubris means excessive confidence or pride in oneself. In ancient Greek tragedies, hubris is seen as a mortal flaw of character, a form of arrogance that causes humans to challenge their place in the divine order. By seeking to become more godlike, hubristic souls incite the wrath of the gods and are inevitably punished.
Writing an essay?
Get a custom outline
Our Essay Lab can help you tackle any essay assignment within seconds, whether you’re studying Macbeth or the American Revolution. Try it today!
The word hubris derives from the Greek hybris, of the same definition.
See eNotes Ad-Free
Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.
Already a member? Log in here.
Several examples of hubris can be found in the play Antigone, Homer’s Odyssey, and the myth of Icarus. In the Icarus myth, the legendary craftsman Daedalus and his son, Icarus, escape from Crete by donning artificial wings and flying over the sea. Despite Daedalus’s warnings not to fly too high or too low, Icarus hubristically soars sunward. The wax that binds his wings melts, and he plummets to a watery grave.
See eNotes Ad-Free
Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.
Already a member? Log in here.