What Is Hubris and How Does It Relate to Greek Theatre?

Greek Theatre|Theater

Hubris is a concept that originated in Ancient Greece and is still relevant to this day. It refers to excessive pride and arrogance, often leading to a tragic downfall. This concept has been explored in many Greek tragedies, where the protagonist ultimately suffers from his or her hubris.

In Ancient Greece, hubris was seen as a major moral flaw, and it was believed that anyone who was guilty of this sin would be punished by the gods. It was believed that those who showed hubris were challenging the authority of the gods, which could not be tolerated.

For example, in Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ hubris leads him to unwittingly kill his father and marry his mother. He is eventually punished for his hubris by being exiled from Thebes.

In modern day society, hubris is still seen as a major moral flaw and it is often used as a cautionary tale for those who are tempted to become too proud or arrogant. In Greek theatre, this concept is often explored through characters whose pride leads them to make bad decisions with disastrous consequences.

In Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon, Agamemnon’s pride and arrogance lead him to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia so that he can launch an attack on Troy. This act of hubris ultimately leads him to be killed by his wife Clytemnestra when he returns from battle.

Hubris can also be explored through characters who are overly confident in their own abilities or believe they are invincible. An example of this can be seen in Euripides’ play Medea where Jason underestimates Medea’s power and believes that he can abandon her without consequence. His overconfidence ultimately leads to tragedy when Medea seeks revenge on him for betraying her love.

Overall, hubris has been explored throughout Greek theatre as a major moral flaw which can lead to disastrous consequences if it is not controlled or checked. It serves as a warning against becoming too proud and arrogant and reminds us that no one is above the gods or immune from their judgement.

Conclusion: What Is Hubris and How Does It Relate To Greek Theatre? Hubris is an ancient Greek concept referring to excessive pride and arrogance which often results in a tragic downfall for the protagonist in many Greek tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, Agamemnon and Medea where characters suffer due to their own hubristic behaviour. In modern society it serves as a cautionary tale against becoming too proud or arrogant as no one is above judgement from the gods.