Antigone

The Hero & Hubris

One who captures the essence of

the ideal individual of a nation

A brave and noble character, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events

I. What is a Hero?

Very intelligent Experiences a wide range of emotions Faces and makes complex and difficult

decisions Strives for arête Goal is to achieve kleos Receives supernatural help Public approval is crucial to self-esteem Has super human strength

II. What are the qualities of a Hero?

Strength, skill, courage, determination Athletic field and battlefield Courage Moral responsibility

III. What is arête (air-a-tay)

a. Valued for his strength and skill,

courage and determinationb. Achieves glory and honor during

lifetimec. Remembered after his death for the

above attributes (immortality)d. Lasting fame places the hero lower

than the gods but higher than the ordinary man

IV. Greek view of a Hero

Allows us to learn about our own attitudes

Allows us to gain insights into our own goals

Enables us to find the qualities of a hero in ourselves

V. Why do we study the Hero?

Defined as excessive or fatal pride. Hubris often serves as a flaw for the

hero, hindering him from achieving his goals.

Loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

Hubris

How can HUBRIS be

dangerous?

Aristotle says:

hero of a tragedy must evoke in the audience a sense of pity or fear

“the change of fortune presented must not be the spectacle of a virtuous man brought from prosperity to adversity."

The hero must be virtuous Pity: person receives undeserved misfortune

and fear comes when the misfortune befalls a man like us

Tragic Hero / Heroine

Misfortune is brought about by:

Misfortune Weakness

The hero is NOT entirely good INSTEAD the hero commits an

injury or a great wrong leading to his misfortune

Must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous

Tragic Hero / Heroine (continued)

Modern Day Hubris

• In its modern usage, hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance; it is often associated with a lack of humility.

• An accusation of hubris often implies that suffering or punishment will follow, similar to the occasional pairing of hubris and nemesis in the Greek world.

• The proverb "pride goes before a fall" is thought to sum up the modern definition of hubris.

HOMEWORK

Due Wednesday

• Definitions and Choosing the Right Word – UNIT 1

• Find a modern example of HUBRIS