The term hubris is defined as excessive pride, or self-importance committed by a character that will eventually cause their downfall. There are two types of hubris that can be committed: knowing and unknowing. Although any form of hubris is seen as a terrible thing in a Greek tragedy, if an act of hubris is done unknowingly, it can ultimately be justifiable. In the the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the character Jocasta commits several instances of hubris. In the end, her hubris, also her tragic flaw, will result in her death. The question is, is her immense suffering deserved, or are her actions of hubris justifiable? The first instance of hubris that Jocasta commits is in the very beginning of the play when her and her husband, Laius,
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No. From now on, where oracles are concerned,
I would not waste a second thought on any. (807-813)
Jocasta is showing a great amount of hubris in this statement. Oracles are messages from the voice of the gods, and therefore, are accepted to be true. By believing that the oracles are unreliable, she is showing major disrespect to the gods and displaying arrogance in herself. In this occasion, Jocasta is also fully aware of the rules of respecting the gods. Despite this knowledge, she decides to display her arrogance and disbelief in the oracles, the voice of the gods. As a result, this is a case of hubris while knowing, and cannot be deemed justifiable. The last case of hubris displayed by Jocasta is when she tries to stop Oedipus from discovering that the prophecies have been true all along. By this time in the play, Jocasta has just put all the pieces together and is going through an anagnorisis, a moment of realization. In order to stop this embarrassing news from coming out, she tries to convince Oedipus not to believe the shepherd. Jocasta states:
Forget this herdsman. Forget it all.
This talk is a waste of time. . .
No. From now on, where oracles are concerned,
I would not waste a second thought on any. (807-813)
Jocasta is showing a great amount of hubris in this statement. Oracles are messages from the voice of the gods, and therefore, are accepted to be true. By believing that the oracles are unreliable, she is showing major disrespect to the gods and displaying arrogance in herself. In this occasion, Jocasta is also fully aware of the rules of respecting the gods. Despite this knowledge, she decides to display her arrogance and disbelief in the oracles, the voice of the gods. As a result, this is a case of hubris while knowing, and cannot be deemed justifiable. The last case of hubris displayed by Jocasta is when she tries to stop Oedipus from discovering that the prophecies have been true all along. By this time in the play, Jocasta has just put all the pieces together and is going through an anagnorisis, a moment of realization. In order to stop this embarrassing news from coming out, she tries to convince Oedipus not to believe the shepherd. Jocasta states:
Forget this herdsman. Forget it all.
This talk is a waste of time. . .