Pride comes before a fall is a phrase that almost every person has heard a version of at some point in their life. It is a true statement that one should keep in mind as they move throughout each day. Pride is unfortunately something most people experience; whether it be their own fault or the fault of someone else, it is harmful to both the prideful person and the people around them. The Greeks had one word for what is today described as excessive pride tending to lead to a negative outcome: Hubris. In The Iliad Homer shows that Hubris is not a positive attribute to have, because overconfidence tends to lead to excessive pride which always ends in a terrible downfall and defeat. In The Iliad, Diomedes provides a perfect example of Hubris.
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It is only when they are brought back to reality so that they realize it is always good to stay grounded. In order to reach this understanding, they must have something shake them out of the prideful haze. Diomedes experiences this rude awakening when he attempts to fight against Apollo. He lunges at Apollo four times with something like inhuman strength; after the fourth time though, Apollo says “Think, Diomedes, shrinks back now! Enough of this madness-striving with the gods. We are not of the same breed, we never will be, the deathless gods and men who walk the earth” (Homer 5. 506). Apollo is very tolerant of Diomedes in his first three attempts to harm him, but he quickly loses his patience and knows it is time to put Diomedes back in his place. With only a few words, Apollo shows how truly superior he is to Diomedes and strike fear into his heart. Diomedes soon sees the error of his ways and regrets the way he acted towards the gods. He seems truly fearful when he says to Athena “It’s your own command still ringing in my ears, forbidding me to fight the immortals head-on, all but one of the blessed gods, that is- if Aphrodite daughter of Zeus slips into battle, she’s the one to stab with my sharp bronze spear. So now, you see, I have given ground myself and told my comrades to mass around me here. Too well I know that Ares leads the charge” (Homer 5. …show more content…
If Diomedes had managed to keep to the proper balance between pride and humility he probably would have been able to stay grounded and not pick a fight with the gods. Through Diomedes, it is easy to see the different stages of Hubris and the inevitable result of too much pride that is not kept in
It is only when they are brought back to reality so that they realize it is always good to stay grounded. In order to reach this understanding, they must have something shake them out of the prideful haze. Diomedes experiences this rude awakening when he attempts to fight against Apollo. He lunges at Apollo four times with something like inhuman strength; after the fourth time though, Apollo says “Think, Diomedes, shrinks back now! Enough of this madness-striving with the gods. We are not of the same breed, we never will be, the deathless gods and men who walk the earth” (Homer 5. 506). Apollo is very tolerant of Diomedes in his first three attempts to harm him, but he quickly loses his patience and knows it is time to put Diomedes back in his place. With only a few words, Apollo shows how truly superior he is to Diomedes and strike fear into his heart. Diomedes soon sees the error of his ways and regrets the way he acted towards the gods. He seems truly fearful when he says to Athena “It’s your own command still ringing in my ears, forbidding me to fight the immortals head-on, all but one of the blessed gods, that is- if Aphrodite daughter of Zeus slips into battle, she’s the one to stab with my sharp bronze spear. So now, you see, I have given ground myself and told my comrades to mass around me here. Too well I know that Ares leads the charge” (Homer 5. …show more content…
If Diomedes had managed to keep to the proper balance between pride and humility he probably would have been able to stay grounded and not pick a fight with the gods. Through Diomedes, it is easy to see the different stages of Hubris and the inevitable result of too much pride that is not kept in