Against the Gods: Exploring hubris and its consequences in Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound and Euripides’ Hippolytus
In the following Greek tragedies hubris is not merely overweening pride but behaviour or an action against – or in defiance of – the gods. With this definition of hubris in mind, an examination of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound and Euripides’ Hippolytus will show that central characters within the plays – wittingly or unwittingly - commit acts of hubris which lead to their misfortune/destruction. Aeschylus’ Prometheus commits hubris, and is later punished, by not only ignoring the wishes of Zeus, but by acting and persisting in contravention of them. Conversely, Euripides’ Hippolytus angers Cypris (Aphrodite), and commits hubris through …show more content…
Prometheus acted in opposition to the will of Zeus and gave fire and other secrets to mortals. However, Prometheus persists in his hubris throughout the play. Early on he remarks to the Chorus “I knew, / I knew when I transgressed nor will I deny it. In helping man I brought my troubles on me” (lines 267-69). Prometheus acknowledges that he acted in contravention to the will of Zeus. While chaining Prometheus’ to the mountain, Hephaestus remarks “Such is the reward you reap for your man-loving disposition. / For you, a God, feared not the anger of the Gods, but gave honours to / mortals beyond what was just” (28-30). Hephaestus is the first of Prometheus’ visitors to explain that he is being punished for hubris, for acting against the will of Zeus. Later, Oceanus visits Prometheus and while he too is sorry to find him in his current predicament Oceanus remarks “but this is what you pay, Prometheus, for / that tongue of yours which talked so high and haughty: / you are not yet humble, still you do not yield / to your misfortunes” (320-23). Throughout the play Prometheus continues to rail against perceived injustices and against the tyranny of Zeus. He is cautioned by Oceanus whose advice to Prometheus …show more content…
Hippolytus is a virgin and embraces a life of chastity. As such, he worships Artemis, the goddess who represents virginity, and reveres her over the other gods and goddesses, especially Aphrodite. His act of hubris is refusing to honour Aphrodite while reviling what she represents- romantic love, marriage and carnal pleasure. For his hubris Aphrodite causes his destruction. At the opening of the play, in her soliloquy, Aphrodite comments that “Such as worship my power in all humility, / I exalt in honor. / But those whose pride is stiff-necked against me / I lay by the heels” (6-9). The goddess makes it clear that she destroys those who commit acts of hubris against her. She then lays out the charge against
In the following Greek tragedies hubris is not merely overweening pride but behaviour or an action against – or in defiance of – the gods. With this definition of hubris in mind, an examination of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound and Euripides’ Hippolytus will show that central characters within the plays – wittingly or unwittingly - commit acts of hubris which lead to their misfortune/destruction. Aeschylus’ Prometheus commits hubris, and is later punished, by not only ignoring the wishes of Zeus, but by acting and persisting in contravention of them. Conversely, Euripides’ Hippolytus angers Cypris (Aphrodite), and commits hubris through …show more content…
Prometheus acted in opposition to the will of Zeus and gave fire and other secrets to mortals. However, Prometheus persists in his hubris throughout the play. Early on he remarks to the Chorus “I knew, / I knew when I transgressed nor will I deny it. In helping man I brought my troubles on me” (lines 267-69). Prometheus acknowledges that he acted in contravention to the will of Zeus. While chaining Prometheus’ to the mountain, Hephaestus remarks “Such is the reward you reap for your man-loving disposition. / For you, a God, feared not the anger of the Gods, but gave honours to / mortals beyond what was just” (28-30). Hephaestus is the first of Prometheus’ visitors to explain that he is being punished for hubris, for acting against the will of Zeus. Later, Oceanus visits Prometheus and while he too is sorry to find him in his current predicament Oceanus remarks “but this is what you pay, Prometheus, for / that tongue of yours which talked so high and haughty: / you are not yet humble, still you do not yield / to your misfortunes” (320-23). Throughout the play Prometheus continues to rail against perceived injustices and against the tyranny of Zeus. He is cautioned by Oceanus whose advice to Prometheus …show more content…
Hippolytus is a virgin and embraces a life of chastity. As such, he worships Artemis, the goddess who represents virginity, and reveres her over the other gods and goddesses, especially Aphrodite. His act of hubris is refusing to honour Aphrodite while reviling what she represents- romantic love, marriage and carnal pleasure. For his hubris Aphrodite causes his destruction. At the opening of the play, in her soliloquy, Aphrodite comments that “Such as worship my power in all humility, / I exalt in honor. / But those whose pride is stiff-necked against me / I lay by the heels” (6-9). The goddess makes it clear that she destroys those who commit acts of hubris against her. She then lays out the charge against