The play Aias by Sophocles demonstrates the consequences of living one’s life focused solely on honor. Aias commits suicide after experiencing great dishonor because he could not live without honor. However, Aias’ strict focus on increasing his own honor is not the fundamental cause of his suicide. Aias’ hubris induces his tragic death through his lack of loyalty to the Atreidai and by angering the goddess Athene.
Aias’ hubris is evident through his boasts and his interactions with Athene. In his final speech to his crew before withdrawing to commit suicide, Aias compares himself to “the most awesome powers in nature”, “snow-tracked winter”, “dark-vaulted night”, and “the sea’s rage” (743-749). Aias did not compare himself to powerful mortals, …show more content…
Aias’ arrogance caused him to incur Athene’s wrath. Aias claimed that he did not need the help of a god, and later rejected Athene’s assistance in battle. While Athene “was urging [Aias] on in his deadly work against the Trojans”, Aias commanded her to leave him and “stand by the rest of the Greeks” (853-859). Aias’ arrogance caused him to dismiss Athene because he believed he was strong enough to not require her help. Aias dishonored Athene by not accepting her help and acting as though he knew more about his own skill in battle than the goddess of wisdom. In dishonoring Athene, Aias ensured his own tragic death. When Aias was at the two generals’ gates about to strike down the Atreidai, Athene stopped him and inflicted him with madness, leading Aias to inflict his wrath upon cattle. Athene supported the Greeks in the Trojan War and could not allow Aias to destroy the Greek army. However, Athene could have stopped Aias’ plot through any number of ways. As a goddess, Athene had the capacity to strike Aias dead on the spot, put him in a coma, or induce in him a deep slumber. Instead, Athene struck Aias with madness, knowing that he would commit suicide in response to his dishonor. Athene possesses great wisdom as the goddess of wisdom and knew that by driving Aias mad, she would exact her revenge. Kalchas the prophet declared that “the gods strike down unwieldy and outsized bodies, men grown from the human branch who let their minds go beyond the human” (837-840). Athene struck Aias down because he dishonored her and allowed his mind to “go beyond the human” (840). Aias blames the Atreidai and the gods for his early death, but his own hubris and arrogance result in his
Aias’ hubris is evident through his boasts and his interactions with Athene. In his final speech to his crew before withdrawing to commit suicide, Aias compares himself to “the most awesome powers in nature”, “snow-tracked winter”, “dark-vaulted night”, and “the sea’s rage” (743-749). Aias did not compare himself to powerful mortals, …show more content…
Aias’ arrogance caused him to incur Athene’s wrath. Aias claimed that he did not need the help of a god, and later rejected Athene’s assistance in battle. While Athene “was urging [Aias] on in his deadly work against the Trojans”, Aias commanded her to leave him and “stand by the rest of the Greeks” (853-859). Aias’ arrogance caused him to dismiss Athene because he believed he was strong enough to not require her help. Aias dishonored Athene by not accepting her help and acting as though he knew more about his own skill in battle than the goddess of wisdom. In dishonoring Athene, Aias ensured his own tragic death. When Aias was at the two generals’ gates about to strike down the Atreidai, Athene stopped him and inflicted him with madness, leading Aias to inflict his wrath upon cattle. Athene supported the Greeks in the Trojan War and could not allow Aias to destroy the Greek army. However, Athene could have stopped Aias’ plot through any number of ways. As a goddess, Athene had the capacity to strike Aias dead on the spot, put him in a coma, or induce in him a deep slumber. Instead, Athene struck Aias with madness, knowing that he would commit suicide in response to his dishonor. Athene possesses great wisdom as the goddess of wisdom and knew that by driving Aias mad, she would exact her revenge. Kalchas the prophet declared that “the gods strike down unwieldy and outsized bodies, men grown from the human branch who let their minds go beyond the human” (837-840). Athene struck Aias down because he dishonored her and allowed his mind to “go beyond the human” (840). Aias blames the Atreidai and the gods for his early death, but his own hubris and arrogance result in his