Dangers Of Hubriss In Agamemnon 'By Aeschylus'
When it comes to an act of hubris it is usually accompanied by destruction. The destruction can happen through a divine power. For example, the chorus quotes, “The gods fail not to note those who have killed many”. (Aeschylus 461) It is believed that when man triumphs in a battle, they rise to believe they are god-like and become too successful and prideful. As a result, a prideful man can easily start defying the gods and in turn be punished by the gods for their treachery. Agamemnon reveals of having knowledge of dangers of hubris as he quotes, “I am a mortal man; I cannot trample upon these tinted splendors without fear thrown in my path. I tell you, as a man, not god, to reverence me.” (Aeschylus, 922) However even though he has this knowledge
he still commits hubris by walking on the carpet of purple robes due to Clytemnestras response, toys with his pride, when she reveals what the enemy would have done. Agamemnon’s immanent death is foreshadowed when he walks on the purple robes, he quotes “And as I crush these garments stained from the rich sea let no god’s eyes of hatred strike me from afar” (Aeschylus 946). The significance of this quote reveals that Agamemnon is a hypocrite because he has a sense of what he is doing and pleas that the gods would not be angered of his actions. The destruction can also be self-inflicted when ones prideful actions are believed to be right. Antigone character possess a strong concept of oikos to where her view on family is distorted. This is shown when her glorifies her actions as she quotes “I shall suffer nothing so great as to stop me dying with honor” (Sophocles 96) By martyring herself for a dead brother she leaves her live sister Ismene to be included in the consequences of Antigone’s actions. As it is shown later when Creon orders both Antigone and Ismene to be condemned to die. Because of her distorted view she sees her actions as right and as a duty to the gods. However, in the end Antigone inflated human pride lead to suffering and death, not righteousness.
he still commits hubris by walking on the carpet of purple robes due to Clytemnestras response, toys with his pride, when she reveals what the enemy would have done. Agamemnon’s immanent death is foreshadowed when he walks on the purple robes, he quotes “And as I crush these garments stained from the rich sea let no god’s eyes of hatred strike me from afar” (Aeschylus 946). The significance of this quote reveals that Agamemnon is a hypocrite because he has a sense of what he is doing and pleas that the gods would not be angered of his actions. The destruction can also be self-inflicted when ones prideful actions are believed to be right. Antigone character possess a strong concept of oikos to where her view on family is distorted. This is shown when her glorifies her actions as she quotes “I shall suffer nothing so great as to stop me dying with honor” (Sophocles 96) By martyring herself for a dead brother she leaves her live sister Ismene to be included in the consequences of Antigone’s actions. As it is shown later when Creon orders both Antigone and Ismene to be condemned to die. Because of her distorted view she sees her actions as right and as a duty to the gods. However, in the end Antigone inflated human pride lead to suffering and death, not righteousness.