Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Sounds rather lofty, doesn’t it? But you’ve probably heard this commonly cited quote from the King James Bible simplified as the phrase “pride comes before the fall.” The ominous warning tells readers that if they are too arrogant, they may come to regret it. This theme is a common one in storytelling, and many characters exhibit this quality – which is called “hubris” – to their own detriment. But what is hubris, and what are examples of this trait in literature and film? Read on to find out how to define hubris.
What does hubris mean?
First, let’s define hubris
What is the concept of hubris, and what is hubris’ meaning? Hubris is a common theme and character trait in stories from ancient times to the modern era. But what does hubris mean, and how do you know if a character has hubris? Read on to find out hubris’ definition.
HUBRIS DEFINITIONWhat is hubris?The definition of hubris is excessive pride or overconfidence. A person with hubris believes they are more capable, powerful, or intelligent than they really are, often ignoring warnings or limitations. Some hubris synonyms include arrogance or extreme confidence. The word is pronounced “hew-bris.” When it comes to the hubris literary definition, the word hubris has its roots in ancient Greek mythology. In many Greek myths, characters would overestimate their strengths or wits and defy the gods, only to be punished for challenging the natural order. These stories served as a warning about the dangers of pride and the consequences of believing oneself above others or above fate. Keep in mind that when defining what is hubris, it's often misspelled as 'ubrisse.' |
Hubris examples used in sentences:
- "His downfall wasn’t caused by bad luck, but by his own hubris, believing he was too smart to fail."
- "The CEO’s hubris led him to ignore the warning signs, resulting in the company’s collapse."
- "In the tragedy, the hero’s hubris blinds him to the truth until it is too late to change his fate."
Hubris Definition and Examples
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What is hubris meaning
3 hubris examples in storytelling
In modern storytelling, hubris is a common theme and trait that writers may use to tell a story about pride. There are well-known characters from literature, TV, and film who exhibit hubris, and whose character arcs are a cautionary tale, revolving around learning to overcome their arrogance and gain humility.
- In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard To Find,” the arrogant grandmother character exhibits hubris, and tries to control her family, but her insistence that she knows best ends in tragedy for everyone.
- In Mad Men, Don Draper believes he can pull off his double life, and lets his pride get the best of him, ultimately leading to his exposure as a fraud. Don Draper really embodies the core of the hubris literary definition.
- In the movie Jurassic Park, Dr. John Hammond has hubris when he brings the long extinct dinosaurs back to life, and thinks he can control them, which is the perfect example of hubris. As you probably know, it doesn’t turn out too well for him!
To learn more about the various uses of hubris in stories, watch the following video that breaks it down:
More on the definition of hubris
Did You Know?
The classic example of hubris is the Greek myth of Icarus, whose father made him wings of wax, but warned him not to fly too close to the sun when using them. Icarus ignores his father, and the sun melts his wings, causing Icarus to fall into the sea and drown.
This is why characters or people with hubris or too much pride are often said to be “flying too close to the sun.” Now you understand hubris’ meaning in context.
Hubris meaning
How to write arcs with hubris
The Greek tragedy of hubris has remained a common theme throughout storytelling for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. To define hubris is to define a person's fall. Pride is something we as humans wrestle with, and its ability to affect our lives is a fascinating subject for artists.
That’s why so many character arcs revolve around a proud protagonist whose journey teaches them humility, whether that’s the Wizard of Oz finally admitting he’s a fraud, or Mr. Darcy forsaking his pride to realize that Elizabeth Bennet is his soulmate.
More on the definition of hubris
What is hubris in literature
What is hubris in storytelling?
All good stories have a journey, whether that’s an epic literal journal into Middle Earth or a psychological one about coming of age. Characters transform as they go on their journeys, and they either are able to accomplish their goals, or in a tragedy, are unable to overcome obstacles or their own flaws, ending in them being unable to get what they want.
This is essentially the hubris literary definition. In a story about hubris, a character’s pride will thwart them from finishing their journey.
For example, in the movie Titanic, hubris is a major theme. The ship is called “unsinkable,” and the shipbuilder, Thomas Andrews (played by Victor Garber), doesn’t put enough lifeboats onboard. When the boat hits an iceberg, Andrews admits his hubris led to this massive tragedy.
Basically, he exhibits the character flaw of hubris precisely. Keep this in mind when you are asking yourself what is hubris, and learn more about how hubris affected the sinking of the Titanic ship.
The true cost of hubris when it comes to the Titanic
What is hubris mean
Hamartia vs. hubris
When you define hubris, it can often get confused with another literary device or theme, known as “hamartia.” Hamartia is a character’s achilles heel - the fatal flaw that stops them from getting what they want. Hamartia is not a hubris synonym.
Hubris might be a character’s hamartia, but hamartia isn’t always hubris. Hamartia might include things like jealousy. A famous example is in “The Great Gatsby.” Gatsby’s hamartia is Daisy, and his belief that he can somehow win her back, and go back to the way things were in the past.
Learn more of the key differences in the video below:
Hamartia and hubris breakdown
What makes hubris unique
Hubris vs. arrogance vs. confidence
The concept of hubris is often confused with arrogance or confidence, but they are not exactly the same thing. While all three involve belief in one’s abilities, the difference lies in degree and consequences.
Confidence is generally a positive trait. A confident person believes in their skills while still recognizing their limits and the value of others. Arrogance, on the other hand, implies a dismissive attitude toward others.
An arrogant person believes they are superior and may ignore the opinions or contributions of those around them. Hubris goes a step further. It is an extreme form of pride or overconfidence that leads someone to believe they are invincible or above the rules.
In storytelling and mythology, hubris usually results in punishment or downfall because the character ignores warnings, advice, or natural limits.
In short, when asking yourself what is hubris, this is the key difference:
- Confidence = belief in your abilities
- Arrogance = believing you are better than others
- Hubris = excessive pride that leads to failure
To learn about the key differences between hubris and arrogance, watch the following video:
What is hubris in ancient greek ethics?
What is hubris in Greek mythology
Hubris in Greek tragedy
The idea of hubris became famous through ancient Greek tragedies, where it was often the defining flaw of a tragic hero. In these stories, a powerful or respected character allows pride to cloud their judgment, ultimately leading to catastrophe.
One of the most well-known examples appears in the story of Oedipus. Despite warnings about his fate, Oedipus believes he can outsmart prophecy. His attempts to escape destiny only lead him directly into fulfilling it.
Learn more about the role of hubris in Oedipus Rex:
What is hubris in ancient greek ethics?
Another example is Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone. Creon refuses to listen to advice or show humility because he believes his authority is absolute. His stubborn pride results in devastating consequences for both his family and his kingdom.
Creon and the use of hubris in Oedipus
Greek tragedies often used hubris to teach an important moral lesson: no matter how powerful someone becomes, they are still subject to limits, fate, and the natural order of the world.
For an even deeper dive into the world of Oedipus, watch the video below:
The Greek tragedy of Oedipus
What is hubris example in real life
Real-world examples of hubris
While hubris is often discussed in mythology and literature, it can also appear in real life. When individuals or organizations become overly confident in their power or intelligence, they may ignore risks or warnings that later prove to be correct.
A famous historical example is the Titanic, which was widely described as “unsinkable.” This confidence led to decisions such as carrying fewer lifeboats than necessary. When the ship struck an iceberg in 1912, the disaster became a powerful example of technological and human hubris.
Hubris can also appear in business, politics, and science when leaders believe their success makes them immune to failure. Ignoring criticism, dismissing advice, or underestimating danger can all be signs that confidence has crossed into hubris. Because of this pattern, the concept of hubris continues to be used as a cautionary term for situations where pride leads to poor judgment.
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What is a synonym to hubris
Synonyms and related words for hubris
Several words are often used to describe attitudes similar to hubris, although each has slightly different meanings.
Common synonyms include:
- Arrogance – an attitude of superiority toward others
- Pride – satisfaction in one’s achievements or abilities
- Overconfidence – believing too strongly in one’s success
- Conceit – an exaggerated sense of self-importance
- Vanity – excessive concern with one’s own image or achievements
While these words are related, hubris usually refers specifically to extreme pride that results in negative consequences, particularly in storytelling or historical cautionary tales. Before writing your story, keep these in mind when thinking about what is hubris.
Why is hubris a bad thing?
Why hubris often leads to downfall
One reason hubris appears so frequently in stories is because it mirrors real human behavior. When someone becomes overly confident in their abilities, they may stop listening to advice or fail to consider possible risks.
Hubris can lead people to ignore warnings, underestimate obstacles, or believe the rules do not apply to them. This mindset often causes poor decisions that eventually create the very problems they believed they could avoid.
For writers and storytellers, this makes hubris a powerful narrative tool. A character’s pride can create tension, conflict, and ultimately a dramatic fall that reinforces the importance of humility and self-awareness.
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what is hubris FAQs
Common questions about hubris
Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance that often leads someone to make poor decisions or ignore warnings. In literature and mythology, hubris usually causes a character’s downfall because they overestimate their power or abilities.
Arrogance is a general attitude of superiority, while hubris is an extreme form of pride that often leads to reckless decisions or punishment. In literature, hubris usually results in a character’s downfall.
Hubris is typically considered negative because it involves extreme pride or arrogance. However, in storytelling it serves an important narrative purpose by creating conflict and highlighting a character’s flaws.
A classic example of hubris appears in the Greek myth of Icarus. Despite being warned not to fly too close to the sun, Icarus ignores the warning due to overconfidence and falls when his wax wings melt.
The word hubris comes from ancient Greek, where it referred to excessive pride or behavior that defied the gods. In Greek tragedy, hubris was considered a serious moral flaw that inevitably led to punishment or downfall.
A hubris synonym is arrogance, so you can use hubris to describe someone whose excessive pride leads to failure or embarrassment. For example: "His hubris made him believe he couldn’t lose, and that belief ultimately cost him everything."
Hubris helps writers create compelling character arcs. When a character’s pride leads to failure or tragedy, the story explores themes like humility, self-awareness, and moral consequences.
Up Next
What is a character arc?
Hubris is a common theme or trait when writers are crafting their story. Some characters - usually villains - may have hubris throughout the story, making them extremely unlikeable. But if you want to tell a story about overcoming hubris, you’ll need to craft a character arc where your protagonist starts the story with too much pride, and ends it by learning humility. As you know by now, humility is definitely not a hubris synonym. But what is a character arc, and how do writers write them? Read the article below to learn.
Up Next: What is a Character Arc →
