Hubris
Definition:
Extreme pride and arrogance shown in a character that ultimately brings about his downfall. Hubris is typical a flaw in the personality of a character in a powerful position. This character usually overestimates his capabilities, which then leads to his tragic downfall.
Example from The Count of Monte Cristo:
Villefort is an example of Hubris. He throws Dantes' letter in the fire, because he did not want his pride to be ruined. He then acquires a good fortune and name for himself, while Dantes is in prison. When Dantes returns, his family is ultimately killed, and he is left insane. His prideful actions early in the story, are later counteracted by his tragic downfall.
Function:
In this example, Hubris is used in several characteristics to show how pride and arrogance can ultimately lead to misfortune and ruin. Villefort ultimately pays for his early actions of pride when Dantes returns. In other literature, use of hubristic characters serves to portray a moralistic end. These characters are eventually punished, thus giving the reader a moral lesson. When a reader witnesses a tragic hero suffer from hubristic actions, it persuades them to be cautious of their own actions, avoiding the same end as the hero.
Another example from The Odyssey:
When Odysseus tricks Polyphemus and he escapes with the majority of his men. As they are sailing away, the Hubris takes place when Odysseus becomes arrogant and yells back at Polyphemus that his name was Odysseus and that he was the son of Laeretes.
Original Mnemonic:
Hubris sounds like "who pris" as in "Who's that priss?", as in a prissy/arrogant person.
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