Homer uses Odysseus’ hubris to show his character development from arrogance to humility, ultimately revealing the consequences of hubris and importance of humbleness in leadership.
Despite being a great leader, Odysseus makes no effort to hide his hubris. The heroic description Odysseus gives himself at the beginning of The Odyssey reveals his true inner personality of arrogance. In Alcinous palace, Laodamas challenges Odysseus to participate in the games, however Odysseus responds that he is too weak. With that, Broadsea begins to throw insults at Odysseus, and in remark Odysseus exclaims in rage that the
gods don’t hand out all their gifts at once, not build and brains and flowing speech to all. One man may fail to impress us with his looks but a god can crown his words with beauty, charm, and men look on with delight when he speaks out,. Never faltering, filled with winning self-control, he shines forth at assembly grounds and people gaze at him like a god when he walks through the streets. [….] I’m no stranger to sports—for all your taunts—I’ve held my place in the front ranks, I tell you, long as I could trust to my youth and striving hands. But now I’m wrestled down by pain and hardship, look, I’ve borne my share of struggles, cleaving my way, through wars of men and pounding waves at sea. Nevertheless, despite so many blows, I’ll compete in your games, just watch (8. 192-215).
Without giving away his identity, Odysseus refers to the successful, prideful, powerful man as himself. He uses his own characteristics that he is famous for to describe the qualities that the gods gift worthy ones such as “brains and flowing speech”. Although, Odysseus explains that one may not be able to gain the public’s attention with looks, a “god can crown” such small imperfections if the individual deserves it. Athena “crowns” Odysseus in his full glory up to book eight, even when there is no necessity. Odysseus knows that Athena is on his side and how rare it is for gods to help mortals, so Odysseus considers himself superior to other mortals. Odysseus mentions that “people gaze at him like a god”, clearly confirming his perceived superiority. For this reason, he puts himself in the front ranks of mortals. As a final testament to his arrogance, Odysseus asserts that even after all his hardships, he can still best those who insult him at the games.
When Odysseus’ pompousness gets the worst of him he realizes the consequence of his arrogance. As Odysseus begins to change, his arrogance turns into regret which reveals his progress towards becoming a meek yet successful leader. After listening to a harper sing about his own battle in Troy he
melt[s] into tears, running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks…As a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband, a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen, trying to beat the day of doom from home and children. Seeing the man go down, dying, gasping for breath she clings for dear life, screams and shrills –But the victors, just behind her, digging spear-butts into her back and shoulders, drag her off in bondage, yokes to heard labor, pain, and the most heartbreaking torment wastes her check. So from Odysseus’ eyes ran tears of heartbreak now (8. 585-597).
When his face becomes wetter with each subsequent drop, Odysseus is reminded more and more of what home is really like, and how his actions are directly responsible for the breakup of families. The brutish killing of families makes him realize that he has gotten such a high status from the deaths of innocent people – perhaps in the name of the Greeks but most likely for his own selfish gain. Odysseus finally realizes that one cannot be a hero if the title is derived from the death of innocents. Homer thus shows how Odysseus is amenable to change, especially as it pertains to perceptions of the past, and not persist in stubborn error. The most successful leader must be able to admit past mistakes in order to avoid future ones. Allowing himself to feel humility, he ultimately lets his “eyes run tears” which engrave the end mark to his arrogance.
By the end of his journey Odysseus’ arrogance disappears and humility and humbleness take reign. His newly changed personality leads to his transformation from a haughty hero to a more humble hero. Athena inspires the suitors to insult Odysseus and in response Odysseus tells the suitors that
You’d see what straight unbroken furrow I could cut you then. Or if Zeus could bring some battle on-out of the blue. This very day—and give me a shield and two spears, and a bronze helmet to fit this soldiers temples, the you’d see my fight where front ranks clash- no more mocking this belly of mine, not then. Enough. You’re sick with pride, you brutal fool. No doubt you count yourself a great man because you sport only with a puny crowd, ill-bred to boot. If only Odysseus came back home and stood right here in a flash you’d find those doors—broad as they are—too cramped for your race to safety through the porch (18. 425-436).
Odysseus cannot stand the “mocking [of his] belly”. When he says belly, he does not use another word and neither does he use any adjectives to describe his belly or how great it is. Therefore he defines his belly to that of any person, and just like any typical person, he does not like to be mocked. Odysseus could have revealed his identity any time just like with the Cyclops however, Odysseus clearly learned from his past mistakes. Finally Odysseus is able to recognize that being “sick with pride” is bad and is what pulls a man toward failure. In order for a man to succeed and be great, he must recognize and come to terms with his pride.