Hubris in Time of the Hero and Thing Fall Apart Essay

In the novels The Time Of The Hero (TTOTH) by Mario Vargas Llosa and Things Fall by (TFA) by Chinua Achebe, both writers focus on the thinking of hubris and the spendthrift p unblocke of business leaderful characters. In fact both the Jaguar (TTOTH) and Okonkwo (TFA) are characters, which represents this idea of Hubris, as theyve been mold by their social environment and the notion of manliness and hierarchy. In TFA, Okonkwo respond to the Igbo society through his obsession of being hyper-masculine.In TTOTH, the Jaguar adapts himself to the wild environment of the academy and the struggle to survive, and even raises himself above the otherwise cadets. In both cases, the writer manoeuvres to the reader that the characters manliness leads him to the idea of hubris, by creating the illusion of an ut closely(a) power base around the Jaguar and Okonkwo. However in both novels, the writer also use the idea of femininity as an prohibition for both characters pride. Furthermore, h ubris is also conjugated to the idea of determinism, as the original pride of severally character leads him to his possess downfall.In TFA and TTOTH, The idea of Hubris seems to be tie in to the pressure of society. In both cases, characters are born into a hierarchical society in which the glorification of manliness and the passion of survival, leads some male characters to excessive pride. In TFA, Chinua Achebe shows the hierarchical spirit between genders in Igbo society. This idea of hierarchy between genders is shown with the tuberosity between crops, as the yam, which is exclusively grown by men, symbolising the tribes respect for mens physical strength.This same idea of separation of genders is also shown with the difference between men and women crimes, which shows the distinction between powerful men and weak women. This understandably shows a hierarchical society in which women are seen as weaker, and men are defined by their physical prowess. thus Okonkwos obsessio n for masculinity shows the inescapable force of society in shaping a homo character. Okonkwo then seems to be linked to the idea of hubris, as his perception of manliness is far more extreme than the clans, as he links masculinity with aggression, and devalues everything feminine.This shows that through his excessive perception of manliness, Okonkwos expectations of himself as a masculine power, far exceeds the scope of one being. In TTOTH, the violent environment of the academy is also linked to the glorification of manliness. Like in TFA, there is the idea that one man is respected for his physical prowess, and his will to survive in this vicious hierarchal system, which is foreshadowed by the metaphor of the Circle integrity dog as to survive the ill-treatment of older generations, to finally express his own frustration everywhere the next generations.In fact the metaphor of youngish generations to dogs is itself applicable of the need that one has to show and to prove his power. This hierarchical system seems to be related to the idea of survival of the fittest, as the Slaves privation of manpower results in his death. However, the example of the Jaguar in TTOTH is quite similar to Okonkwos in TFA, as the Jaguars needs to hold power everywhere the other cadets is more extreme than it is for his comrades. In fact the Jaguar is clearly linked to hubris through his need to expand his power in the whole academy over the dogs, the older generations or his own comrades.The notion of pride also seems to be fairly influenced by the paternal relation that characters have with fathers. In TFA, Okonkwos descent with his father surely shapes his violent and ambitious spirit. Okonkwos fear of becoming as weak and effeminate as his father, clearly influences the character to become the remove antithesis of all that his father was, making him the extreme hyper-masculine figure. In TTOTH, the writer uses a different image of the father, which is more the symbol of authority, and of the pressure that society has over male characters, to make them grow as men.However the fact that the Jaguar is the son of a poor widow, shows how his relation with Skinny Higueras, is used as a substitute for the paternal relation he didnt had. This shows how his relation with Skinny and his criminal past, has an influence on his rather violent temperament, and his need to feel superior. It seems that both writers attempt to show the Jaguar and Okonkwos extreme pride, to the reader by putting in place an illusion of supreme power. In TFA, the writer seems to show the idea of hubris by putting the reader into an illusion in witch Okonkwo is seen as superhuman, or above other human characters.This is shown through the association of Okonkwo to intent fire, and flame throughout the novel. This creates an illusion as the reader then associates Okonkwo to the idea of extreme power, and dissociates him to other human characters. In fact the fire clearly symbolizes Okonkwos crushing and animalistic personality, as he destroys everything he consumes. In TOOTH, the metaphor of the jaguar is used as an illusion to the reader who no perennial sees the character as purely human.This dehumanisation of the character is at some point like Okonkwo in TFA, as the reader sees the character as an emotionless, powerful, destructive figure. Furthermore, the writers use of the first person singular, and the fact that it is the jaguar who named himself that way, highlights to the idea of hubris, as on some level, its seems like the illusion of extreme power is in fact the perception that the character has of himself. In both novels, the writer demonstrates at some point that each man has something feminine inside him, which in the case of a hyper masculine figure, acts as a threat to his extreme pride.In TFA, Okonkwos exile to his motherland, in response to his women crime, clearly represents an obstacle to the characters pride. This is not only an issue fo r Okonkwos image as a virile warrior this is even more a threat to the characters personality, as it is the opportunity to get in touch with his feminine side. In fact Okonkwos pride in his masculinity, seems to be challenged throughout the novel, by his hidden femininity. In fact his son Nwoye, is used by the writer as a constant reminder of Okonkwos feminine part that he cannot get rid of.In TTOTH, the Jaguars weakness also seems to be symbolised by the feminine figure of Teresa. In fact the scene on the beach is relevant to the Jaguars true personality, as he is no longer seen as an emotionless character, but rather as a more human character, through the jealousy he feels toward Teresa. Therefore the writer uses the female figure as a rupture between the image of the powerful Jaguar of the academy, and the just teenager. However when the Jaguar insults Teresa after he sees her with some other boys, this also shows how the jealousy he feels is in fact seen as an enormous threat t o his pride.Therefore both writers use the idea of femininity as a constant reminder of the hidden weakness that the character tries to reject. Finally, in both novels there is the idea that hubris is linked to determinism, as both characters seems to lead themselves to their own downfall. In TFA, Okonkwos choice of a life of anger, dominated by his obsession of being a hyper-masculine figure, is what makes him a character, which is quite unbalanced. In fact in chapter 17and 24 the writer shows that Okonkwo is not blind but rather conscientious as he agnize that the fire inside him destroys everything it consumes, including him.Furthermore, by destroying himself physically at the end of the novel, it can be argued that on some level he has also destroyed most of his pride, as the act of suicide shows the emasculation of the character on some level. In TTOTH the Jaguars tyrannical behaviour over the other members of the academy, is finally reflected on himself at the end of the nov el, as he is beaten by a group of cadets. Therefore there is an idea of a reverse situation in each case on one hand, Okonkwos act of suicide is quite surprising and deceiving for such a character who kept showing himself as the extreme figure of manliness.On the other hand, there is the imagery of the tyrant being overthrown. However, even though that both characters seems to end up revealing their secret and truer temperament (in comparison to the image that they have of themselves), they still keep most of their pride. In TFA, Okonkwos suicide can be seen on one side as an act of emasculation, however on the other hand Okonkwo still keeps most of his pride by refusing to submit himself to the Christians until the end of his life. In TTOTH, the Jaguar never submits himself to the other cadets, even when everyone is against him.In fact when the other cadets falsely accuse the Jaguar, he still keep his pride, and still sees himself as better than them, even know that he no longer h as power over the others. Furthermore, it can be argued that the final act of both characters has a heroic dimension, which still makes them proud character until the end. In conclusion, in both novels the writer focuses on the idea of hubris by showing characters whose expectations of themselves far exceeds the scope of one being.In fact both, Okonkwo and the Jaguar are characters shaped and extremely well adapted to their social environment, which is surely a main cause of their excessive pride. However, both writers also seems to link the notion of hubris to determinism as the choice of both characters to live in hubris, leads them to their own social downfall, and in the case of Okonkwo to his own destruction. Nevertheless, both characters still hold to their pride, as they remain faithful to their own opinion, even during their downfall.