Tithonus – Theme of Hubris, desire and Transgression : ISC Rhapsody Solutions

 Theme of Hubris, Desire and Transgression in Tithonus by Lord Tennyson :

  Hubris, Desire and Transgression in Tithonus:

   Tennyson’s “Tithonus” based on the tragic Greek myth, also explores the theme of  “hubris, desire and transgression”.

      Throughout the poem, Tithonus laments for the pain and sufferings of his old age caused by his immortality without the eternal youth. Meanwhile Tithonus reveals that the real cause for this gift of immortality is his hubris and desire.

   Tithonus recalls his past and says – 

  “…… once a man /

   So glorious in his beauty and thy choice”

     He remembers himself as a handsome young and glorious man that he was chosen by the Goddess of dawn – Eos. This made him feel like he was a special person, singled out for greatness. He adds – 

   “To his great heart none other than a God !”

    Inflated with the pleasure of being  “chosen” by a gorgeous goddess, Tithonus saw himself as better and different than other people – in fact equals to a God. This feeling evoked his desire to become like a god. Due to his hubris to be like a god he wanted to become immortal and fulfill his desire for her forever. He asked the Goddess Eos to  “give (him) immortality”.

    Eos granted that desire happily in response to her own desire for him. Eos responds to Tithonus’ hubris with her own careless exercise of power. She grants his wish for immortality as casually as  “wealthy men who care not what they give”.

     Their desire blinded them to reality and led Eos to make a critical mistake when she granted Tithonus immortality without perpetual youth to go along with it. She seems to have forgotten Tithonus’ mortal nature as much as he has. Blinded by their desire, both Eos and Tithonus ignored the reality that he is a mortal man.

    Due to his hubris and desire to become an immortal, he transgresses a grave boundary, the law that says all mortals must one day die. Now he suffers the consequences. Now he realises the cruelty of immortality. He says – 

   “Me only cruel immortality/

    Consumes ;…….”

        He laments that everything is subject to the law of mortality but he remains immortal to be punished for this divine gift bestowed upon him.

   Tithonus has become old, decrepit, and unsubstantial, he is reduced to a mere shadow of a man. His old age and decrepitude have exhausted him crushed destroyed his youth and beauty. Since he is immortal, nothing can put an end to his life. He laments that he is unable to have an escape from the state of life.

      He adds – 

    “…..thy strong Hours, indignant work’d their wills/

     And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me”

      Tithonus says that the boon of immortality has become a curse to him, he is “marr’d” (or disfigured) and  “wasted” by long,merciless passage of time. 

       The time worked against Tithonus as it could not end him but ruined him and left him “maim’d” (or injured) forever.

    Tithonus’ hubris ruined him. He tried to go beyond the “goal of ordinance” or the natural limits of human life. The poem suggests that the wise mortal accepts their reality and their nature of being mortal rather than trying to escape it.

    In the end of the poem Tithonus longs for being mortal again. He asks the Goddess of dawn – Eos to “take back” her “gift” and release him. He says – 

   ” Let me go;  take back thy gift”.

    A sadder, more wiser and older version of Tithonus laments, it’s only a fool who wishes to escape from natural order of life and death as he says – 

   “To vary from the kindly race of men /

    Or pass beyond the goal of ordinance /

    Where all should pause, as is most meet for all ?”

        Tithonus wonders why should a man want to escape from this cycle of life and death. Why should man try to trespass beyond the reasonable limit of life, where everyone stops and do not cross this limit. 

    Death is inevitable, it comes to all and the one who does not follow the course of nature has to suffer.

    Tithonus is an example of those people who become over ambitious and ignore their limitations. They start following the ways of others. It causes their downfall. The same is true of the powerful and wealthy who arrogantly give money or grant power to someone without thinking of its consequences, such acts are likely to cause trouble later.