Final answer:
Hubris refers to excessive pride or self-confidence, and it is used by Krakauer to describe Rob Hall as having a tragic flaw that may have contributed to the Everest disaster. This term emphasizes Hall's overconfidence and poor decision-making rooted in pride.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hubris is a word that defines excessive pride or self-confidence, often to a fault. It is one of the most well-known examples of hamartia, especially in Ancient Greek tragedies, where hubris is commonly portrayed as a tragic flaw leading to the downfall of a character. In literature, its demonstration can lead to a lack of foresight or blindness caused by an overestimation of one's capabilities, resulting in cataclysmic consequences.
Regarding why Jon Krakauer uses the word hubris to describe Rob Hall, option (a) is correct. Krakauer suggests that Hall exhibited hubris through his overconfidence and reluctance to turn back, which may have been contributing factors to the ill-fated Everest expedition's tragedy. It implies that Hall's self-assurance and possibly his disregard for the mountain's dangers led to poor decision-making during the climb.
It is important to note that hubris is not a piece of equipment, a medical condition, or a term for mountain sickness as options (b), (c), and (d) suggest. Therefore, Krakauer's use of the word is to highlight a personality trait or character flaw rather than anything tangible or physiological.