Which example illustrates the theme of overreaching?

• A. Old Testament, Adam & Eve not to eat the fruit
• B. Goethe's Faust protagonist sells his soul
• C. A general statement that themes include overreaching
• D. Daedalus constructing wings of feather and wax

Answer: (D)

Overreaching is when a character tries to push beyond safe or humanly possible limits, often driven by pride or a longing for power, and faces consequences for that daring. Daedalus crafting wings of feather and wax is the clearest illustration of this. He designs a way to fly and escape confinement, effectively challenging nature itself and attempting to exceed what a person can normally do. The act embodies the hazard of hubris, and the ensuing danger—especially for Icarus and the potential fallout—shows the classic price of pushing beyond boundaries.

The other examples touch on related ideas but aren’t as direct. Adam and Eve disobey a command and step over a boundary set by someone else, which is about temptation and rule-breaking more than the singular act of trying to surpass human limits. Faust’s pact represents a pursuit of ultimate knowledge and power, which carries overreaching implications, but it’s more about a long, ongoing striving than a single, vivid moment like the wings. A general statement about themes is not an actual illustration. So the wings scene best captures the theme of overreaching.