“Pride”, although it can be a good characteristic, it can also blind you from reality and end up being your biggest downfall. Two examples of pride leading to their downfalls are Josef Stalin and King Creon from the novel Antigone. They are both tragic heroes because they make poor decisions which lead them to becoming bad people. Creon and Stalin both let their pride get the best of them, ultimately ending with the deaths of those close to them, whether its friends, family, or millions of your own citizens.
If you don’t know who these people are, here’s some background information. Josef Stalin started his career in politics when he joined the Social Democratic Party of Georgia. He helped organize strikes and demonstrations and promoted socialism.
Joseph Stalin, from the time that he was a low level revolutionary to the years that he spent as the dictator of the Soviet Union, always knew what he needed to do to achieve his goals. His organized rise to power allowed him to gain a steady flow of followers who would support him for decades to come. Stalin received a minor government position in 1917, but by the time a new leader was needed in 1924, he “had turned the largely routine post of Party general secretary into the most powerful office in the Soviet Union” (“Joseph Stalin) and “had built a personal empire for himself through his control over committee appointments at all levels . . . expand[ing] the leading Party organs with his supporters, who then voted against his rivals”
Joseph Stalin was born in Djugashvili in the middle of December in 1878. Not much is known about his younger years as a child. He was an only child and it is said that he grew up in a very poor house hold. Stalin’s remorseless attitude can be credited to his father actions since he was beaten as a child. Due to this Stalin dedicated his life to his studies which in turn lead to him getting a scholarship. He then used this scholarship at a catholic school in hopes of becoming a priest. While studying to become, a priest he also began indulging in the readings of Karl Marx. This influenced him to practice Marxism and got him kicked out of school for it.
By analyzing character motivations, choices, and actions in To Kill a Mockingbird, “The Scarlet Ibis,” and “I, Too,” it is clear that pride can drive characters to make life-changing decisions with long term consequences. In definition pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct 1. There are different types of pride superiority, arrogance and dignity 2. These are the main types of pride that you see the most in people.
In the excerpt from the play Antigone by Sophocles it is stated that a man who doesn’t accept when he is wrong is the reason pride is seen as a crime. As shown in the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Captain Ahab’s attempted revenge on Moby Dick and his monomaniacal ways signify how pride can blind someone. Throughout the book, Captain Ahab tries to avenge Moby Dick by going on a journey with a crew of people willing to take on this dangerous and fatal expedition.
Pride: noun: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. Although some might not believe it, today's society is filled with pride; from being proud of your heritage to being proud of your life in general, pride is all around. But the Catholic Church believes that pride is the absolute worst of the seven deadly sins because all a prideful person thinks of is only himself, and that is the exact opposite of what the Catholic Church teaches. In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts is coated in pride, like gasoline, just waiting for someone to light a match and start the flames. It moves the plot, it pushes the characters through ultimate
Examples of the common phrase “Pride comes before a fall” is shown in all types of literature. Characters have moments where they peak and become prideful, before hitting a stumbling block and ending up worse than when they start. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is a wise man, until his pride gets the better of him.
For example, Douglas MAcArthur's pride was huge because he won almost every battle and has been awarded many medals too. He oversaw the occupation of Japan and lead the United Nation in the Korean War until he was removed from command. McArthur's pride wanted to take over Japan and took the wrong turn; he lost many soldiers trying to do so. McArthurs pride caused not only his downfall, but the death of many American soldiers during the war. One example from my life is that my friend got very nice and new headphones
Denzel Washington, in a film role, once said, “The loudest one in the room is often the weakest one in the room” (CITATION). Pride can often force individuals into someone they are not. It can create a persona unattainable due to the multitude of reasons, as laid out in the Bhagavad-Gita and Antigone. The Bhagavad-Gita presented the principles that causes one’s prideful nature to be destructive and disparaging. While, Antigone gave the reader an example of an individual’s prideful nature in relation to the arrogance formulated in one’s heart. The arrogance formulated in one’s heart can lead to his or her inevitable downfall. Evil’s true form is in the pride that tarnishes a man’s soul, based on Antigone and Bhagavad-Gita.
Pride is a dangerous emotion that can cause ruin to all those that encounter it. In the short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Cask of Amontillado," Montresor's pride is offended by Fortunato, a man he has forgiven for various offences time and time again. Montresor formulates a deadly plan to exact revenge upon Fortunato for speaking ill of him. "The Cask of Amontillado" examines pride and how it can be very dangerous when it is a guiding force behind people's decisions and other emotions (Poe 221).
Any great accomplishment can make someone feel proud about their work. It makes one feel good; it raises a person's spirits. "No question, pride has its good points." (The Toronto Star, Nov 1999) Then again, there are also the bad points of pride one must consider, before being proud. Pride can deceive a person into being ambitious, and make them strive for something that is not rightfully theirs. Both Macbeth and Willy encountered this problem. Pride can also cause a bad relationship with the people one loves most. For Macbeth and Willy, their relationships with their families were burdened as a consequence of this pride. Pride can lead to much worse things; it can put a person in a
The short-story of “To Build A Fire” by Jack Landon has shown how pride can lead one into a great deal of trouble. A person’s pride if left unchecked could lead them to their downfall. Arrogance and ignorance follows when they are overly confident. Moreover, leaving themselves clueless of the potential for failure.
This is often seen in literature. There are several short stories that discuss the topic of excessive pride. Many authors have conveyed the themes that excessive pride is self-destructive, can change your life, and will come back to haunt you. In the short story, “The Cask of the Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe conveys how excessive pride is self-destroying.
A person with too much pride is blind to the truth that they don't like, and sometimes too much pride can lead to their own downfall. In the book Oedipus The King by Sophocles, Oedipus the king of Thebes acts as if he could do no wrong and thinks that he himself is higher than the gods. In the book he tries to find out who killed the previous king and caused the Plague, but in the story it later shows how oedipus’s pride had made him blind to see who the murder actually is; himself. Oedipus fails to acknowledge the truth because he allowed his pride to stop him from seeing the truth told by Tiresias, Jocasta, and the gods.
Pride can often come with dangerous or unpleasant consequences. The quote “Any man who was a man could travel alone” (London, 1998) shows that he is too prideful. The man thinks he can survive by himself, without any help, but he soon realizes he should have swallowed his pride. Nearing the end of the story he wishes that he had listened to the man and brought a partner. Pride can cost someone their life if they aren’t careful and control their ignorance.
Pride is often portrayed as negative characteristic that causes people to reach for too much