Pride Comes Before the Fall Essay Example

people who are overconfident or too proud tend to live lives that lead to destruction is because pride often blinds a man. When someone is too proud to do something, even if it is in their best interest, the pride is taking over their head. They ignore their natural instinct, like accepting help from someone, and try to take care of things themselves. The same thing goes for overconfidence.

When someone is overconfident, they tend to take on things that are over their heads. They are blinded by their own self-image and pride, and will not accept help from anyone. This can be very dangerous to an individual. Although being overconfident usually ends in destruction, confidence in itself is not a bad thing. In fact, confidence is a necessity.

People who lack confidence often do not have many friends, and are missing out on important social skills. Without confidence, it is nearly impossible to get a good job, meet new people, and succeed in life. When it comes to confidence, there is a balance point. The ideal point to be at would be the middle, in between overconfident and unconfident.Most people are at this point, but there are many who are at either of the two extremes.

For those who are overconfident, it is sometimes a dangerous characteristic, and it is essential to think things out thoroughly before attempting to conquer them. Larry Kersten said, “Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you. ” This is a warning, or piece of advice to people who think they can do anything and beat the odds. It is very important to stop

and think about the consequences before one acts.

At the end of the play, Macbeth is fighting Macduff, and is very confident that he will win the fight. He says, “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born. ”(5. 8. 12-13). He says this because the witches told him that he would not be able to get killed by one born of a woman, so Macbeth is feeling very overconfident.

To which Macduff replies, “Despair thy charm, And let the angel when whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripped. ”(5. 8. 13-16).This completely blind-sides Macbeth because he is overconfident in himself and is expecting to win the fight between Macduff and him.

Now he feels intimidated, and the play follows the saying “pride comes before the fall”. Macbeth was prideful and overconfident, and then he is slain by Macduff and the play ends shortly. This is one of the best examples of “security” being one of mans greatest downfalls. If Macbeth had not been so overconfident, he might have been better prepared for his fight with Macduff and perhaps could have maybe even forced a victory in his favor.

Because he lets his fatal flaw get the best of him, Macbeth is destroyed and in the end, Macbeth pays the ultimate price for his foolish overconfidence, his life.

Works Cited

1. “Larry Kersten Quotes. ” Think Exist. ThinkExist. com Quotations. 13 Jan. 2010. Web. 31 Oct.
2. 2010. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes.
3. British Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1999. page #'s. Print.
4. The NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2002. Print.