What Is The Theme Of Pride In The Scarlet Ibis

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Pride instills an illusion of perfection in people, and this translucent image it creates is vulnerable to be torn by the slightest impact. James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis” depicted someone who was torn when his ambition has come to a bleak ending. The pain of feeling defeated caused the protagonist to make irrational judgments that resulted in the death of his brother. Throughout the world’s history, countless people fall by the cause of pride. In particular, the narrator from the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, famous cyclist Lance Armstrong, and legendary leader Julius Caesar exemplify that people who allow pride to consume them will make irrational choices that lead to regrettable consequences. The protagonist of “The Scarlet Ibis” possesses excessive pride that caused him to see himself as being infallible, yet this delusion that pride created drove the …show more content…

Lance Armstrong’s pride could not let defeat end his career, so it impaled him to cheat. Nevertheless, “Lance Armstrong is also being asked to pay back millions of dollars. And the term ‘Armstrong era’ is now apparently a moniker of widespread cheating” (Levs 1). This outcome was amiss from the prominent title that Armstrong dreamed of when he started cheating, and what hubris brought to him was a notorious name people look down upon. Furthermore, not only was wealth taken away from him, but the Cycling Union president, Pat McQuaid also said, “Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling … Armstrong is also banned from the sport” (Levs 1). Everything that Armstrong had, including his passion, wealth, and reputation, was in tatters by the act of cheating derived from pride. This absurd choice he made set him up for an “epic downfall.” Thus, Lance Armstrong’s story illustrates the dangers of pride, something that can take away everything one has just by one absurd

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