Pride In Sophocles Oedipus Rex And Antigone

French author, George Bernanos once said “It’s fine to rise above pride, but you must have pride in order to do so” (cite). Bernanos believed that it is necessary for everyone to have to pride in order to succeed; but after someone becomes successful, one becomes too proud and that is when he will lose everything. Bernanos believed that pride is good in moderation, but having excess of characteristics like these causes people to lose what they work so hard to obtain. Sophocles explores the idea of having traits that can be good in moderation; but those same traits in excess cause people to lose everything they worked so hard to get. In Sophocles 's Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the kings’ excess pride and determination gives them what they want, but it …show more content…
Without his determination, he would never had control over most of western Europe. However, it was his determination that brought him into battles that he would not be able to win. He was too determined to win that he was blind to the fact that continuing to fight would be worse than surrendering. His determination allowed him to make the mistake of returning to France after he was exiled and fight again during The Hundred Days, which only led to him being exile once more to the island of St. Helena where he would die six years later.
Oedipus, Creon, and Napoleon all used their pride and determination to help them become kings. Despite this, these same traits lead to the downfall of all three kings. These traits in moderation help give confidence and make people want to reach their goals, but after those goals are attained, pride and determination can grow too much and cause them to self sabotage. Pride and determination are necessary traits for mankind, but only in moderation, for these traits in excess cause people to lose everything they work