Theme Of Pride In All Quiet On The Western Front

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that human pride causes human pain. Whether this is the pain of soldiers in vain battle, the pain of individuals isolated by social statuses and social demands, or the pain of young boys in shallow, barren graves, pride causes it by blinding us to the humanity of others and convincing us to accept their pain and our own pain in the pursuit of avarice. The breadth of pride 's effect on humanity is apparent in its thematic presence throughout literature. In All Quiet On the Western Front, we see how pride shaped history in World War I. In All Quiet, war itself is strongly associated with pride: "It 's queer, when one thinks about it," goes on Kropp, "we are here to protect our fatherland. And the French …show more content…
Just as the pride granted by wealth and power prevents us from looking more closely at the humanity of individual soldiers, it prevents us from seeing people in our day-to-day lives as equals: . " 'She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. '" (Austen 7). Elizabeth had always prided herself on her ability to ignore vainglorious people, but she is slighted by Mr. Darcy because of his good looks and in response says, "How despicably I have acted!" she cried; " 'I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities '" (Austen 141). Mr. Darcy is a prideful man, and many say he is rightfully so; " 'One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. '" (Austen 12) just as Charlotte does here, dismissin ghis pride because of his glamor. This does not stop him, however, from seeing how he could be wrong for being so self indulgent, " I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit." (Austen 210). This is the first time Mr. Darcy admits to his wrong doings by acknowledging how his upbringing doesn 't excuse his

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