King Lear

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"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). In King Lear pride was the tripping stone that caused the ultimate destruction of King Lear, Regan, Goneril, and Edmund. Lear's pride first caused the chasm between he and Cordelia. Because of his pride he wanted to hear public statements of love from his daughters, despite their true feelings. Ironically the ones who didn't love him complied with his wishes (for their own gain). The one who did love him was disgusted by the who affair and spoke honestly. She proclaimed her love, but as a modest fair statement of true love rather than the showy and embellished lies that the others lied with. Lear was embarrassed by the modest truth and he valued his pride more than his daughter. In the end he suffered because he rejected her love.

Goneril and Regan displayed their pride in a few ways. They thought they could have it all. By taking advantage of their father they got more land and more power that fueled their pride. Each fueled the other to more cold, cruel, hostel behavior. They had the mentality that 'if she wasn't going to let you ____, then I won't either.' As their pride increase any trace of the gentleness of femininity was eliminated and eventually all human compassion was forsaken. This completely contrasts Edgar. As he had less and less he became more and more compassionate. The same concept was apparent in King Lear as well. As his pride act brought him to more and more desperate situations the pride of being rich royalty decreased. He found in himself some compassion for the homeless. Ironically the one that he thought was a beggar was Edgar himself! Meanwhile Edmund was prideful enough to think all his scheming and betrayal would earn him a place of leadership and honor. However this path lead to the deaths of many and heartbreak to all.