NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
This excerpt taken from the play Antigone written by Sophocles has many different implications. If this idea were to be true, this quote suggests that every crime is caused by pride and that if man did not have pride there would be no crimes and all mistakes would be fixed. One is also able to realize that this quote testifies to the idea that all men do make mistakes, but those who fix them are good and those who dont are evil. If this is true than a mans value and character is determined by his actions. All men do make mistakes, but in cases when they are unable to mend them, it does not make them evil.
Additionally, what may prevent a man from acknowledging his crime is not only pride, but also the effect it can have on others. In Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, Willy makes a great many mistakes in his life. These mistakes are in all cases repairable but this does not make him an evil man. One of Willys greatest mistakes is that he depends on the company he works for and believes that they will be as loyal to him as he has been to them. It is not just Willys pride that keeps him believing that even if he is not as successful as he used to be that he will get promoted and keep his job. It is also reasonable expectations of the respect that the company should have for him due to the sacrifices he makes for them.
By the time Willy realizes this mistake though, it is too late for him to repair it in anyway. He can apologize and regret his mistakes, but he can not change the past. No matter how many apologies Willy may make to his family, and how much he may regret it, it will not change the situation he is in. Willys mistake was having trust and faith and others but this is not something that makes one evil. He did try to fix some mistakes in his life, but others he was unable too based upon how it would hurt others. For instance, Willy can apologize to his wife for the unfaithful acts he engaged in during their marriage, but he decides not to.
This decision was not entirely out of pride. It was also because telling his wife about his actions may inevitably have caused her more misery and his family more hardship. In addition, Willy sacrifices many things in order to provide for his family, and as he does this he makes mistakes. Not apologizing for his mistakes on the basis of protecting his family does not make him an evil man. Our current president has also made many mistakes, not all due to pride and not all uncorrected because of pride. William Clinton did not admit to his mistake of engaging in an extramarital affair with someone who was a subordinate to him.
He was not willing to openly acknowledge this mistake not because of pride but because it was also politically damaging to the country and it could have put the nation into turmoil. He was also reluctant to admit this mistake in an attempt to protect his family. He did eventually admit to his mistake and attempted to repair the evil, but he himself admitted that he could not undo the wrong that had already been done. His actions were perceived to be wrong and admitted to be a mistake based upon moral values and standards set by society.
He is not evil because of the fact that he attempted to fix the situation in the only way possible, and also attempted to protect his family. His pride helped him to have the strength to continue running the country after admitting his mistake to the nation, but it was not what restricted him from admitting and fixing his mistake. Mistakes made by man are not made by pride alone, and are not untended to because of pride. Sometimes mistakes are unable to be repaired, and is some cases admitting to them may cause greater harm to others. The inability to repair mistakes therefore does not always make the man evil, but it also does not mean the man is inevitably good. In essence, pride is not always a meritorious quality but it is a needed characteristic in people that provides motivation and courage.
Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: mistake, mistakes, evil man, make mistakes, willy
Research essay sample on Evil Man Make Mistakes
