The tragic dramas of Ancient Greece often follow a common arc: an unwary but usually unobjectionable hero commits a blunder or series of blunders culminating in personal disaster, followed by fleeting personal enlightenment.
The story of heroic downfall is explained by an ancient concept called hamartia, or a fatal character flaw that ultimately dooms our tragic hero. Hubris, or personal pride, often seems to be the cause of this demise, and thus the dangers of pride are a recurring theme…