Pride in Beowulf, Paradise Lost and Gulliver’s Travels Essay

The theme of experience has been treated in various literary texts from the experient Testament to current literature. The scripture says Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Pr everyplacebs. 1618) Pride has various consequences in varied circumstances. Religion views it as a sin, but gazump is besides used as a sentiment of honor associated with whizs family, nation, or profession which we glorify. In a sense pride is a kind of overstretched or excessive confidence in bingles power.It is necessary to a certain degree for the preservation of ones dignity, but beyond that limit it is bad like excessive eating and drinking. Moreover, sometimes people are accused of pride even when its merits shine brighter than modesty. Oxford English Dictionary (online) defines pride as A high, esp. an excessively high, opinion of ones cause worth or importance which gives rise to a feeling or spot of superiority over others inordinate self-esteem. In Beowu lf king Hrothgar warns Beowulf against pride subsequently his thumping victory over Grendel.In Gullivers Travels it is pride that leads to war as well as peace, in Paradise bewildered Satans pride leads to his fall from heaven to hell, yet he continues his battle with pride and zeal. thither are many proud moments in Beowulfs life. The hero gains victory against colossal monsters thrice commencement ceremony in his unarmed battle against Grendel, then with his chosen comrades against Grendels mother with some divine armed service, and in conclusion his killing of the fire-breathing flying dragon in old age when he is mortally wounded and dies a heros death.But Beowulfs innate humility is never affected by his big success and even the offer of the crown and peoples adoration. As Hrothgar gives him a heros welcome and praises God for helping him with the gold hilt sword, Take your place, then, with pride and pleasure,/ and move to the feast. (ll. 1882-83) and then he examines t he properly gold hilt offered by Beowulf.He delivers a sermon on pride O flower of warriors, take care of that trap/Do not give way to pride. / For a brief while your strength is in bloom/ but it fades quickly (ll. 759-1763). He talks wisely about the transience of human early days and power and cites his own example of ignoring the shape of things to come hard reversal from bliss to grief. Grendel struck/after lying in wait. (ll. 174-76) So the word pride has been used in both upright and bad senses.In Gullivers Travels pride has another dimension. OED also define pride as A consciousness of what befits, is due to, or is worthy of oneself or ones position self-respect self-esteem, esp. of a legitimate or healthy kind or degree. Though of pigmy size the Lilliputians are super efficient people proud of their skill. They feed, cloth and manage the Mountain man effectively and even with his help avoid a war with the Blefuscu. Only in Lilliput Gulliver is amazed to find the emperor and his administration strictly honors the rule of reward and punishment. In Brobdingnag Gulliver meets giants who are so honorable and civilized that they shudder at the elevate of war and ammunitions. The imaginary lands and peoples provide Swift an opportunity of launching a scathing attack on the pride of English way of life.In spite of outstanding intellectual powers, his pride turns out to be vanity. His overriding ambition to become a great literary man stood in the way of wedding ceremony to either Stella or Vanessa, and a man who hated children created a classic of childrens literature. His own obituary reveals the proud author and his works The body of Jonathan Swift, Doctor of Divinity, is buried here, where fierce indignation merchant ship tear his heart no more. Go traveler and imitate, if you can, one who strove with utmost to champion human liberty.In Miltons Paradise Lost Satan defies the Almighty God and his angels to wage a war and subdue power in heaven. Th ough he is hurled into hell as punishment, he provides leadership to his demoralized chase and with Beelzebubs help holds a conference to wage eternal war against God. Like a proud leader with strategic insight he converts this defeat as a springboard for the coterminous battle and accordingly inspires his followers with a thunderous callWhat though the field be upset? All is not lost the unconquerable will,/ And study of revenge, immortal hate,(ll. 105-07) He instills a confidence in his comrades that victory and defeat are in the hands of the fighters. So his clarion call to his army is turn to to boost their morale and shake off their depression Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen . (l. 330) The hardline nature of Satan is revealed in his speech our better part remains/ to work in blind drunk design, by fraud or guile, (Bk. I. ll. 645-46) and his continual emphasis on victory For who can think entranceway?War then, war/ open or understood must be resolved. (ll. 661-62) Th e opposition leader lots resorts to disparaging remarks and undermining the image of his rival as Satan debunks God, Who now triumphs, and in excess of joy/ resole reigning holds the tyranny of heaven. (ll. 123-24) Satan shows the right mindset of a winner who would not accept anything unequal of victory as he speaks candidly about it To reign is worth ambition, though in orchestra pit/ Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. (Bk. I. ll. 262-63)Satan represents the freedom-loving individualist who also demonstrates great pragmatic sense by adapting himself to the harsh realities of Hell and consoles himself with his psychological insight The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. (Bk. I. ll. 254-255) From Beowulf, Gullivers Travels to Paradise Lost pride has evolved from good to bad and the worst it has also passed through religious as well as blase ramifications.