novels in which a character's actions or delusion lead ultimately to their downfall?

Question

can anyone tell me if they know of books in which the character's actions and delusion lead to their downfall, as in muriel spark's 'the prime of miss jean brodie' where teacher brodie, thinks she is superior to her pupils and her fascist ways lead to her getting betrayed and sacked, thus leading to her downfall. i am doing my advanced english dissertation and was going to do 3 books. what else could i compare this to? or could i compare 3 of spark's novels maybe? any suggestions? please!?

Answer 1

The Picture of Dorian Gray fits that description pretty well. Dorian is granted his wish to be young forever, and in his vanity he kills everything he loved (eventually even himself).



The play Antigone by Sophocles is another great example. The king is so prideful and believes himself to be right so intensely that his judgement is blinded. In the end, because of his actions, his wife and son both kill themselves, and he is left with nothing.



If I can think of any more books, I'll let you know.

Answer 2

Moby Dick

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Macbeth

the original Little Mermaid as told by Hans Christian Andersen

The Steadfast Tin Soldier, by the same.

Answer 3

Don Quixote

The Great Gatsby

Animal Farm

Answer 4

The fatal flaw, or hamartia, is a fairly common theme. Some examples,



Achilles' pride in the Iliad (symbolized by his ankle).

Captain Ahab's obsession with the Whale in Moby Dick.

Mersault's indifference and apathy in The Stranger.

Satan's pride and envy in Paradise Lost.



and many, many more.