All human beings are made up of certain strengths and weaknesses, and in the stories The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe, The Rocking- Horse Winner by DH Lawerence and The Painted Door by Sinclair Ross, each author treats the theme of human foibles and flaws as contributing to the downfall of each main character respectively. The act of stubbornness, arrogance and obsession were the main causes of their downfalls in the stories. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Arrogance is a very common attribute that we all have. It's a tempting act to feel overconfident. This revolting character trait is evidently exemplified in the short stories The Masque of the Red Death and The Rocking Horse Victor. But the prosperous prince was happy, fearless and sagacious (Poe 197), he considered himself superior both in power and importance. Likewise, Paul behaves to some extent unrealistically and arrogantly by claiming that God told me (Lawerence 3) when in reality God never tells him anything about his destiny and fortune. Furthermore, Prince Prospero from The Masque of the Red Death and Giovanni from The Painted Door also have a very similar character trait. [The] Prince Prospero, exasperated with anger and the shame of his own cowardice, rushed hastily through the six chambers, while no one followed him due to a mortal terror that had taken possession of everyone. (Poe 203) Prince Prospero is controlled by a frenzy of rage and rage, and is ultimately ravaged by death due to his impetuosity. Likewise, just like Prince Prospero, John is controlled by his own stubbornness and determination. I knew we were going to have a storm, I told him so, but it doesn't matter what I say. Big stubborn fool, he goes his own way anyway (Ross 373). This is a proof of his stubbornness, he has an unshakable mind and has no flexibility in his thinking, which likewise leads to his death. Furthermore, Paul and John both have the same defining characteristics, their self-centeredness and obsessions are also some of his characteristics. their greatest weaknesses, which contribute to their downfalls in the stories. [Paying] no attention to other people, he went about with a kind of stealth, seeking his fortune within himself. He wanted luck, he wanted it, he wanted it (Lawerence 4). Paul is totally controlled by his self-centeredness and pays absolutely no attention to other people. He is very determined, but at the same time uncompromising. Likewise, self-centeredness also played an important role in John's character. He was a slow, unambitious man, content with his farm and his livestock, naively proud of Ann (Ross 367). John is never exposed to the outside world and is always confined to his agricultural environment. All he has on his mind is devotion to work, and it is the devotion he has that prevents him from relaxing and enjoying life. Furthermore, John and Paul misunderstood the needs of other people around them. All they do is provide them with material goods, without truly understanding their concerns. It was something about life that she wanted, not just a house and furniture; something from John, not nice clothes when she would be too old to wear them. But John obviously couldn't understand. It seemed right to him that she should have the clothes, right that he, fit for nothing else, should work fifteen hours a day to give them to her. (Ross 370) Nice clothes are not what Ann has cherished for seven years, she wants to have a better and more meaningful life and treats nice clothes only as.