Leiningen Versus the Ants - Essay

Leiningen Versus the Ants
In “Leiningen Versus the Ants,” Carl Stephenson characterizes Leiningen as an overconfident and prideful farmer.   Leiningen displays pride, which will eventually lead to his failure.   Stephenson shows hubris in Leiningen because the theme he wants the reader to see is that pride is the downfall of man.  
Leiningen demonstrates in his conversation with the Brazilian official that he has too much confidence in himself.   “I’m not going to run from it just because an elemental’s on the way… When I began this model farm plantation three years ago, I took into account all that could conceivably happen to it. And now I’m ready for anything and everything-including your ants.” Leiningen underestimates the ants because he has pride in his farm and in his intelligence.   Leiningen is used to represent the dangers of having too much pride.  
Hubris means extreme haughtiness and arrogance.   Stephenson uses hubris in Leiningen to warn the reader of being prideful.   Leiningen represents the classic example of a man whose confidence turns into their downfall.   Leiningen put his own life and the lives of his workers at risk because he refused to let the ants move him from his land.
Carl Stephenson uses Leiningen to show the reader that hubris is never a good thing to have.   Leiningen is used as an example for the reader to see what can happen to a man that has too much pride.   Stephenson clearly shows that pride is the downfall of man.