Hubris in the Protagonists of Catcher in the Rye, Scarlet Letter, and Great Gatsby Aristotle praised Sophocles' King Oedipus as the definitive Greek tragedy; however, he could not have supposed the influence of Oedipus' tragic pride on modern literature and philosophy. Hubris, the only true crime, has had a threefold influence: it is a cause of ruin as well as a characteristic of criminal motivation; it manifests itself in the different protagonists of Salinger, Fitzgerald and Hawthorne; and is forgiven only through repentance for the mistake committed and the complete surrender of pride. The mistaken idea that pride is only a predominant characteristic of crime, rather than a crime itself, would place the tragic hero Oedipus on the same level as serial killer Charles Manson: while both are guilty of committing heinous acts, Oedipus renounces his pride and, ironically suffering from his own proclamation of exile, does penance for his crimes, while Manson shows no remorse for his vile and disturbing bloodshed. Oedipus' final repentance is evidence that he realizes his arrogance and understands his mistakes, however irreparable they may be. All human filth in one combined crime! Unspeakable acts: I don't talk about them anymore. Hide me now, for the love of God, hide me... Touch me and don't be afraid. On no one else but on me alone is the scourge of my punishment. (64)If Oedipus had tried to blame another for his crimes, or had denied his own responsibility for his actions, he would have been no more noble than a common criminal; Oedipus is redeemed by his strength of character. The hamartia of arrogance survives 2,500 years after Aristotle praised King Oedipus as the epitome of Greek tragedy; pride has evolved into an integral characteristic of most literary characters, from J.D. Salinger's angry and disillusioned Holden Caulfield to F. Scott Fitzgerald's idealistic Jay Gatsby to Nathaniel Hawthorne's tortured Reverend Dimmesdale. Holden's pride in his sarcastic perception of the world around him perpetuates his cynicism. and frustration with life, which make him unrealistic and incapable of finding happiness. He believes that he is omniscient and that others "never notice anything" (Salinger 9). Oedipus's belief in his own infallibility makes him equally unrealistic; soon after Oedipus' sins are revealed, the chorus of Elders delivers a Holden-style message of discontent: All the generations of mortal men add up to nothing! Show me the man whose happiness was more than an illusion