The downfall of Bear Stearns and Co. shares the tropes of a Greek Tragedy (following the pattern of http://antigonejournal.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/what-is-greek-tragedy/):

• Olbos: the initial prosperity, quite apparent from Bear's track record
• Hubris: Bear's reputation is not one of courtesy (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/18/business/NA-FIN-US-Bear-Stearns-Employees.php)
• Phthonis: the gods' jealousy and the ensuing warnings. Chatter of one Wall St. major's demise could be heard as early as last August. The prime candidate was Bear, the first to be hit with the forced liquidation of two hedge funds it controlled.
• Ate: persistence in reckless behavior. This was in the eyes of the historian beholder as far as the "long term hubris'' is concerned. Since August, and until the beginning of last week, it seemed it was business as usual at Bear's.
• Nemesis: the eventual ruin that the gods's retribution brings to bear.