Final answer:
The woman whose children were slain because of their mother's pride represents tales from different contexts including Roman law, Greek mythology, and the real-life story of Margaret Garner, reflecting the complexity and multivalence of such narratives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The woman whose children were slain because of their pride is a figure rooted in historical and mythological tales with multiple interpretations. One such tale from Roman history involves the ancient law allowing a father to kill his daughter and her adulterer due to the belief that paternal piety took the welfare of children into account, restricting rash actions by a vengeful husband. Another example arises from Greek mythology, where Niobe bragged about her offspring, leading to their death by the divine archers Apollo and Artemis as a punishment for her excess pride. Additionally, Margaret Garner's tragic real-life story in the pre-Civil War era reveals a mother forced into a harrowing decision to kill her child rather than see them returned to slavery, an ultimate expression of despair and motherly protection rather than pride.