Hamartia (Noun)
Meaning
The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Macbeth's hamartia was his insatiable ambition, which drove him to commit regicide and ultimately led to his own demise.
- Oedipus' hamartia was his pride and stubborn refusal to believe the prophecy, leading him to unwittingly fulfill it.
- The tragic hero of the novel, Jay Gatsby, was ultimately destroyed by his hamartia of romanticizing the past and his love for Daisy.
- Achilles' hamartia was his pride and rage, which led him to abandon his comrades and fight Hector alone.
- Othello's hamartia was his jealousy, which Iago exploited, ultimately causing him to mistakenly kill his own wife.