Tragic Flaw (Noun)
Meaning
The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Hamlet's tragic flaw is his indecisiveness, which prevents him from taking swift action against his uncle and ultimately leads to his demise.
- Macbeth's tragic flaw is his unchecked ambition, which drives him to commit a series of murders and ultimately destroys him.
- The protagonist's tragic flaw of hubris causes him to underestimate the consequences of his actions and leads to his downfall.
- Oedipus's tragic flaw is his inability to listen to others and his refusal to accept the truth, which ultimately seals his fate.
- Jay Gatsby's tragic flaw is his obsessive love for Daisy, which blinds him to reality and ultimately leads to his tragic demise.