Hamartia
Definition of Hamartia Hamartia is a literary device that reflects a character’s tragic or fatal flaw, or mistake in judgment, that ultimately leads to their downfall. This term originated with Aristotle as a means of describing an error or frailty that brings about misfortune for a tragic hero. Hamartia, as a concept, is closely related to and interchangeable with the term tragic flaw, as they both lead to the downfall of a protagonist in a tragedy. However, hamartia can also be interpreted as a mistake based on outside circumstances rather than a character’s personal frailty. For example, in Oedipus The King by Sophocles, Oedipus is considered a classic tragic hero and his hamartia is complex. Most people agree that Oedipus displays the tragic flaw of hubris, and that his stubborn, impulsive, and arrogant nature cause him to make wrong decisions that lead to his downfall. However, it is also a lack of knowledge and information about his identity and that of other character...