Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hamartia
noun
huh-mar-tee-uh
Definition
Hamartia refers to a fatal flaw or error in judgment that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero in literature.
Examples
- In Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the protagonist’s hamartia is his excessive ambition, which leads to his tragic end.
- Oedipus’s hamartia is his inability to see the truth about his own identity, resulting in devastating consequences.
Meaning
The term is often used to describe a character’s tragic flaw that causes their ultimate failure or demise, which is a key concept in Greek tragedy.
Synonyms
- flaw
- error
- shortcoming
