Hamartia: Difference between revisions

Oedipus' hastiness in temper and ignorance is considered a [[http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/engl257/Classical/hamartia.htm/ classic example]] of hamartia in literature. To some writers, Samson's excessive adoration for his wife and Macbeth's excessive ambition would be considered the 'hamartia' to those characters but Aristotle negates that notion. Aristotle's makes the claim that the term's meaning correlates more with "mistake" rather than "flaw." The mistake made by the protagonist in the story is what leads to the tragedy of the story, not the flaw. Aristotle argues that the faux pas of the protagonist leads to their consequences in the tragedy.

The term 'hamartia' correlates more with a protagonist in a story making a 'error' or 'mistake,' which ultimately leads to their downfall. A protagonist's is not labeled as a flawed in their character, but a flawed in their decision making in a particular situation. Their lapse in judgment is the result of usually not being aware of the consequences of their choice.

Presenting the "tragic flaw" in the protagonist as part of their identity gives the audience a sense of disrespect towards the hero. The tragic flaw serves as the weakness of the hero because of their identity