What is a tragic flaw and why is it important?

A tragic flaw is the principal defect in character or judgment that leads to the downfall of the tragic hero. Such a defect can be in the form of bias, limitation, or imperfection possessed by a character that affects their actions, motives, or abilities in a hindering or ruinous way.

Why is a tragic flaw an important element in a tragedy?

The literary element shared by Hamlet, Oedipus, and Macbeth In classical tragedy, a tragic flaw is a personal quality or characteristic that leads the protagonist to make choices that ultimately cause a tragedy.

Why is tragic flaw used?

Why Writers Use Tragic Flaw As Aristotle argued, tragic flaws give characters relatability. These flaws allow writers to develop characters on various levels, create complexity in the story, lead characters toward a path of self-discovery, and cause readers to feel sympathy toward the characters.

What are good tragic flaw examples?

Some examples of a tragic flaw include cowardice, ambition, over-protectiveness, and self-sacrifice. Overall, many different traits can be a tragic flaw if they become responsible for death and destruction.

What do you know about tragic flaw?

A tragic flaw is the secret weakness of character that brings about a tragic hero’s downfall.

What does it mean if a hero has a tragic flaw?

hamartia, also called tragic flaw, (hamartia from Greek hamartanein, “to err”), inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favoured by fortune.

What do you understand by tragic flaw?

: a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.

Why was the tragic characters hamartia so important?

This allows the audience to witness the flaw or error in judgment that brings about tragedy for these protagonists. Hamartia also allows characters in popular culture to be fully developed, with complexities and intricacies that humanize them so that the audience can identify with and appreciate their struggles.

What is meant by tragic flaws?

Definition of tragic flaw : a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.

What is tragic flaw in Romeo and Juliet?

In the play of Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, fate controls the character by using their fatal flaws against them, Romeo’s fatal flaw is his impetuousness, Juliet’s fatal flaw is her impulsiveness, and Friar Lawrence’s fatal flaw is that he is blinded by his goal to bring peace to Verona.

Why are tragic heroes important?

A tragic hero is a character that represents the consequences that come from possessing one or more personal flaws or being doomed by a particular fate. Traditionally, the purpose of tragic hero as a literary device is to evoke pity and/or fear in an audience through the protagonist’s flaw and consequential downfall.

What characteristics does a tragic hero have?

Modern authors may take more creative licenses in creating their tragic heroes, but many contemporary reiterations of the tragic hero are based off these six traits.

• Noble Birth.
• Excessive Pride / Hubris.
• Tragic Flaw/ Hamartia.
• Reversal / Peripeteia.
• Self- Realization/ Anagnorisis.
• Excessive Suffering causing catharsis.