A tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero. This character defect or mistake, often rooted in excessive pride or a blind spot, makes the hero's destruction inevitable.
From Greek 'hamartia' meaning 'error' or 'failure,' literally 'missing the mark' (from archery). Aristotle used this term in 'Poetics' to explain why tragic heroes, despite being generally good people, deserve their fate through their own actions or character flaws.
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