HAMARTIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Hamartia is a term derived from Greek tragedy and literary criticism, referring to a critical flaw or error in judgment of a protagonist that leads to their downfall or the tragic outcome of a narrative. The term is often used to describe a tragic hero’s fatal flaw, which subsequently becomes the cause of their own destruction.
In the context of Greek tragedy, hamartia is commonly associated with characters who possess great strengths or noble qualities and yet harbor a specific weakness or vulnerability that ultimately leads to their tragic demise. This character flaw or mistake is usually rooted in their personal qualities, such as hubris (excessive pride), excessive ambition, passion, or an inability to perceive reality accurately. These qualities often manifest in the character's actions, decisions, or moral choices as the story progresses.
Hamartia operates within the framework of destiny or fate, as the character's flaw is often predetermined in order to emphasize the tragic element of the story. It serves to highlight the idea that even the most virtuous individuals are not exempt from their own weaknesses and are subject to the consequences of their actions.
The concept of hamartia has had a lasting impact on literature and has been adopted in various forms to analyze character development and plot construction in a wide range of literary genres, not just limited to classical Greek drama. The term continues to serve as a valuable tool in understanding the complexities of tragic narratives and the exploration of human flaws and their consequences.
-
An error of development marked by defects in tissue-combination.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HAMARTIA
- gamartia
- bamartia
- namartia
- jamartia
- uamartia
- yamartia
- hzmartia
- hsmartia
- hwmartia
- hqmartia
- hanartia
- hakartia
- hajartia
- hamzrtia
- hamsrtia
- hamwrtia
- hamqrtia
- hamaetia
- hamadtia
- iamartia
Etymology of HAMARTIA
The word "hamartia" is derived from Ancient Greek (ἁμαρτία), which translates to "missing the mark" or "error". It comes from the root word "hamartanein", meaning "to miss the target", most commonly used in archery. In literary terms, "hamartia" refers to a tragic flaw or error in judgment committed by the protagonist of a tragedy. The concept originated in ancient Greek Tragedy and was first introduced by Aristotle in his work "Poetics".
Similar spelling words for HAMARTIA
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
