Hamartia
[hah-mar-tee-uh]
noun
The character flaw or error of a tragic hero
that leads to his downfall
FINAL PRESENTATION
My goal is to:
Locate any sort of “hamartia” in each play:
Who has the tragic flaw– where does it
seem to reside?
DISCUSSION

Origin, root of terminology, history &
background

Hamartia’s role in popular literature

Specifics & examples

Conclusion
ORIGIN

Developed by Aristotle in 335 BCE

First used in Aristotle’s work Poetics

His analysis of tragedy constitutes the
core of his discussion.
HAMARTIA IN
LITERATURE
There are several famous displays of hamartia in
literature. Some famous character flaws include:

Oedipus was hasty in temper

Samson was sensually devoted

Macbeth was ambitious

& Othello was proud and jealous
CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLES
Some modern examples of hamartia at play
include:
•
Anakin Skywalker’s anger & angst (Star Wars)
•
Harvey Dent’s lack of forgiveness (Dark Knight)
•
& Cypher’s selfishness and treachery (Matrix)
THE TRAGIC HERO
The tragic hero is defined as someone who
has achieved, or who has the ability to
achieve greatness but who through a
weakness or tragic flaw in their character,
falls into the depths of misery and often to
their death.
KURTZ: “THE TRAGIC HERO”

Kurtz’ weakness was that he lacked the ability to
overcome adversities presented by the jungle.
(i.e. insanity)

Kurtz’ character flaw was that he was greedy
and self-righteous.
SPECIFICS
On page 57 Marlow states why Kurtz went to the
Congo in the first place.
“I had heard that her engagement with Kurtz had been
disapproved by her people. He wasn’t rich enough or
something. He had given me some reason to infer that it
was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove
him out there.”
This quote demonstrates Kurtz’ intent upon entering the
Congo. He was motivated by money but only to earn the
right to wed his intended bride.
SPECIFICS
On pages 54 & 55 examples of Kurtz’ character describe his
personality before departing for the Congo.
Kurtz’ cousin told Marlow that he could have been a “great
musician.”
• A journalist said Kurtz had the potential to be an excellent politician.
“He could get himself to believe anything– anything. He would have
been a splendid leader of an extreme party.” (pg 55)
• No one could deny that whatever he was, and whatever he did, as
•
his cousin said, Kurtz was "a universal genius" (pg 54).
SPECIFICS
Finally Kurtz lost sight of the thin line between corruption
and goodness; as described by the Russian trader on
page 42.
“I had a small lot of ivory the chief of that village near my house
gave me. Well, he wanted it, (Kurtz) and wouldn’t hear reason. He
declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then
cleared out.”
He also says that Kurtz, “raided the country”
Both are great examples of Kurtz’ greed at play.
•
•
The Russian also adds “Kurtz got the Tribe to follow him” an
example of his self-righteousness.
SPECIFICS
•
Kurtz succombs to his character flaws in
sickness, and his infamous last words
solidify his demise, “the horror, the
horror.”
•
It is tragic because Kurtz earned the
money to buy his acceptance, but he
never makes it back to Europe to wed his
“intended” bride.
MORELLO: “THE TRAGIC HERO”

Morello’s weakness was that he was sensually
devoted to his wife to the point that he was
lacking in moral restraint and that he could not
stand up to Dr. Balgon.

Morello’s character flaw was that he was
indecisive and tolerant.

“One degree is not a large distance. On a compass it is scarcely the
thickness of a fingernail. But in certain conditions, one degree can
be a very large distance. Enough to unmake a man.”
SPECIFICS
Morello is established as a mindful and integral
character from the very beginning.

We know this because of his displays of
affection:



Towards his wife
Towards the “infected” crewmember who he makes a
special broth for.
& by his contemplation of a life at the beginning of
the story.
SPECIFICS
Morello witnesses Dr. Balgon feeding his own blood to
the monster and says nothing to the captain or crew.
•
He does so before Dr. Balgon blackmails him with the
cure.
•
He knowingly withholds this vital information. Although
he is suspicious of Dr. Balgon in regards to the
disappearances of two of his crewmates. His
indecisiveness and tolerance get the best of him.
•
By staying silent about the doctors intentions he affirms
our suspicion that he may be sensually devoted and
morally conflicted by the thought of losing his wife.
SPECIFICS
•
Morello states that “Claude was the devil himself.”
Referring to the the doctor for the predicament he has
put him in.
•
Morello chose to remain silent and allow his mates to
die, thus making a vital judgement in error that
ultimately brands him the play’s “tragic hero.”
•
Although Morello’s fate is left unstated whether or not he
dies is irrelevant to this character’s role as the “tragic
hero.” His time served as the monster’s intra venus may
well have sufficed.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It is better to suffer
injustice than to
commit it.
-Socrates
From the Gorgias
CONCLUSION
What I have communicated to you:
•
The origin, history and root of hamartia
•
Examples of hamartia in popular literature
•
The character flaws of two seperate “tragic heroes.”
•
Specific examples of hamartia in both the Heart of
Darkness & The mysterious Explorations of Jasper
Morello
THE END