The term
hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία, from ἁμαρτάνειν
hamartánein, which means “to miss the mark” or “to err”. It is most often associated with
Greek tragedy, although it is also used in
Christian theology.
Hamartia as it pertains to dramatic literature was first used by Aristotle in his Poetics. In tragedy, hamartia is commonly understood to refer to the protagonist’s error or flaw that leads to a chain of plot actions culminating in a reversal from their good fortune to bad. What qualifies as the error or flaw can include an error resulting from ignorance, an error of judgement, a flaw in character, or sin. The spectrum of meanings has invited debate among critics and scholars, and different interpretations among dramatists.