heroes, their major flaw usually must be overcome (either temporarily or permanently) at some point in the story, often at the climax, by their own determination or skill. For neutral characters, or those that shift allegiance, the major flaw is usually the cause of either their corruption, redemption or both. For the protagonist, the most visible flaw generally serves a more vital interest, as well, as it defines his or her core problem. It is the protagonist's reluctant (and usually unconscious) journey to address this problem that forms the spine of the story, sometimes acting as the MacGuffin to stimulate the plot. Tragic/fatal flaw This is a specific sort of flaw, also known as "Hamartia", which is possessed by Aristotelian tragic heros. It is a flaw which causes an otherwise noble or exceptional character to bring about their own downfall and, often, their eventual death. Examples of this could include hubris, misplaced trust, excessive curiosity, pride and lack of self-control. This fall usually occurs at the beginning of a story, with the story itself concentrating on the consequences or attempted redemption of the fall. Examples Literature Oedipus's downfall is directly linked to arrogance: Oedipus Rex Macbeth suffers from hubris, leading to the murder of Duncan I of Scotland; he later becomes paranoid, leading him to order the deaths of Banquo and the family of Macduff: Macbeth Prince Hamlet is indecisive and self-doubting, which thwarts him in avenging his father's murder: Hamlet Victor Frankenstein suffers from excessive curiosity and irresponsibility, leading to the creation of the monster that destroys his life: Frankenstein Ichabod Crane is selfish and wants to marry Katrina for her money. Sigurd has a vulnerable spot on his back, where a linden leaf fell as he was bathing in dragon's blood: Völsunga saga Agamemnon acts in greed when he takes Briseis away from Achilles, losing the warrior's support in the Trojan War, whereas Achilles was held back by his own arrogance: The Iliad. Odysseus' flaw was an extreme hubris which led him to dishonor the god Poseidon: The Odyssey Cyrano De Bergerac, despite his many accomplishments, suffers from self-doubt because of his huge nose which keeps him from pursuing the woman he loves. Marvin the Paranoid Android suffers from extreme depression, as well as extreme boredom due to his huge yet mostly inactive mind: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tom Riddle's extreme thanatophobia eventually transformed him into