Final answer:
A tragic flaw, or hamartia, is a defect in a character's judgement that causes their downfall, commonly manifested as hubris, or excessive pride. The recognition of this flaw leads to an anagnorisis, which is integral to the character's development and the story's moral lesson. This concept is central in Greek tragedies and other literary works.
Step-by-step explanation:
The defect in a character or judgement that directly causes the character's downfall is known as a tragic flaw. This concept, stemming from Aristotle's analysis of tragedy, is referred to as hamartia in Greek tragedies. A classic example of this is the character of Creon in Antigone, whose tragic flaw is hubris, or excessive pride, and this flaw leads to his downfall. Similarly, in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus's arrogance is his hamartia, pushing him to his tragic end, despite his good intentions. Such a flaw doesn't only affect the character alone, as it often leads to a scene of suffering, where the consequences of the protagonist's hamartia result in hardship or death for others as well.
In the bigger picture, a tragic flaw like hubris is a positive trait taken to an extreme, demonstrating that the attributes of a hero can indeed have a dark side when not balanced. Moreover, the downfall of a character due to a tragic flaw is followed by an anagnorisis or a moment of recognition, as seen in the character's realization of their grave error. This narrative device is central not only to Greek tragedies but also to many forms of literature where profound character development is explored through the consequences of characters' actions.