How To Write A Tragedy – That Fatal Flaw

In this blog, we look at what makes a tragedy, how to write a tragedy, the different types of tragedies, and some great tips for writers hoping to tackle a tragic novel.

As writers, we might think there’s no appetite for tragic novels these days. But that’s not true. Tragedies still have a place in literature, just like they did more than 2,000 years ago when Aristotle wrote his seminal book Poetics. His famous book gave us the first ideas about how tragedy works in stories.

We should always remember this famous Greek philosopher’s ‘big idea’ about tragedy: catharsis.

Some people think catharsis is only for the main characters, but really, it’s for the readers. You read that right. Catharsis happens when we feel the emotions of the characters (pain, struggle, conflict) along with them. The story lets us experience those feelings, and by the end, we work through them and let them go. We feel lighter, maybe even happy or renewed.

So, What Is A Tragedy?

A tragedy is a story where things end (really) badly for the main character and it usually has some or all of these five elements:

1. The plot is set up so that disaster, ruin, or even death seems almost inevitable for this character.
2. The main character is usually driven by a mistake in judgment or by pride and arrogance (what we call hubris).They ignore warnings along the way. This mistake or weakness is called the tragic or fatal flaw. Think of it as their blind spot. (All good tragedies have it.)
3. This character is often larger than life: someone bold, strong, or special in some way.
4. We feel pity, fear, or even guilt for what happens to them.
5. They don’t have to be a good or bad person. In fact, tragedies often work best when the main character is a mix of both.

Let’s look at Tolstoy’s iconic Anna Karenina to see these five elements at play:

1. Anna’s story ends in disaster. Every choice lead her to isolation, despair, and finally, her tragic death. Her downfall feels unavoidable. Her affair with Vronsky puts her at odds with 19^th century Russian high society, her family, and even herself. The tension grows and grows until it breaks her spirit.
2. Her tragic flaw is her passionate nature and her refusal to compromise. She wants true love and happiness, but her pride and emotional intensity blind her to the consequences.
3. She’s bold, charming, and quite unforgettable. Her emotions are deep and powerful, which makes her story so intense.
4. We really feel her agony and worry about what will happen to her.
5. She isn’t a villain or a saint. This makes her story more believable. We understand her choices, even when we wish she’d chosen differently.

Types Of Tragedy

1. Romance: This type is about love that isn’t allowed by society, family, or religion. The lovers try to fight these rules, but everything is against them. In the end, they lose, and the story ends in sadness and loss. Example: Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck. Read A 10-Step Formula To Writing a Tragic Love Story
2. Family: Here, a family falls apart because of bad luck, secrets, or old conflicts. These stories often deal with betrayal, money problems, or something deep and hidden in the family. Sometimes, in stories with magical realism, the family feels cursed. Example: Louise Erdrich’s LaRose.
3. Psychological: These focus on trauma and look closely at the minds of the characters. The story often explores difficult or toxic relationships or mental illness. Usually, the main character faces deep sadness or thinks a lot about the meaning of life. Example: Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
4. Political Or Social: These books look at power, revenge, and right or wrong in society. The writer often uses the story to show what’s wrong in our world or in groups. Sometimes, they use history to talk about issues today. Examples: Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananathan, Percival Everett’s James, winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize.
5. Revenge: In these stories, someone wants serious payback for an insult or hurt, whether it’s real or not. They usually face a strong enemy. The story often ends with death or ruin for one or both. Sometimes, this type of story can even be funny or satirical. Irony works well here, too. Example: Mystic River by Dennis Lehane

How To Write A Tragedy

1. Make it relevant: Look at how families, relationships, or even whole countries work. Think about the changing ideas of what is right and wrong in politics or society.
2. Don’t lecture: Let your characters, plot, and setting show the tragedy. Trust your reader to come to their own conclusions.
3. Focus on your main character: Give them strong traits, like stubbornness or wilfulness. Let them feel they have a big destiny but remember to make them feel real and human too.
4. Read, read, read: Read books with tragic stories. Look at real events in history where pride brought down people in power.
5. Do your homework: Research about the time and place you’re writing about. This will help your story feel authentic.

The Last Word

Writing tragedy means exploring human weakness and fate with raw, unflinching honesty. If you think about it, tragedy moves us because we see ourselves in these flawed characters.

Source for image: Pixabay

By Anthony Ehlers. Anthony facilitates courses for Writers Write. He writes awesome blog posts and workbooks too.

More Posts From Anthony:

1. What’s Your Story’s Tone?
2. What Is Freewriting & How Do I Use It?
3. What Can Viewpoint Give Your Story?
4. 6 Stereotypes To Avoid In LGBTQIA+ Fiction
5. The Powerful Bonds Of Six Fictional Brothers And Sisters
6. 5 Secrets To Writing A Strong Inciting Incident
7. 5 Reasons To Start Writing A Story With Viewpoint In Mind
8. 7 Extraordinary Authors With Extraordinary Word Counts
9. The 5 Easiest Genres To Plot
10. The 5 Toughest Genres To Plot

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