Hamartia is an ancient Greek term used by Aristotle for the tragic hero in his work 'Poetics.' Aristotle, the disciple of Plato, describes the tragic hero as a distinguished person having a very high position in life, falls into misfortune on account of hamartia or tragic flaw. So, according to him hamartia means error of judgment that causes exceptional suffering leading to the death of the tragic hero.
Shakespeare really wrote tragedies of great heights and earned exemplary category. One of them is King Richard II, a historical tragedy. His character, King Richard II, lacks the power of decision that makes him unable to confront the changing situation. More over, it is the lack of his wisdom that drags him into the swamp of sycophancy and keeps him making grave errors, which perish him.
His first tragic flaw is that he gets Gloucester assassinated.From the dialogues of Bolingbroke, it comes on the plate form that Mowbray was assigned to kill Gloucester and Bolingbroke was ready to fight a duel with him. Moreover, the old John of Gaunt accuses him of his involvement in the murder of Gloucester on the different places. He hints at the king as assassin. Since he is weak before the king, he puts it to the Nature for justice with a belief that there is delay but no deletion. The old John of Gaunt, being a patriot and kith and kin of the king, wants to realize and condemn his involvement in this murder, which spoils the name and fame of his country and royal blood. Actually his Endeavour is to correct him but his failure makes prophecy that such sins are going to take him fast to deposing him.
His second tragic flaw is that he banishes Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Mowbray was going to be the bone of contention between the king and his relatives. Bolingbroke gets knowledge that Mowbray is a traitor and killer of Gloucester. Apart from it he has performed other slapdash deeds, disclosing his disloyalty to the king. He calls the both warriors and claims to be impartial in case of duel. But on the counsel of his flatterers, he changes his mind and announces the banishment of both under the pretext of maintaining peace in the country. He announces lifetime banishment for Mowbray, whereas Bolingbroke is banished for ten years and later six years on the interference of his uncle, the father of Bolingbroke.
It seemed to be very strange that he did not allow them to fight a duel. In my opinion such banishment was not in his favour. It was equal to create restlessness in the nation. Besides it must bring doubt among the public that he has got his uncle murdered by Mowbray. So he tries to hide his crime. It is a serious flaw of the king. If he really wanted to save himself, he should not stop them from fighting duel till one of them could kill the other. After taking the advantage of time he could kill the other.
His third tragic flaw is more advantageous to Bolingbroke. The old John of Gaunt falls ill seriously and the king goes to visit him. He, from death bed, rebukes and condemns his weaknesses, and his speech provokes him. He, in rage, utters mean and shameful words against his uncle. When his uncle dies, he confiscates his property that convinces the public about innocence of Bolingbroke and ascertains his personal animosity towards the old John of Gaunt and his brave son. Besides this tragic flaw encourages the exiled warrior to come back and seize his legacy from the king. So this tragic flaw wins favours of the public for Bolingbroke and paves the way for dethroning him.
His fourth tragic flaw is that he imposes heavy taxes on the nation and makes the flatterers all in all. His flatterers, who misguide and misuse him with their counsels, surround him. He is too witless and credulous to distinguish between right and wrong. The flatterers like locusts were making the country hollow and barren. He licenses them to do every thing. They impose heavy taxes, rob the noble men of their properties and violate laws. These actions on the part of his flatterers make the nation sad and, in reaction, it becomes ready to rebel against such injustice, but there is the lack of leading figure.
His last tragic flaw is that he himself goes to Ireland for curbing rebellion having appointed York as regent of England. Although York is faithful to the king, he is the follower of justice; even so, the king hands over such a huge responsibility to him. After his departure for Ireland, Bolingbroke, the banished warrior, comes back without ending the period of banishment with a view to retrieving his legacy.
On the arrival of Bolingbroke, York stands on the horn of dilemma.In beginning he condemns his coming back before the end of the period of banishment, but later he is moved and won by him with words. The nation was clean tired of the king, so it supported Bolingbroke and rejected the king. Indeed, his appointing York as the regent of England and going to Ireland was one of the major fatal flaws, which made his tragedy inevitable.
It becomes obvious that the main cause of his catastrophe is flattery. Besides the dramatist suggests that it is the flattery that churns the spirit of ambition, jealousy and hatred in kings, princes, and nobles that's why they forget to work for the welfare of the public and, in consequence, the civil war erupts.
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