History Main / TragicMistake

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'''s characters tend to fall victim to the inevitable hubris of their {{Tragic Flaw}}s, but a couple of them can pin their failure to definitive points of no return. Eddard turning down the help of Renly and Littlefinger and warning Cersei that he knew her secret, expecting her to flee to safety, resulted in [[spoiler:her killing the king and installing her son, who has him executed for treason]]. Robb's decision to marry Jeyne Westerling sets off the events leading to the Red Wedding.

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' has a couple of them in their various story-arcs. Robb's decision to marry Jeyne Westerling sets off the events leading to the Red Wedding. Eddard's trust in Littlefinger was quite a bit worse than this, given that Littlefinger is a {{Chessmaster}} who ''told'' Ed that he was not to be trusted.

In a formal {{Tragedy}}, there is a specific scene where the TragicHero is given a clear choice, and they choose wrongly. Often this wrong choice can be blamed on the hero's FatalFlaw, but sometimes they just get screwed over by fate. (Classic Greek theater liked to give their tragic heroes dilemmas with [[MortonsFork no correct choice]].)

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* ''{{Scarface}}'': Tony makes many mistakes, but the point of no return was when he [[spoiler: killed Sosa's hitman to prevent the unnecessary murder of innocents]], antagonizing the only person who could have helped him out of his own mess.

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** In season six, [[spoiler:Castiel]] chooses not to seek Dean's help [[spoiler: in fighting the civil war in Heaven,]] and instead makes a DealWithTheDevil, [[spoiler:[[KickTheDog breaks Sam's mind]], and [[MoralEventHorizon kills his angel friends]] so he can gain the power of Purgatory's souls to win the war]] to prevent the Apocalypse from being restarted. ''Then'' he [[spoiler:[[AGodAmI declares himself the new god]].]] In season seven, [[spoiler:[[JumpedOffTheSlipperySlope things go downhill from there]] as Castiel's actions unleash [[EldritchAbomination unkillable monsters]] on the world.]]

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* ''Theatre/OedipusTheKing'' straddles the line between being undone by a fatal flaw and being screwed over by fate. The crime for which he was punished was that he killed his father and married his mother--but due to circumstances completely beyond his control, Oedipus never knew that they were related to him. On the other hand, you could say that this would not have happened if Oedipus had not, in his pride, quarreled with and killed another chariot driver on the road--a chariot driver who ultimately turned out to be Oedipus' father.
** Another spin on Oedipus' fatal mistake is not the initial killing--that's just bad luck. The mistake is that years later he keeps asking questions until he finds out the truth, leading to the suicide of his mother/wife and his on anquished self-blinding.

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* In the fourth season of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', Dean presents Sam with the choice of either dissolving his alliance with the demon Ruby and giving up drinking demon blood to gain the power to defeat Lilith, as per the angels' requests/warnings, or walking out and "not being brothers anymore". Since Dean [[BerserkButton called him a monster]] and "closed that door" on him just like their father had done, and Sam believed what he was doing was the only way to prevent the Apocalypse, it's more believable how Ruby and the [[LightIsNotGood angels]] deceive Sam so he becomes Lilith's/Ruby's UnwittingPawn and, in his efforts to stop the Apocalypse, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally busts Lucifer out of Hell]] to start TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
** In Season 6, [[spoiler:Castiel]] chooses not to seek Dean's help [[spoiler: in fighting the civil war in Heaven,]] and instead [[spoiler: makes a DealWithTheDevil, [[KickTheDog breaks Sam's mind]], and [[MoralEventHorizon kills his angel friends]] so he can gain the power of Purgatory's souls to win the war and prevent the Apocalypse from being restarted. ''Then'' he [[AGodAmI declares himself the new god]].]] In season seven, [[spoiler:[[JumpedOffTheSlipperySlope things go downhill from there]] as Castiel's actions unleash [[EldritchAbomination unkillable monsters]] on the world.]]

* In the 4th season of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', [[spoiler:Dean]] presents [[spoiler:Sam]] with the choice of either [[spoiler:dissolving his alliance with the demon Ruby/giving up drinking demon blood to gain power, as per the angels' requests/warnings, or walking out and "not being brothers anymore".]] Only it wasn't so much a choice as force, making the decision a bit easier [[spoiler: the following deception by Ruby more believable, and Sam becoming Lillith's/Ruby's UnwittingPawn and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally busting Lucifer out of Hell]].]]
** In Season 6 [[spoiler: Castiel]] chooses not to seek Dean's help [[spoiler: in fighting the civil war in Heaven]] and instead [[spoiler: makes a DealWithTheDevil]]

* ''{{Medea}}'': Though Medea is the protagonist, Jason is the borderline FallenHero, victim of his own pride and machismo.

* ''{{Hamlet}}'': The prince learns that Claudius was indeed guilty of murdering his father, and catches Claudius unawares while praying. Instead of avenging his father right there, Hamlet decides that it's not good enough--he wants Claudius to die with unpaid sin on his soul, so killing him in the act of confessing won't do. Hamlet resolves to kill Claudius later. The fallout: Hamlet does attempt to kill Claudius later, during his confrontation with his mother, only he kills Polonius instead by mistake. His death drives Ophelia to madness and death, and angers Laertes enough to challenge Hamlet to a duel--the duel that results in the death of nearly every named character.

* ''{{MacBeth}}'': The title character's point of no return came when he killed King Duncan.
* ''OedipusTheKing'' straddles the line between being undone by a fatal flaw and being screwed over by fate. The crime for which he was punished was that he killed his father and married his mother--but due to circumstances completely beyond his control, Oedipus never knew that they were related to him. On the other hand, you could say that this would not have happened if Oedipus had not, in his pride, quarreled with and killed another chariot driver on the road--a chariot driver who ultimately turned out to be Oedipus' father.

* In ''RomeoAndJuliet'', Romeo's "point of no return" was his killing of Tybalt in vengeance for Mercutio, leading to his banishment from Verona. Granted, Tybalt was a supreme {{Jerkass}} who probably deserved it, but everything still goes to hell for both lovers because of it.

This moment may not be obvious at the time, but looking back, it becomes clear that this moment was crucial to the hero's tragic downfall. The results of this bad choice lead inexorably towards the hero's catastrophic end--had the hero chosen correctly at this point, the [[WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis catastrophe could have been averted]].

* In the 4th season of {{Supernatural}}, [[spoiler:Dean]] presents [[spoiler:Sam]] with the choice of either [[spoiler:dissolving his alliance with the demon Ruby/giving up drinking demon blood to gain power, as per the angels' requests/warnings, or walking out and "not being brothers anymore".]] Only it wasn't so much a choice as force, making the decision a bit easier [[spoiler: the following deception by Ruby more believable, and Sam becoming Lillith's/Ruby's UnwittingPawn and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally busting Lucifer out of Hell]].]]

* In the 4th season of {{Supernatural}}, [[spoiler:Dean]] presents [[spoiler:Sam]] with the choice of either [[spoiler:dissolving his alliance with the demon Ruby/giving up drinking demon blood to gain power, as per the angels' requests/warnings, or walking out and "not being brothers anymore".]] Needless to say, he chooses wrong, [[spoiler:becoming Lillith's/Ruby's UnwittingPawn and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally busting Lucifer out of Hell]].]]

* This is what pushes [[TheDragon Redcloak]] into AntiVillain (or flat-out villain) territory in ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'' prequel book ''StartOfDarkness''. [[spoiler: His brother Right-Eye decides that nothing they accomplish working with Xykon is worth his casual slaughter of their own troops, and acquires a weapon that can destroy Xykon despite him being a lich. Redcloak, on the other hand, thinks that it will all have been meaningless if he backs out, and kills Right-Eye. To make matters worse, Xykon reveals that he already knew about Right-Eye's plan and had taken steps to protect himself, but wanted to see what Redcloak would do.]]

* Though it's arguable that ''SweeneyTodd'''s hesitation in his first attempt to kill Judge Turpin, a la Hamlet, was the point of no return for him, his ''real'' point of no return was [[spoiler:when he killed the Beggar Woman, who he did not know was actually his wife, because he had no time left before the Judge showed up for the second and last time]].

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* This is what pushes [[TheDragon Redcloak]] into AntiVillain (or flat-out villain) territory in TheOrderOfTheStick prequel book StartOfDarkness. [[spoiler: His brother Right-Eye decides that nothing they accomplish working with Xykon is worth his casual slaughter of their own troops, and acquires a weapon that can destroy Xykon despite him being a lich. Redcloak, on the other hand, thinks that it will all have been meaningless if he backs out, and kills Right-Eye. To make matters worse, Xykon reveals that he already knew about Right-Eye's plan and had taken steps to protect himself, but wanted to see what Redcloak would do.]]

* ''{{Suikoden}} 2'': [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans Jowy]] had the heroes in an Ambush and could've easily killed them off - except [[MagnificentBastard Shu]] threw [[MoralityPet Pilika]] at him. He lets the group go, deciding he couldn't risk harming her. His strategist remarks he blew his chance.
** Fallout: The War continues on, turning in the hero's favor, and Jowy is ousted from the throne. ([[MultipleEndings What happens depends on the player's choice.]])

The literary term for this is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamartia hamartia]], a Greek term from Aristotle's ''Poetics'' (and an admittedly vagely-defined one--it can also be interpreted as a FatalFlaw). Which also means this device is OlderThanFeudalism.

* ''ThereWillBeBlood'' has a moment in the middle where Daniel Plainview is about to enjoy a meal with his son H.W. in a restaurant. They've been apart while H.W. was at a school for the deaf, and Daniel has been trying to reform because his lifestyle indirectly led to H.W.'s deafness. It looks like he's about to turn over a new leaf and create a healthy relationship with his adopted son when a businessman who declined an offer of his(?) earlier in the movie walks in. His {{pride}} bubbles up, he makes a scene and he reverts to his highly confrontational self. From here, ItGotWorse.

* This is what pushes [[TheDragon Redcloak]] into AntiVillain (or flat-out villain) territory in TheOrderOfTheStick prequel book StartOfDarkness. [[spoiler: His brother Right-Eye has decided that nothing they accomplish by working with Xykon is worth the way he casually slaughters their troops, and tells Redcloak he has a weapon that can destroy Xykon despite him being a lich. Redcloak, on the other hand, thinks that all the deaths will have been meaningless if he backs out, and kills Right-Eye. To make matters worse, Xykon reveals that he ''already knew'' about Right-Eye's plan and had taken steps to protect himself, but wanted to see what Redcloak would do.]]

* In the 4th season of {{Supernatural}}, [[spoiler:Dean]] presents [[spoiler:Sam]] with the choice of either [[spoiler:dissolving his alliance with the demon Ruby/giving up drinking demon blood to gain power, as per the angels' requests/warnings, or walking out and "not being brothers anymore".]] Needless to say, he chooses wrong, [[spoiler:becoming Lillith's/Ruby's XanatosSucker and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally busting Lucifer out of Hell]].]]

* ''{{Heat}}'', Neil [=McCauley=] in ''{{Heat}}'' would have gotten away from the aftermath of the heist he pulled scot free had he just stuck to his regimented game plan and not decided to make an impulsive detour to settle scores with the man who betrayed him instead of going straight to the airport with the woman he loves. Doing this alerts his WorthyAdversary Lt. Vincent Hanna that he's still in town and where he is, he gets cornered and eventually shot dead.

* ''{{Heat}}'', Neil [=McCauley=] in ''{{Heat}}'' would have gotten away scot free had he not decided to make a detour to settle scores with the man who betrayed him instead of going straight to the airport with the woman he loves. Doing this alerts his WorthyAdversary Lt. Vincent Hanna that he's still in town and where he is, he gets cornered and eventually shot dead.

* ''{{Heat}}'', Neil McCauley in ''{{Heat}}'' would have gotten away scot free had he not decided to make a detour to settle scores with the man who betrayed him instead of going straight to the airport with the woman he loves. Doing this alerts his WorthyAdversary Lt. Vincent Hanna that he's still in town and where he is, he gets cornered and eventually shot dead.

*''{{Hamlet}}'': The prince learns that Claudius was indeed guilty of murdering his father, and catches Claudius unawares while praying. Instead of avenging his father right there, Hamlet decides that it's not good enough--he wants Claudius to die with unpaid sin on his soul, so killing him in the act of confessing won't do. Hamlet resolves to kill Claudius later.
**The fallout: Hamlet does attempt to kill Claudius later, during his confrontation with his mother, only he kills Polonius instead by mistake. His death drives Ophelia to madness and death, and angers Laertes enough to challenge Hamlet to a duel--the duel that results in the death of nearly every named character.

* This is what pushes Redcloak into AntiVillain (or flat-out villain) territory in TheOrderOfTheStick prequel book StartOfDarkness. [[spoiler: His brother Right-Eye has decided that nothing they accomplish by working with Xykon is worth the way he casually slaughters their troops, and tells Redcloak he has a weapon that can destroy Xykon despite him being a lich. Redcloak, on the other hand, thinks that if he backs out now, there won't have been any point to all those deaths, and kills Right-Eye. To make matters worse, Xykon reveals that he ''already knew'' about Right-Eye's plan and had taken steps to protect himself, but wanted to see what Redcloak would do.]]