Part three of a three-part assignment asking you to reflect on different elements of your hamartia, a Greek concept we'll beat to death all semester. This final section consists of a brief 3 page (bar

Part three of a three-part assignment asking you to reflect on different elements of your hamartia, a Greek concept we'll beat to death all semester. This final section consists of a brief 3 page (bare minimum) essay reflecting on how you have inherited elements of your character and connecting this reflection to relevant reading assignments. 

Part 3: Hamartia and Family: a reflection on inherited family/relationships skills and weaknesses.

For this section of the project, focus on close, interpersonal relationships. These relationships can be romantic or platonic or familial: your ability to be a loving partner, spouse, or parent. 

a) Briefly (1/2-3/4 page) summarize the concept of hamartia and include two examples from recent sources (A Doll's House, Educated, The Course of Love) we've covered in class. You'll need to quote and cite carefully here.

b) Describe a positive attribute or skill that you have inherited from your “ancestors” that will help you develop and nurture strong, loving relationships. Tell us from whom and how you inherited this quality and how it plays out in your own personality.  Take some time to express gratitude to the person or people who passed this trait on to you.

b) Describe a negative attribute that you have inherited, one that may act as a hurdle in your ability to love and be loved. Again, tell us from whom and how you came to learn it and how it affects who you are today.  Try to objectively, but perhaps compassionately, understand and describe the prime source of this negative attribute, how it came into being in the first place — how your ancestor him or herself came to inherit it, or what motivates those who act on this attribute etc.

c) Now describe in specific terms what are you going to do about the negative attribute? What concrete steps could you take to keep it from acting as a hurdle, or how might you turn it into a strength? Compare/contrast your solution to those from the readings you cited above  (A Doll's House, Educated, The Course of Love) we've covered in class. Again, you'll need to quote and cite carefully here. Finally, include here as well content from our section  from This Emotional Life etc, such as Existential approaches to developing happiness