Lack of agency also makes a character tragic. If a character is constantly pushed around by fate or other characters and has no real power to change their situation. Take Tess from 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'. She is a victim of society's double standards, her family's mistakes, and the men in her life. She tries to fight but is ultimately crushed by the forces against her.
A character can be the most tragic when they face impossible choices. For example, like Sophie in 'Sophie's Choice' who has to decide which of her children will live and which will die in a concentration camp. This kind of choice that goes against all human nature is a major factor in making a character tragic.
In the case of Macbeth, his own ambition combined with the influence of the witches leads him down a tragic path. His actions, driven by his thirst for power, cause him to lose everything, including his sanity and ultimately his life. So, a character's own flaws along with external forces can make them tragic.
One could argue that Hamlet is the most tragic character in fiction. He is burdened with the knowledge of his father's murder, and his mother's hasty remarriage to the murderer. His indecision and melancholy lead him to a downward spiral, and in the end, most of the main characters die. His internal struggle and the web of lies and deceit he is caught in make his story extremely tragic.
Abilities are a big factor. For example, if a character can manipulate time like Doctor Strange in some Marvel stories. He can rewind, fast - forward or even create time loops, which gives him a huge advantage. Another aspect is intelligence. Characters like Batman, who don't have superpowers but are super - intelligent, can outwit most opponents.
One factor is their motivation. If their motivation is purely self - centered and involves harming others on a large scale, they can be seen as very evil. Take Darth Vader from 'Star Wars' for instance. He was initially lured to the dark side by the promise of power, and in the process, he committed many atrocities, like destroying entire planets. However, his character also has some complexity as he later redeemed himself, but during his time as a Sith Lord, he was a symbol of great evil. Another aspect is their methods. Characters who use cruel and sadistic methods to achieve their goals are often regarded as evil. The White Witch from 'The Chronicles of Narnia' froze Narnia in eternal winter and turned many of its inhabitants to stone, showing her extreme cruelty.
A character's power often depends on the context of their fictional world. In a world full of magic, like in 'Harry Potter', someone like Dumbledore is very powerful because of his great magical knowledge and skills. He can perform powerful spells and has a deep understanding of magic. But in a more science - fiction based world, a character like the Doctor from 'Doctor Who' is powerful because of his advanced technology and his ability to travel through time and space.
One factor is when the lovers are separated by external forces like society or family. For example, in 'The Great Gatsby', Gatsby's love for Daisy is hindered by her upper - class status and her marriage. Another factor is death. In 'Love Story' by Erich Segal, the death of the female protagonist makes the love story extremely tragic. Also, misunderstandings can create tragic love novels. If the lovers misinterpret each other's actions or words and it leads to their separation or downfall, as seen in many classic love novels.
A tragic hero in novels is typically a character who has noble qualities. For instance, Brutus in 'Julius Caesar' is an honorable man who loves Rome but gets involved in the conspiracy to kill Caesar. His good intentions are overshadowed by the consequences of his actions. They also face a difficult choice that leads to their downfall. In 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', Dorian has to choose between his moral self and his hedonistic desires, and his wrong choice leads to his destruction.
Power can be defined in many ways. For some, it's raw physical strength like Hulk's in the Marvel universe. He can smash through almost anything with his brute force. But it could also be about intelligence. Characters like Sherlock Holmes have a different kind of power - the power to solve the most complex mysteries. So, a combination of different abilities like strength, intelligence, magic (if in a fantasy setting), and the ability to influence others can make a character the most powerful.
The scope of a character's influence also matters. If a character has the power to control the fate of entire universes, like Eru Ilúvatar in 'The Silmarillion', they are clearly very powerful. Their decisions can create or destroy entire worlds, and all other beings are subject to their will in some way. This kind of overarching power is a key factor in determining the most powerful person in fiction.
Well, extreme cruelty can make a character very unpleasant. For example, if a character enjoys torturing others, either physically or mentally, like some of the villains in horror or thriller novels. They might take pleasure in the pain of others without any remorse, which is really off - putting.