Word for the tragic hero's journey

Question

I'm looking for a word that describes the tragic hero's journey. Basically I want a word that parallels the word "odyssey" but entails a tragic fall at the end. The way I want to use this word is in

Winston* embarks upon a tragic _____, eventually dying as an individual

I've considered using the word "odyssey" but to me that sounds wrong and connotes a sense of an epic hero, whereas I'm arguing Winston* is a tragic hero.

*For context, Winston is the main character from George Orwell's 1984.

Answer 1

Given that Winston appears to end the story having given up his quest, and succumbed to the establishment (almost?) entirely, several things spring to mind:

• @Brad’s answer above is good enough (it is a journey)
• It’s really more of a descent than a pilgrimage
• His downfall suggests antihero (possibly hyphenated) is a better term for the protagonist
• In fact, downfall might be a good term for his arc
• You could do worse than start with downfall in a thesaurus and look at a few of its near neighbours

Answer 2

Perhaps a simple JOURNEY would fit the bill

Answer 3

Here are some words that you may use in this situation:

• voyage
• traversal
• pilgrimage

I would use the latter if your hero is on a journey for a noble intent.

Answer 4

Winston embarks upon a tragic wandering, eventually dying as an individual. (or even maunder - an aimless wander vocabulary.com)

He embarks on his guts, wanders, is ensnared and he and his cause suffer for it.

wandering vocabulary.com

traveling about without any clear destination “she followed him in his wanderings and looked after him”

Synonyms: roving, vagabondage

Types: drifting aimless wandering from place to place

Type of: travel, traveling, traveling the act of going from one place to another

adj having no fixed course “his life followed a wandering course”

Synonyms: erratic

unsettled
not settled or established