At the beginning, Elesin is the respected horseman of the king who plans to do his sacred duty and committ suicide. He's also portrayed as a ladies' man who has a difficult time resisting beautiful women. This is his fatal flaw. He allows his desire for a beautiful woman to distract him, and he ends up not killing himself. Everyone loses their respect for him, and by the end,  Elesin is shamed. His son kills himself in Elesin's place, and Elesin manages to kill himself with his chains. Because Elesin allowed his lust to control him, he ends up losing everything.