The Modern Tragedy: Death Of A Salesman :: essays research papers

A Modern TragedyA form of drama in which a person of superior newsworthiness and character is overcome by the very obstacles he/she is struggling to bring defines a catastrophe as most people know it. However, tragedy can reflect another aspect of life the tragedies of the common people. marvelous behavior in these instances may at times be impossible. We expect, from training the first tragedies, that only kings or nobility can be sadal heroes. Arthur Miller himself said, I believe that the common man is as knowing a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings wereThe equal characteristics which were enacted by royal beingsapply to everyone in similar emotional situations. end of a Salesman can be defined as a tragedy, with Willy Loman as the tragic hero. Willy Loman has a tragic flaw characteristic of all tragic heroes, however, it is not necessarily a weakness. Willy has a lot of self-worth, and he is averse to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity, his image of his rightful status. His tragic flaw leads to his demise.A tragic hero begins with a purpose, falls on hard times, but, in the end, gains a better perception. This perfectly describes Willy. Willys initial purpose is to maintain his dignity by pretending in front of his family and not accepting a job that he believes would lower his position. He obviously falls on hard times he loses his job, his sons ar lazy bums, Biff is a thief, he constantly relives his mistakes, and Biff resents his dad because of something that happened years ago. All of these are evidence of the hard times he is having in his life. After a confrontation with Biff, which occurred because of Lindas insistence, Willy gains a better perception of his life. Or, at least, he thinks he does. Willy believes that, by committing suicide, he can gain dignity in the eyes of his family. By doing this, they can live off the insurance money, and he will finally have been able to provide for them.