Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller - To what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero?

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Essay Assessment: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

  • To what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero?

Death of a Salesman is the story of Willy Loman, a middle-class salesman who, in the course of a single day, comes to realize that the American Dream, which he has pursued for 40 years, has failed him. Willy's relentless, but naive pursuit of success has not only affected his sense of his own worth but has dominated the lives of his wife Linda and his sons Biff and Happy. In the course of the play he realizes that his true wealth lies in being appreciated and respected by his family, and in one final attempt to secure his personal dignity and provide a future for his sons through his life insurance, he commits suicide.

In my opinion, Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero but in answering whether or not Willy Loman fits the description of a tragic hero, it is essential to examine the concept of the tragic hero in modern and traditional opinion.

In the first B.C, a Greek dramatist known as Aristotle started to write a series of plays called the tragedies. The plays revolved around a great man, such as a king or war hero, who had a tragic flaw. This flaw would eventually become his downfall and he would fall from his glory. Through out the play the hero has many opportunities to overcome his mistakes, but he does not follow these opportunities and this contributes to his downfall. His downfall however, doesn’t go about unnoticed and unimportant, as even his death has a cause and most tragic heroes die with a moment of realization which states that all their suffering did not go in vain.

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In terms of traditional definitions, Willy does not fit the bill of a tragic hero, as he is an ordinary man. Some critics argue on his very name “Loman” or “a low-man” saying Miller originally intended to use his name as a pun. His character lacks heroic stature, and not only does he possess a single tragic flaw, but several which collectively contribute to his downfall. For example, he is infidel, to his adoring wife Linda, which contributes to his guiltiness and delusional nature.

Arthur Miller, in writing The Death of a Salesman attempted to redefine the norms set ...

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