Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex - 1348 Words

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero can be distinguished as one who can identify the source of his downfall. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman’s character refutes Aristotle’s theory, as he is notorious for blinding himself from the truth which appears quite obvious to others around him. As a salesman throughout his life, Willy’s set his life’s goals on materialistic things and ultimately he does not achieve those goals. Distinctly opposite to Willy, Oedipus in the play Oedipus Rex enters life, as a nobleman who inherits his wealth. Although both characters experience a tragic collapse, Oedipus comes to the realization of the tragic event which ultimately leads to his downfall, while Willy never has a moment realization of either his downfall or the reason for it. Through the analysis of Aristotle’s theory of a tragic hero, it is revealed that Oedipus’ character models the characteristics of a tragic hero as well as undergoing anagnorisis, while Willy’s character fails to exemplify these qualities. As part of Aristotle’s theory, there are numerous qualities a character must embody to be regarded as a tragic hero. These qualities include: being born into nobility; agonised by a lapse in their decisions; experienced a downfall; and coming to the realization of personal accountability for their downfall. Aristotle’s theory initially appears to be expressed through both Willy and Oedipus, however with further examination; Oedipus appears to support the title of a tragicShow MoreRelatedHamartia in Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman834 Words   |  3 PagesHamartia in Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman Hamartia is defined as a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero. Aristotle defines a tragic hero to be a man â€Å"who is not completely good and just, whose misfortune is brought out not by vice or immorality, but by some error or weakness.† The three key requirements of Aristotle in regards to a tragic hero are; a high social standing, goodness or moral excellence, or error committed by the hero in unawareness or ignorance. Two quality examplesRead MoreThe Hamartia of Blindness in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex1048 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hamartia of Blindness in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex â€Å"Tragedy is an imitation not of men but of a life, an action†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Aristotle). Tragedy is not about learning of certain characters, but rather learning about life itself. The inability to confront reality is a matter that takes place both in everyday life and in both plays. Despite the differences in both plays, Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex, the theme of being unable to confront reality is revealed through the protagonists’ sharedRead MoreComparing Oedipus Rex And Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1255 Words   |  6 Pagestwo works such as Oedipus Rex, which is a playwright written by the great Sophocles and another playwright named Death Of A Salesman written by Arthur Miller. c. Through out the years, there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not Death Of A Salesman is considered to be a tragedy, unlike Oedipus Rex which clearly is. d. I feel these two plays can compare in a multitude of ways despite being written in different historical times. II. Body Paragraphs a. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is the protagonistRead MoreIn Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex, pride plays an integral part to the development of the1300 Words   |  6 PagesIn Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex, pride plays an integral part to the development of the plot. In each play, the hamartia for both Willy and Oedipus is pride, along with other minor things. Willy’s and Oedipus’ sense of self-worth seems to come from their pride, however misguided it may seem. Pride is the hamarita which connects Willy and Oedipus, in which case pride causes them to live in their past and prevents them from seeing the present, resulting in their tragic ending. For Oedipus, prideRead Moreâ€Å"Aristotle’s Definition of the Tragic Hero and Irony in Tragedy† Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman3217 Words   |  13 Pagesnot. Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman are three tragic and relatively prominent plays, all written in different time periods, which can be examined comparatively with Aristotle’s philosophy of the tragic hero and may draw certain parallel to one another by means of dramatic irony. Oedipus Rex, written in approx. 428 B.C., quite literally is the embodiment of Aristotle’s explanation of the tragic hero. It is also to be noted that Aristotle himself often exemplified Oedipus in hisRead MoreComparing Aristotle and Miller ´s View on Tragedy1230 Words   |  5 Pagesis plot driven, and if the plot is set then there is no way around it. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is paying for the sins of his father King Laios. Laios was given horrible future by the Gods for angering them when he rapes another man. He was given a prediction that his son would murder him, and would marry his mother, Queen Jocaste. To prevent the prediction from happening Laios sent his shepherd to kill Oedipus, but gave him to a messenger from a different kingdom for another royal familyRead More Willy Loman as Tragic Hero of Death of a Salesman Essay1519 Words   |  7 PagesWilly Loman as Tragic Hero of Death of a Salesman       Willy Loman, the title character of the play, Death of Salesman, exhibits all the characteristics of a modern tragic hero. This essay will support this thesis by drawing on examples from Medea by Euripedes, Poetics by Aristotle, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, and Shakespeares Julius Caesar, while comments by Moss, Gordon, and Nourse reinforce the thesis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Death of Salesman, by Arthur Miller, fits the characteristics of classicRead More Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, Willy Loman Comparison Essay1541 Words   |  7 Pagesreputation can often result in a sickly, perverse distortion of reality. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, a man well known for his intellect and wisdom, finds himself blind to the truth of his life, and his parentage. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet also contains a character that is in search of the truth, which ultimately leads to his own demise, as well as the demise of many around him. Arthur Miller’s play, The Death of a Salesman, tells of a tragic character so wrapped up in his delusional world, that realityRead MoreEssay Death of a Salesman, Tragic Hero. Willy Loman.1503 Words   |  7 PagesTo what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s rules? Arthur Miller presents his play ‘Death of a Salesman’ in the ancient form of a tragedy. Aristotle has defined his idea of the ‘perfect’ tragedy in his text, ‘Poetics’ (350 BC).Here he suggests that the protagonist must fall from an elevated social standing as a result of a â€Å"fatal flaw† within the character; the fall from the main character creates resolution to the play which is seen as just; finally, AristotleRead MoreSophocles Oedipus Rex as Modern Tragedy Essay examples1184 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Rex and Tragedy Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is, in short, the story of a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. It certainly sounds like a tragedy, doesn’t it? But the classification and definition of ‘tragedy’ are one of the many things widely disputed in the realm of literary studies. So, for the purposes here we’ll use Aristotle’s five criteria of a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw or mistake, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsis