Willys Tragic Flaw and the Effect it Has Upon his Sons in...

Willys Tragic Flaw and the Effect it Has Upon his Sons in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Willys Tragic Flaw and the Effect it Has Upon his Sons Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller concerns itself with the fall of a simple man perpetually in a steadfast state regarding his own failure in a success-driven society. The protagonist of the play, Willy Loman, will follow a tragic trajectory that will eventually lead to his suicide. Arthur Millers tragic play is an accurate portrayal of the typical American myth that sustains an extreme craving for success and a belief in the illusion of the American dream, a dream attainable only by a handful of people. Having chosen a career in sales Willy Loman constantly aspires to become†¦show more content†¦Although Willy is in reality an unsuccessful salesman he continually speaks of himself and of his two sons in his brash ways, as being part of those whom have affluence and destitution, those whom can become great leaders in the world. Linda, Willys wife, honourably stands by him even as he start to slowly degenerate into illusion that he cannot differentiate from reality anymore . To some extent Linda is not part of the solution but rather part of the problem with the familys inability to face reality. Linda loves Willy to the extent of accepting her husbands distorted views of reality and falling herself in his world of dreams and aspirations. In doing so, she is telling her sons without a word that their fathers destructive direction in life is perfectly viable. Linda also vocalises the main conflict between Biff and his father at the very beginning of the play; You know how he admires you. I think if he finds himself, then youll both be happier and fight no more.(p.15) This statement implies the level of control Willy wishes to have on his sons, particularly Biff, as well as his unrealistically high expectations towards them; God Almighty, hell be great yet. A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade away.(p.68). However, Biff being a failure ever since he dropped out of school will desperately try to achieve a better knowledge of himself inst ead of one filtered by his father.Show MoreRelatedWilly Loman: Truly Tragic or Plainly Pathetic? 1581 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom â€Å"Death of a Salesman† gave up his life courageously. Arthur Millers character, Willy Loman, thought the only way he could help his family was to die. After much defeat Willy reflected on his life and said that he was of more value dead than alive (Miller 2173). Many arguments have been made about Willys character; is Willy truly tragic or plainly pathetic? Considering all the factors of Willys life that weighed upon him, the reader should determine that this low man was, indeed, tragic. AristotleRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman Is A Tragedy In The Sense That It Displays1015 Words   |  5 PagesDeath of a Salesman is a tragedy in the sense that it displays the consequences of commitment of one s life towards an idealistic goal such as the American Dream. Willy Loman fails to see that he is an unsuccessful salesman and to escape that harsh reality, he constantly reminisces his past. Which beg the question, is Willy Loman a tragic hero? He may not be a conventional tragic hero but he indeed had a downfall however, he wasn’t in a distinguished position to say the least. 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We might not think that what I just said has anything to do with Theatre, but we need to put in perspective why we now have the theatre we do now. Ancient Greek theatre was not as open to civil human rights as we are today. Non-citizens were third-class peoples and women did not play as largeRead Moreâ€Å"Aristotle’s Definition of the Tragic Hero and Irony in Tragedy† Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman3217 Words   |  13 Pageswhich leads us to his definition of the tragic hero. Aristotle’s conceptualization of tragedy and all that it encompasses is widely revered and accepted; setting the standard previously and contemporaneously. The interpretation of his definition of tragedy is ambiguous, but generally states that tragedy should evoke pity and fear within the viewer for the purpose of catharsis, or purgation of senses sequencing the climax of a tragedy. (Battin) This elicits his definition of the tragic hero, which statesRead MoreThe Changing Relationship Between Individual and Society in Modern Drama3272 Words   |  14 Pages1930s and 40s, German-born writer Bertolt Brecht, produced a series of plays following ideologies common of Nihilist and later Marxist values; Following the second world war, Arthur Miller wrote to American audiences that individuals and their society are equally damning forces on one another. By following Ibsen, Brecht and Miller, three authors from three different countries, backgrounds and time frames, it is possible to witness the changing relationship between individuals and society in modern drama