Thursday, February 9, 2012
Death of a Salesman and Tragedy and the Common Man
Are there any comparisons between Tragedy and the Common Man and Death of a Salesman? Did you notice any similarities between the two readings? If so, what are the similarities? What does Tragedy and the Common Man show or tell us about Death of a Salesman?
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There are some similarities about how Miller describes his idea of tragedy and what happens in Death of a Salesman. Miller says that there has to be some optimsim but the character has to work towards a goal that he can not achieve. This happens in Death of a Salesman with Willy; he works really hard but never really gets anywhere in the end. However there is still so optimism throughout the story because you are always hoping that maybe things will work out in the end. Though they never do. Death of a salesman can be considered a tragic story in millers eyes because of these ideas and many more.
ReplyDeleteIn Death of a Salesman Willy's main concern in life is maintaining how people view him. He believes that people respect him, and love him when he comes to town. However, this is an extremely heightened view of himself. Although we learn this as the reader, Willy is not aware of peoples true feelings of him. So, he continues on trying to maintain this as well as his personal dignity. This is exactly how Miller describes a tragic character in Tragedy and the Common Man. He says, "a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing -- his sense of personal dignity". One example in the play where Willy shows that, that is what he wants to attain is how he constantly thinks that Biff is being spiteful towards him.
ReplyDeleteBased on reading a Tragedy and the common man it suggests that a comedy is more pessimistic than a tragedy. Since a Tragedy is about realization and striving for more and perfection you could perceive yourself as "higher self". While a comedy just makes fun of the situation of the character and there is no realization which is what makes it more pessimistic. In the Death of a Salesman Willy does dream about becoming successful this could suggest that he is becoming a “higher self”. But what makes Willy’s story a tragedy is that we feel for him and it suggests this in Tragedy of a common man when it states that "Above all else, tragedy requires the finest appreciation by the writer of cause and effect."
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Willy could be considered a tragic hero because he never really tries to "find himself", but instead just goes along with his life as a salesman even though he has bigger dreams. Miller says that a common man can be a hero "to the extent of his willingness to throw all he has into the contest, the battle to secure his rightful place in this world". I don't think that Willy ever takes any major risks in his life so he cannot be considered a tragic hero according to Miller's definition. One of Willy's biggest regrets that continues to haunt him in his old age, is his decision not to go to Alaska with Ben. I think that if he would have decided to take risks and go to Alaska, instead of being convinced by Linda, and his false sense of trust in his job, to stay, his story would have been very different and we might have been able to call him a hero.
ReplyDeletei think that death of a salesman is a perfect example of tragedy of the common man.Miller believes that a tragedy can be defined as an unhappy ending due to some combination of the main characters tragic flaw and obstacles imposed by society that potentially set the main character up for failure. ’ Willy is a very average man. He works a low paying job, has a loving wife and works hard to succeed.but his tragic flaw is his larger than life view of himself. In the end of the story, Willy kills himself because he comes to terms with the reality of his own life, as well as the fact that his son Biff is leading a professionally unsuccessful life. Willy’s death also brings forward the hope that maybe Biff will learn from him and figure out a way to live a happy, free life. This makes death of a salesman a perfect example of millers theory for tragedy
ReplyDeleteMiller talks about how the "tragic hero" must work toward something but in the end they do not achieve this goal. There is also a quality of hope that this character must have. This is true for Willy. He wants despertly to become a buisness man although he believes he is, in reality he is not. The buisness world does not give to sense about Willy but he belives he is on the top of the pyramid. Also, he hopes that Happy and Biff become sussessfull because that is what you just wish for in your kids. In the end, Biff has the most hope that he will not end up like his father.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Miller wants to portray Willy as the 'tragic hero' in The Tragedy and the Common Man. Willy is reaching for a dream that could never exist or be possible for him to achieve. However, the tragic hero is best found in the common man, which is certainly Willy in Death of a Salesman. Willy believes that he has to be beyond the common man in the business world. I saw that Katie said she didn't consider Willy a tragic hero because he didn't take any adventurous opportunities to change his life, like The Tragedy and the Common man says. However, I do not think Willy had to take any adventurous steps to finding himself. I think Willy truly believed that his place in society was to be a salesman and an important role in the business world. This would make Willy a tragic hero because he does work hard to find his "rightful place in the world," but he wasn't looking at the right role. He was battling a dream that could never come true.
ReplyDeleteI too believe that Willy was not a tragic hero or character. Honestly, Willy wasn't much of any kind of character. He lived a pathetic existence full of lies, insecurity, and an obsessive focus on wealth and success. Being a tragic figure, by Miller's own definition, would imply that Willy had to have had some realization or shift in perspective. Right when when the reader is expecting this to happen, during the emotional confrontation between Biff and Willy, Willy frustratingly fails to change. He reverts right back to his blind beliefs. I think the true tragic hero in Death of a Salesman is actually Biff. For the most part, he experiences much of the same struggles Willy does. However, the difference between them is that Biff realizes that business is not his true strength or interest. This realization, coupled with his confrontation with Willy, fulfill Miller's definition of a tragic hero.
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