The Common Man as Tragic Protagonist

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the role of the commonest of men as tragic protagonists in modern tragedy. The author reviews and summarizes three plays, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" , John Osborne's "Look Back in Anger"and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" and discusses the tragic heroes and their battles to secure their rightful place in the world.

Outline:
Death of a Salesman - Willy Loman
Look Back in Anger - Jimmy Porter
Waiting for Godot - Vladimir and Estragon
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"Jimmy Porter is the stuff of which perennial rebels are made. He is the self-flagellating, solitary individual in a self -inflicted exile from the world, drawing his strength from his weakness and recognizing his own misery. An enormous cultural snob, Jimmy lives in a tumbled down attic with his wife Alison and friend Cliff. Denied a suitable job in spite of his university education and superior intellectual accomplishments, he lives on a sweet stall. He is an obsessive rebel, suffering from the Persecution Complex, who feels that the whole world is against him."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Miller, Arthur : Tragedy and the Common Man. Site accessed: www.burningtonlibrary.edu, Date: Feb.01, 2008
• Miller, Arthur : Death of a Salesman. Edited by Harold Bloom, Viva Modern Critical Interpretations, 2007.
• Osborne, John : Look Back in Anger. Edited by Neeraj Malik, Worldview Publications, 2006.
• Camus, Albert : Myth of Sisyphus. Penguin publications, 1990.
• Taylor, T.R. : Anger and After (Casebook series), 1993.

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