Willy Loman Tragic Hero

Paper Summary:

When one reads "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller, the first question that comes to mind is: Why should we care about Willy Loman? This paper questions whether Loman continues the tradition of a classic tragic hero and whether this was Arthur Miller's intention. As Loman is meant to be a uniquely American protagonist, who simply failed to achieve the "American Dream," this "dream" is also examined.

From the Paper:

"Arthur Miller, however, views the character of Willy Loman differently. He asserts that that "the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were (Miller)." Though Willy had never achieved a high position or sense of identity in his life, Miller claims that in tragedy the importance is not on the fall from a high position, but "the underlying struggle is that of the individual attempting to gain his "rightful" position in his society." He claims that it is still a fall, not from an actual position of power, but from a potential one, and therefore the "common man" goes through the same feelings and thoughts that a king would."

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