An examination of three tragic heroes: Willy Loman, a salesman in Arthur Miller's ?Death of a Salesman?; Hamlet in Shakespeare's ?Hamlet, Prince of Denmark?; and the horseman, Elesin, in Wole Soyinka's ?Death and the King's Horseman.?
1,260 words (approx. 5 pages), 0 sources, 2004, $ 42.95
Abstract This paper explains how there are similarities in the tragedies that befall the Loman, Hamlet, and Elesin. By the end of the narratives, all three characters die of broken hearts. It discusses how there is no triumph in their deaths; neither is there happiness. There is only bitterness and humiliation. The conflicts that these characters face come about from a mixture of personalities, personal foibles, circumstances, and from culture.
From the Paper "Willy Loman is a salesman by trade. Salesmanship for him is also a way of life. Salesmanship defines his very essence. Unfortunately, that is how Willy approaches life, being a husband and parent. Willy Loman's life is all about appearances. Willy is proud of the physical prowess and athletic abilities of his sons. He does not inculcate a value-system in Biff and Happy. The end result is that both his sons are not productive or respectable citizens. Eventually, Willy realizes that, in a way, his philandering is a primary contributor to this. The family dynamic is one of salesmanship"whatever sells or looks good no matter how insubstantial. Willy lives the big lie. He is unable to disassociate salesmanship as a career and a way of life. He constantly denies reality; life in turn denies him peace of mind. In Willy's internal struggle, the salesman in him always wins out and that is his eventual undoing. When Willy dies by running his car into a neighborhood tree, one only feels for his wife. The reader knows that his sons" reaction of sadness will be fleeting at best. This is his legacy. React and move on."
Abstract This paper discusses Miller's use of Aristotle's concept of the tragic hero in his construction of the character, Willy Loman, from ?Death of a Salesman.? The paper author thinks that it is true genius of Arthur Miller to create a tragic hero out of a regular ordinary character. The paper author believes that Willy fits the definition of Aristotle's completely and contains all the features of a man destined to meet failure and misfortune because of his innate flaw.
From the Paper "Aristotle was of the view that a tragic hero is the one who arouses pity and fear in others. Judging the character of Willy according to this description, we notice that Willy, too, manages to arouse pity and fear in the readers. Pity because people feel sorry for the man who cannot distinguish between reality and disillusionment and therefore constantly suffers from misfortune. On the other hand, the character also arouses fear because while studying his life, readers are suddenly gripped with the fearful realization that this fate could have been theirs, too."
Tags: orginary, genius, aristotle, disillusionment, fear
Abstract The acquisition of material goods has often been equated with happiness and the American dream with the motivation for accomplishing ones goals. This paper discusses how, when tainted with wealth, the dream becomes a nightmare and how in the case of Willy Loman, in "Death of a Salesman" and Jay Gatsby, in "The Great Gatsby", it ends in death. It looks at how the authors, Arthur Miller and F. Scott Fitzgerald, through their characters, prove that money is not the key to happiness.
From the Paper "For Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, the American Dream fails in the capitalist society of 1949, "In the greatest country of the world a young man with such attractiveness, gets lost" (16). Loman was influenced by society and could not overcome the pressures of selling and making money. Willy's dreams of success are rooted in the concept of the "American Dream", which is this is a land of unlimited opportunity in which anyone can become rich. This concept of success is personified by two characters in the play: David Singleman and Ben Loman. Willy heard of a salesman, Dave Singleman, who could make his living out of a hotel room."
Abstract This paper discusses the contention that the families of Hamlet and of Willy Loman drove them to their deaths. It looks at how, in the first instance, the faithlessness of Queen Gertrude, the stern injunction of the vengeful ghost of Hamlet's father and the evil-doing of Claudius push Hamlet towards the commission of a terrible crime that ultimately costs him his own life. It also looks at how, Willy's pain at seeing his son Biff fall short of his full potential drives the elder Loman to first melancholic madness and thence to death. In the end, the plays both reveal how the environmental stimuli provided by those around us are often the very stimuli which push us into the abyss.
From the Paper "In Hamlet, it is soon enough apparent that the young prince's family is the chief cause of his descent into brooding madness. For example, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, has married the sly and sinister Claudius - the brother of Hamlet the Elder and the man who has profited handsomely from his brother's death (Shakespeare, 154). For Hamlet, who would seem to venerate his father as only a son can, the decision of his mother to join hands in holy matrimony with a fellow Hamlet finds repugnant (Shakespeare, 163) is basically beyond the earthly power of Hamlet to endure."
Abstract An examination of the themes of illusion and the American Dream in "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller. The play repeatedly shows the main character Willy Loman deluding himself into believing he is successfully pursuing his view of the American Dream ? financial success through business. Miller does this in two ways in particular. First, he constantly has the characters rewriting events so that when they are retold they reflect how they wish their lives really were instead of the reality of what happened. Second, as Willy Loman loses his grip on reality, he relives events from his past. By the end of the play, so many of Willy Loman's illusions about himself have been shattered, but his illusions about his son Biff are stronger, and he imagines that his suicide will guarantee his son's business success.
From the Paper "Willy has also constructed illusions around his sons, especially Biff, who truly was well liked in high school. Willy puts more emphasis on Biff's athletic talents and personal charm than is realistic, and encourages Biff to do the same. Chasing athletic fame for his son, Willy isn?t concerned when Biff steals a football from the team he plays for, and encourages him to steal sand to aid in a home renovation project. Biff's friend Bernard reminds Biff that he needs to study for exams or risk not graduating, and both Biff and his father make fun of him for this. He encourages his sons to do dishonest thing, suggesting that Willy's views about how to get ahead include setting personal values aside."
Tags: Willy, Loman, illusion, delusion, success, business
Abstract This paper examines how, although Arthur Millers's "Death of a Salesman" is mainly about a salesman named Willy Loman, the almost hidden presence of the women in the play is all too often unnoticed. It looks at how Linda Loman seems to be the glue that holds the Loman clan together, as Willy, Biff, and Happy are all deluded in one way or another. It analyzes how Miller depicts Willy's wife in a very specific way and how he depicts the other women in the story in ways that complement Linda's distinct nature. Although Linda's role as a woman in society is extremely limited, she is a heroic character, being both wife and mother to some very sad and twisted characters.
From the Paper "Linda then, is a character that we learn directly very little about. It is only through her interactions with her family that her nature is revealed, and this sense of mystery adds to the dramatic tension. The audience cannot fathom why she stays with Willy and her dysfunctional family. Is she accepting her subordinate position as part of the nuclear family in order to hold it together? Or is she limited by her own personal inadequacies that prevent her from standing independently? Miller's creation of a character shrouded in ambiguity allows extensive scope for dramatic tension. This indistinct character of Linda has an effect on her relationship with Willy."
Abstract This essay analyses Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman." Miller's play is a study of American culture in a critical context, where the ideal of the "American Dream," and the myth of individual achievement is contrasted with the failings of a family, the Lomans. Willy Loman represents both the ideological success of American mythology, and the failure of that mythology in sustaining a realistic view of life. The Lomans survive in illusions, and in this essay, the power of illusions are compared with the power of the American Dream as a myth and a false promise.
Abstract This paper explains that, in Shakespeare's "Hamlet", Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship is a complex one, forming and developing as results of death, love, obedience and an Oedipus complex. The author points out that there are many similarities between Ophelia and Gertrude; Hamlet's love and sudden dependence on Ophelia may be an attempt to get closer to his mother as a result of the Oedipus complex. The paper concludes that, even in death, Ophelia has a large part in Hamlet's life because Hamlet's death was ultimately caused by Ophelia's death when the graveyard scene, in which Hamlet proclamation, "I loved Ophelia", leads to his fatal duel with Laertes.
From the Paper ""One fair daughter and no more,/The which he loved passing well," Hamlet sings at Polonius, mocking his supposed love for his daughter. Hamlet also calls him "Jephthah, judge of Israel." As told in Judges 11, Jephthah promises God that if he wins in battle he will sacrifice whatever comes out of the doors of his house when he returns. After he wins the battle, his only daughter hears of his victory and comes out to meet him. He keeps his promise to God. Hamlet's implication is that Polonius, like Jephthah, will sacrifice Ophelia for his own advantage."
Abstract An analysis of Shakespeare's famous play, "Hamlet", concentrating on the storyline and characters. The author discusses Hamlet's contemplative nature and shows its importance. The author feels that if Hamlet was able to put aside his thoughts earlier, Claudius would have been killed in the second act, and the play would be about forty-five minutes long. But the author of this paper believes that Shakespeare does not make Hamlet's rational thoughts disappear until Act III, at the death of Polonius, making Hamlet one of Shakespeare's longest plays. He feels that Shakespeare uses the death of Polonius to show what happens to a man when he kills another human being. In this play, the author says, the murder of Polonius starts a chain reaction of the rest of the deaths the tragedy has to offer.
From the Paper "There are people in this world who are thinkers and dreamers, who think things through completely before anything gets done. And there are people who get things done without thinking too much before hand. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, is a complex character who thinks about everything to the point where things don?t get accomplished. Throughout the play, the audience can see that Hamlet is a procrastinator, and he cannot kill Claudius, even when he has numerous chances to do so. The key moment in the play when Hamlet's mindset changes is when he mistakenly kills Polonius. Shakespeare decided to include the murder of Polonius to show that by killing a man, Hamlet's mindset has changed and his rational instincts are gone, allowing him to finally avenge his father's death by killing Claudius."
Tags:death, Hamlet, killing, Shakespeare, tragedy, character, Polonius, Claudius
Abstract Arthur Miller's Willy Loman in the modern American tragedy "Death of a Salesman", is like Oedipus, more cursed than blessed, although he too has enjoyed his share of blessings on a smaller scale: A devoted wife; two healthy sons; a once lucrative job, home ownership: The trappings of the "American Dream". The paper explains that Oedipus, before his downfall, is King of Thebes; Willy, though no monarch, is esteemed by his wife, sons and community (at least until Biff's discovery of him with another woman). It shows however, that both Oedipus and Willy are doomed by their own excessive pride, which blinds each of them to the realities of their own, and others' strengths, limitations and potential. As a result, even though Oedipus is a king and Willy Loman is merely a salesman, both are tragic characters.
From the Paper "In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is doomed by fate. In Death of a Salesman, Willy is doomed by a combination of fate and his own stubborn beliefs and actions (and inactions). Oedipus's descent is from a higher place, a kingdom, yet each character still loses all that matters. Moreover, both will die, though differently: Oedipus from exposure due to exile; Willie by suicide. Both are defeated and ultimately destroyed by their own overweening pride, which blinds both characters to the realities of their own, and others, existences and circumstances."
This paper compares the past and families of Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman".
Abstract The paper discusses how Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" and Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" are both men dreaming of a future, in large part as a reaction to the disappointments of their lives. The paper shows how Jay Gatsby conceals a past he finds inconvenient, although he understands his past and can address it honestly. The paper contrasts this to Willy Loman who tries to recapture a past, but fails because he cannot understand what that past is.
From the Paper "Gatsby has all but buried his past, at least to those who see him. The details of his family and his relationship with it are sparse. At the beginning of chapter 6, the first mention is made of "James Gatz of North Dakota" (Fitzgerald, 64) who became Jay Gatsby when he saw a yacht resting in seductive and treacherous shallows in Lake Superior."
"His family were "shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald, 65) whom he accepted as his parents only in a bare, reluctant biological sense. In his own conception of himself, he was an invention to which he stayed faithful to his tragic end, scrupulously dedicated to what F. Scott Fitzgerald refers to as "the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty" (Fitzgerald, 65)"
Abstract In this analysis of Arthur Miller's drama "Death of a Salesman" the writer provides an assessment of the dual roles of Willy Loman. It looks at how on the one hand Willy is a victimizer who hurts others and on the other hand he is an individual who has been a victim. It also argues that his loss of belief in his illusions causes him to commit suicide.
From the Paper " Arthur Miller's famous drama Death of a Salesman features protagonist Willy Loman, a washed up salesman whose delusions make him believe he is still highly skilled and in demand.Willy maintains a number of illusions that ..."
Tags: capitalism, American Dream, Loman, Miller, theft, lies, workplace, urban sprawl, promises, family
Abstract In this article, the writer analyzes the false values of the American dream that arise in 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller. The writer maintains that the attitudes of Willy Loman toward his family is a representation of the unrealistic expectations that define the American Dream as being financially secure and living up to external social stereotypes about materialistic success in American society. The writer notes that by understanding the false values of Loman's insatiable desire to accept and follow the American Dream, he invariably destroys his own life, as well as that of his family. The writer discusses the various aspects of materialism that are found within the false values of the American dream within the play and within society.
From the Paper "Within the American Dream, the common man offers a new perspective on what is good about human nature and the ability to improve oneself, even though Willy is unable achieve his goals. However, Wily is psychologically impaired, and cannot seem to grasp the real depth of his beliefs and suspicions about life beyond what external society expects of him. The false values of Wily's life are essentially dictated by a social expectation--the American Dream-but this is a dream that can never be actualized because of his behaviors within personal relationships. This is how tragedy is expressed in Miller's ideology, especially when Wily cannot realize he is trying to live a dream--not adhering to reality and human error in his judgments about his family. This is how Wily is able to realize the reality of family's own limitations, and how he eventually succumbs to the dream of American life, which is not possible within the error and fallibility of the human condition. "
Abstract Traditionally the role of the ghost in Elizabethan plays was to act as the messenger. In this paper about ?Hamlet?, the ghost of Hamlet's father is portrayed as a messenger of his own death and represents the vengeful spirit. The ghost in this case has a much more specific role than is generally seen in Elizabethan plays. The writer presents that this ghost is a crucial part of the play and manipulates the plot to its tragic end. The paper covers the themes of Hamlets delay in seeking revenge for his fathers death, the relationship between father and son, the nature of the ghost and Hamlet's insanity. In the conclusion the writer explains that it is through the influence of the ghost that Hamlet is shown his full range of human attributes and thus a meaning is attached to his life.
From the Paper "The role of the ghost in the Elizabethan play was a familiar occurrence in this tradition. A ghost would usually act as a messenger. In Hamlet the ghost of Hamlet's father acts as a messenger of his own death and as a representative of the vengeful spirit. Thus in Hamlet the ghost has a more specific role than is generally the case in Elizabethan plays. This ghost, as will be seen, is a crucial part of the play, and manipulates the plot to its tragic end".
Tags: elizabethan, messenger, shakespeare, father, spirit, plot, manipulates, portrayed, death
Abstract The paper examines the causes and results of the agonizing indecisiveness of Hamlet in Shakespeare's "Hamlet". The paper shows how Hamlet's failure to act sooner and more decisively in avenging his father's death leads to an unfortunate series of ill-timed, poorly executed events that ultimately result in many deaths, most importantly that of Hamlet himself.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet focuses on causes and results of agonizing indecisiveness by Hamlet, teenage heir to the throne of Denmark who returns from England, his father having died suddenly and mysteriously. Here Hamlet immediately faces two unpleasant, closely related facts: first his mother Queen Gertrude has quickly married his uncle Claudius; and second, as a result Hamlet is denied his birthright. As Marcellus states early on (even before the ghost of Hamlet's father appears and asks his son to avenge his death): "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (Act 1.4.91)."
Tags: Claudius, Laertes, Horatio, Ophelia, ghost, revenge, death
