Tragic Hero

918 Words2 Pages

Arthur Miller tried to argue about Willy Loman’s tragic hero or is he pathetic human being? Well, for me reading this whole play. It became clear to me that Willy could be a modern day tragic hero with tragic flaws in his life. Since Aristotle had explained the true definition of Tragedy in the about the Greek mythology of a tragic hero; How a man could be fortune, then became horrible at the end with some mistakes but will always be remembered by the audience. Aristotle’s quote; “A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” The tragic hero is that a great man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice, nor undergoes the change to misfortune through any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake. The hero is neither a villain nor a model of perfection, but is basically good and decent. (Aristotle’s & The Elements of Tragedy)
Willy Loman from "Death of a Salesman" immediately has his life changed in the story. Willy had worked so hard as a travelling salesman; he really wanted to become very successful. He believed in himself that he is capable to succeeding the business. He kept on having such a huge high hope for his first son Biff to follow his footstep, but that didn’t occur at the end. Biff didn’t become the person Willy thought his son would be. Even though, he devotedly remembers Biff as a teenager, he is unable to feel the connection with Biff for the time being. At other times, Willy would recall his memories of Biff's last football game because it was more delightful to refresh the memories of the past in which Biff adored him and wanted to score a touchdown for his him, rather than face the existent where he is at quarrels with his own son. Then later at the end, he would co...

... middle of paper ...

...thout Kings, took up this bright thread of our history and followed it to the only place it can possibly lead in our time, the heart and spirit of the average man.” (Miller 1692).
Willy Loman is a generous and a tragic character. Also he was able to combine most of the Aristotle’s philosophy about tragedy such as hamartia, the tragic flaw that will eventually lead to his downfall, secondly, peripeteia ; a reversal of prosperity brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw. The audience must feel the fear of this and the pity for this character.
Despite all of Willy's secrets, lies, deception, and lack of self-realization; In Willy’s own thought, he honestly believes that his committing suicide will help his wife lead a better life in spite of her suffering; as it makes sense that Willy is a tragic hero, whether or not you agree with his feelings, thoughts, or habits.

Open Document