An American Tragedy

themes within the Aristotelian world of tragedies and have always embraced the “fall of princes” structure in which they were written. Arthur Miller shows, through Death of a Salesman, his belief that anyone, even a man as common as a salesman can be a tragic hero. In Death of a Salesman, we see how flawed Willy’s idealisms really are and how much of a downward spiral his life really is. Through his failure to realize that he is not really living the “American Dream”, we see how much he lies to…

soldiers into battle. A beloved hero, praised for his or her benevolent and generous actions, shoulders the burden of inevitable tragedy-- the inescapable downfall. However, with the fall of the esteemed hero, comes a certain attainment. The fall does not result in pure loss, as seen in the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, and in Sophocles’ famed tragedy, Oedipus. As the tragic hero Beowulf bleeds to death at the teeth of his late enemy, he claims long-sought glory in exchange…

William Shakespeare’s plays have survived and celebrated through the ages for their extreme drama and attention-grabbing plot. “Othello”, one of his widest know works, is no exception. Othello, an African American man who is married to his love Desdemona, serves as a General and creates conflict with Iago when he passes him up for a promotion to the Lieutenant position and instead promotes an inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio. Iago turns for revenge from Othello and decides to strike him…

Tragedies come in all shapes and sizes. Natural disasters, death of a love one, and to a child, the loss of a beloved pet can be a tragic event. According to Greek philosopher Aristotle, the makings of a great tragedy include a person of “high-estate” whose downfall is due to his own tragic flaw. Aristotle says “Tragedy is an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and…

reversal of fortune (peripeteia), and a realization that they caused their lot (anagnorisis); they ultimately receive a fate much harsher than deserved due to their hubris. John Proctor, the protagonist of Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is this American tragedy’s tragic hero. Because John commits adultery in a rigid theocracy he suffers a dramatic fall in social status resulting in his death; thus, John Proctor is a by Aristotle's definition a tragic hero. Prior to the beginning of the…

Journeys are a catalyst for individual transfiguration and offer experiences that can lead to new perceptions. The emotional consequence of one’s actions is heightened in Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear and American History X written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye, both exploring the corruption of political power, who become a victim of their external influences. Both illustrate how Journeys extend and help shape ones understanding of the world, enable individuals to alter their…

The Duality of a Salesman When Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman at the end of the 40's, it was with a purpose. There was much he wanted to say being a man of loud and strong opinions and Death of a Salesman may have been one of his most profound works. With this in mind, every production of the play has created thoughtful representations of the tale. The original theatrical run of the show on Broadway opened in February 10, 1949 and had a year and a half run (http://www.playbill.com/pro…

Even though, death is the likely end of a tragedy, we learn soon after the play has begun Willy Loman has been trying to kill himself. There is no suspense or sense of wonder. When “Linda comes [..] downstairs and tells Biff and Happy of her fear that Willy is planning to kill himself (she had discovered…

Shakespeare’s “Othello” is a whirlwind of a story as it follows the emotional roller-coaster of an army general in the midst of love. The role-character, Othello, is an articulate, passionate and intelligent African-American who finds himself blinded by the love he has for his wife, Desdemona. Although Othello seemed to many as the epitome of strength and confidence, every superman has their kryptonite. Othello was punctual, knew just the right words to say at the precise moment, he was a…

I was first hoping that they could somehow find their baby. Reading the part on page 366 where they realize they have lost their baby and without second thought Candido still grabs for Delaney’s hand, left me feeling astonished. In the moment of tragedy where Candido was feeling lost and numb, he still had the heart to give a hand to someone who has caused so much trouble in his life. It makes me feel good that there are people out in this world who are able to see the light in people even if…