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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A paper which looks at various aspects of Miller's play, including Willy as the antithesis of the tragic hero, the role of flashback in the narrative, and the socio-political comment which Miller makes on the "American dream".
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JL5_JLdthsles.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
hero is an individual who goes from a state of good fortune or happiness to a state of absolute despair. This deterioration is brought about as a result of the
characters tragic flaw. In Oedipus Rex, for instance, it is the heros hubris which destroys him; and we see examples of the tragic hero in Shakespeare. In Macbeth, it is
ambition which constitutes the tragic flaw, in Othello it is jealousy, and so on. However, in order to be brought low the true tragic
hero must start out as a person of high stature or nobility - Oedipus is a king, Macbeth a lord - and Willy Loman is the opposite. He is, as
his name suggests, a "low man", an ordinary person who does an ordinary job, has an ordinary family and so on. In classical tragedy, the audience can empathise with the
character but at the same time recognise that he has brought his fate upon himself. Willy, on the other hand, elicits sympathy and respect from the audience because he is
similar to them - an ordinary individual, pursuing his dreams in a society which has let him down. We are aware, as we learn
more and more about Willys life, than it is not some innate tragic flaw in his character which has led to his misfortune, but a combination of circumstances. He is
ageing, and finding it harder to cope with the job; the fast pace of the modern business world is starting to leave him behind; social and economic changes mean that
his type of salesmanship is no longer valued. Willys success was based on his innate charm and friendliness, and to some extent on his stamina, since he was able to
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