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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper examines the writings of Miller and Aristotle as concerns tragic plays. Their concepts are exampled in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex. Quotes cited from texts. Bibliographpy lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBoedwilly.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
the human emotions never ceased to provide ample subject for study by philosophers. Both Aristotle, and more recently, Arthur Miller, reflected upon the nature of tragedy and its role in
society. As such, it matters little if one reads a tragic play conceived and written centuries ago, or if one attends a modern tragedy. The experience is the same. Arthur
Miller mused upon the nature of tragedy as it applied to his successful play, Death of a Salesman. Many had argued, even labeled, Will Loman, the anti-hero. Miller argues this
point, stating that: I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were. On the face of it this ought
to be obvious in the light of modern psychiatry, which bases its analysis upon classic formulations, such as the Oedipus and Orestes complexes, for instance, which were enacted by royal
beings, but which apply to everyone in similar emotional situations"(Miller). Willy Loman epitomizes the tragic hero. It is evident that his
problems come from his own self-delusions, his misinterpretation of the American Dream, and misunderstanding his role as a salesman, father or husband. And the unfortunate thing, Miller seems to scream,
is that so many people believe in ideals like Willys. In the end, what is show is that a man with so much potential ends up losing everything by placing
his faith in the wrong things, only to realize too late that he has failed utterly and miserably. In a last desperate act of defiance of the system, he assumes
control and takes his own life. Willys greatness, like those classic tragic heroes, lies in his eleventh hour struggle to reclaim
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