Tragedy and the Common Man - Miller Redefines the Tragic Hero :: Tragedy and the Common Man Essays

catastrophe and the earthy Man -  Arthur Miller redefines the Tragic champion   Arthur Miller states in his essay, Tragedy and the Common Man, . . . we are often held to be below tragedy--or tragedy below us . . . (tragedy is) fit only for the extremely placed . . . and where this admission is not made in so umpteen words it is most often implied. However, Miller believes . . . the common man is as apt a example for tragedy in its highest compreh determination as kings were (1021). It is this belief that causes Miller to use a common man, Willie Loman, as the example of his tragedy, Death of a Salesman. Miller redefines the tragic hero to fit a more modern age, and the product of this redefinition is Willie. Miller states, . . . the tragic feeling is elicited in us when we are in the presence of a portion who is ready to lay down his life . . . to secure one thing, his spirit of per watchwordal dignity (1021). Willie is no exception. Willies sniff out of per paroleal dignity is in the beginning found in his family, most notably his son Biff. Willie transfers his dreams of being heavy(p) onto Biff and, when Biff is a failure in the world, these dreams affect Willies self-image and ace of personal dignity. To regain this personal dignity, Willie must gull Biff coarse. In the annihilate, it is the love for his son and the belief that his insurance money will string Biff magnificent that give him the needed excuse and cause him to end his life. Tragedy, then, is the consequence of a mans total compulsion to evaluate himself justly (1021). It is the temper of man to make evaluations of himself based upon his peers. Willies peer with whom he evaluates himself is Charley. Willie and Charley are more or less the same age, their children grew up together, and have been friends for many a(prenominal) years. Charley has achieved what Willie has dreamed of for so long. Charleys son is a successful lawyer, whereas Biff is a loafer. Cha rley is successful in business, whereas Willie has wash out. As mentioned before, for Willie to be great, Biff must be great. Willie has failed his job in making Biff better than Charleys son, therefore he fails his evaluations of himself. The flawTragedy and the Common Man - Miller Redefines the Tragic gun for hire Tragedy and the Common Man Essays Tragedy and the Common Man -  Arthur Miller redefines the Tragic Hero   Arthur Miller states in his essay, Tragedy and the Common Man, . . . we are often held to be below tragedy--or tragedy below us . . . (tragedy is) fit only for the highly placed . . . and where this admission is not made in so many words it is most often implied. However, Miller believes . . . the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were (1021). It is this belief that causes Miller to use a common man, Willie Loman, as the subject of his tragedy, Death of a Salesman. Miller redefines the tragic hero to fit a more modern age, and the product of this redefinition is Willie. Miller states, . . . the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a temperament who is ready to lay down his life . . . to secure one thing, his sense of personal dignity (1021). Willie is no exception. Willies sense of personal dignity is in the first place found in his family, most notably his son Biff. Willie transfers his dreams of being great onto Biff and, when Biff is a failure in the world, these dreams affect Willies self-image and sense of personal dignity. To regain this personal dignity, Willie must make Biff great. In the end, it is the love for his son and the belief that his insurance money will make Biff magnificent that give him the needed excuse and cause him to end his life. Tragedy, then, is the consequence of a mans total compulsion to evaluate himself justly (1021). It is the constitution of man to make evaluations of himself based upon his peers. Willies peer with whom he evaluates himself is Charley. Willie and Charley are slightly the same age, their children grew up together, and have been friends for many years. Charley has achieved what Willie has dreamed of for so long. Charleys son is a successful lawyer, whereas Biff is a loafer. Charley is successful in business, whereas Willie has washed out. As mentioned before, for Willie to be great, Biff must be great. Willie has failed his job in making Biff better than Charleys son, therefore he fails his evaluations of himself. The flaw