ENG4U ISU Death of a salesman
“Well Liked”
Heros come in variously different shapes and sizes. Some are tall and muscular, others are brave knights and fearless princes, and some are even tragic. Tragic heroes are the protagonists of plays the fall under the genre of a tragedy. What defines a tragic hero is their error in judgement or character flaw that leads them to their own downfall. In previous times, a tragic hero had to be of noble blood yet in Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller shows the role of a tragic hero is also attainable by an everyday, average Joe. The play is about a Willy Loman, a mentally unstable sixty three year old salesman who is having trouble fulfilling the expectations of the set out for himself. Arthur Miller, the playwright of Death of a Salesman redefines the criteria of a tragic hero, successfully allowing a common man to play the role. Throughout the play, it is evident that Willy’s major character flaw is a lack of self-satisfaction. Willy never seems to be pleased with himself, always seeking approval of others causing his desperation to be “well liked” causing the major short comings that lead to his death. His lack of self-satisfaction causing his hopeless desire to be admired by those around him is to blame as the reason why Willy chose the life of a salesman. Judging Dave Singleman as popular individual who was liked by others based on the numerous attendees of his funeral led Willy to believe that being a salesman was the only way to achieve that level of admiration, even though he is not able to keep up with the field during his old age. The same character flaw can be viewed as one of the reasons he cheated on his wife, Linda by having an affair with a secretary of a buyer, putting a large strain on his relationship with his eldest son Biff. Lastly, although Willy is confronted about the error of his ways, he still decides to focus on achieving admiration, particularly from Biff. In a sacrificial yet cowardly act, he takes his own life so his son will be
Heros come in variously different shapes and sizes. Some are tall and muscular, others are brave knights and fearless princes, and some are even tragic. Tragic heroes are the protagonists of plays the fall under the genre of a tragedy. What defines a tragic hero is their error in judgement or character flaw that leads them to their own downfall. In previous times, a tragic hero had to be of noble blood yet in Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller shows the role of a tragic hero is also attainable by an everyday, average Joe. The play is about a Willy Loman, a mentally unstable sixty three year old salesman who is having trouble fulfilling the expectations of the set out for himself. Arthur Miller, the playwright of Death of a Salesman redefines the criteria of a tragic hero, successfully allowing a common man to play the role. Throughout the play, it is evident that Willy’s major character flaw is a lack of self-satisfaction. Willy never seems to be pleased with himself, always seeking approval of others causing his desperation to be “well liked” causing the major short comings that lead to his death. His lack of self-satisfaction causing his hopeless desire to be admired by those around him is to blame as the reason why Willy chose the life of a salesman. Judging Dave Singleman as popular individual who was liked by others based on the numerous attendees of his funeral led Willy to believe that being a salesman was the only way to achieve that level of admiration, even though he is not able to keep up with the field during his old age. The same character flaw can be viewed as one of the reasons he cheated on his wife, Linda by having an affair with a secretary of a buyer, putting a large strain on his relationship with his eldest son Biff. Lastly, although Willy is confronted about the error of his ways, he still decides to focus on achieving admiration, particularly from Biff. In a sacrificial yet cowardly act, he takes his own life so his son will be