To what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero?
The protagonist of the play Death of a Salesman, written by the prominent American playwright Arthur Miller, is a man named Willy Loman. Willy has a great number of flaws, so it could be argued that he cannot be considered a tragic hero. The notion of a tragic hero is an alluring one for readers nowadays: that a great and virtuous character could fail merely because fate so dictated is a bewitching concept. In this case, however, our protagonist may not be a tragic hero as he does not measure up to the stature of a great and good man: there are too many vices staining his persona.
MC
Answered by Matthias C. • English Literature tutor
5801 Views
See similar English Literature GCSE tutorsRelated English Literature GCSE answers
All answers ▸How do I analyse unseen poetry in a timed exam?
In the nineteenth century, Lord Acton wrote that: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Explore how Margaret Atwood portrays power and control in Cat’s Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale.
The language that the author/poet/playwright is using is really difficult. How can I understand it?
Opposition to anything that oppresses the human spirit is the element that dominates Blake's Innocence vs. Experience. How far do you agree with this statement?