Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Tragic Flaw: Death of a Salesman

"I've always tried to think otherwise, I guess. I always felt that if a man was impressive, and well liked, thta nothing-" (1602).

Even though I struggle with Willy being a tragic hero, he certainly has a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. I just can't see Willy as a hero, but maybe that is because he is not a typical heroic character. His character is weak and he seems crazy, but his downfall comes from his pride. Willy constantly pursues popularity and the American dream, not bothering to face the reality of his situation. His relentless quest for approval takes a toll on him, and he begins to imagine people and conversations. Willy refuses to take a job from Charley, and he asks Charley not to tell Linda about him borrowing money. His pride prevents him from taking the appropriate actions to care for his family. Although Willy's denial and imaginings hurt his family, his intentions are always good as he tries to provide for them. Even with his last desperate act of suicide, Willy had his family in mind.

No comments:

Post a Comment