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Willy Loman As A Tragic Protagonist
Willy Loman As A Tragic Protagonist
defined by Aristotle in his Poetics. Willy Loman is the protagonist in Miller’s famous play
and has attributes that qualify him as a tragic hero. The Aristotelian tragedy entails the fall of
a high esteem person such as a king or a ruler as a result of their weakness also known as a
tragic flaw. The tragic hero according to Aristotle is brought down by an error also known as
hamartia. A tragedy is a serious play that evokes emotions among the audience through
catharsis and purge those emotion. Additionally, Aristotelian tragedy has a six element
namely plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and song or music. The play Death of
the protagonist could be said to be the tragic hero in Miller’s play. Unlike the classical or
Aristotelian tragedy whereby the hero suffers from an excessive pride, Willy’s tragic flaw is
evidenced in his obsession with illusionary vision. Willy is used by the playwright to address
the elusiveness of the American dream that would forever remain nothing but an illusion to
the most people. The protagonist remained fixated in his vision of becoming a successful
salesman to the extend that he did not see the harm he was causing himself and the others
close to him. Significantly, Willy could be said to have pride to some extend in that he
refused to accept reality and continued to believe in his vision. Willy was once an influential
member of the society as a renowned businessman but had fallen from grace to a state of
disillusionment and unhappiness. Aristotle regarded tragedy as a serious play with a sad or
tragic ending. Miller’s play is a tragedy emphasized in how willy ended up committing
suicide after realising that he would never be successful. Willy could not have lived and that
he was a terrible husband and father which compelled him to seek refuge in death. Willy left
his family with nothing that they could inherit from him in addition to the grief of losing a
father and a husband. The protagonist opted for a death since he could not adapt to change as
he continually made mistakes throughout his life. The protagonist faces various obstacles as
the play develops. Willy was his own biggest obstacle as he failed to accept his shortcomings
and failure. Instead of living with the reality and striving to become a better person. Willy
opted for the easy way out and committed suicide. Willy made many mistakes in his life, but
the fact that he failed to admit that he was wrong gives the play a tragic element. The failure
of Willy weighs down on the protagonist and he leads a miserable life eventually committing
suicide. Willy also has to deal with his failing health as he grows older but still sticks to his
vision of becoming successful. Willy was no longer as effective in his work as he used to be
when he was younger. “After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the
years, you end up more dead than alive” (Miller,1823). Willy’s thoughts foreshadowed the
protagonist’s tragic ending when he decided to take his life. Miller’s play is a tragedy based
on the protagonist but also on other characters especially his family. The play is about the
failure of a husband who drags his entire family to doom as well. Willy had two sons, but it is
apparent that they would inherit his failure and also lead miserable lives in poverty. Willy’s
son Biff might have become a footballer. Willy’s wife Linda is also left in dismay since just
like sons were entirely dependent on willy. The play is a tragedy since it ends on a sad note
with the family being destined to lead a miserable life after the death of their provider.
Willy’s entire family gives the play tragic elements as Miller’s uses the characters to create
an atmosphere of misfortune, failure, despair and tragedy. The play is also a tragedy since it
arouses then emotions of pity and fear among the audience. Miller’s playsuits the Aristotelain
guidelines of a tragedy, but the playwright strives to imitate or create a new form of modern
tragedy. Miller wrote his famous play in the postWorld War II era during which the nations
was recovering from the toll war. Miller addressed the aspect of the aspect life of the
American dream and its tragic outcomes. Willy was used by Miller to describe the ordinary
American citizens who struggle with such issues as financial challenges, parenting roles and
marriage among others. Willy was not the only salesman who led a difficult life as depicted
in “…he died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers and smoker… hundreds of
salesmen and buyers were at the funeral (Miller,1814). Additionally, it is important to note
that Miller’s play does not entirely fulfil the Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. Aristotle
holds that a tragic hero has to have a noble background, but Willy as the protagonist is just
but an ordinary man. “I don’t say he’s a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money.
His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived’’ (Miller,
1802). However, Willy play’s a central role in developing the play as a tragedy as evidenced
the modern tragedy that follows the guidelines of the Aristotelian tragedy through the use of
such characters as Willy Loman and his family to arouse emotions of pity and sadness among
the audience.
Works Cited
Helene Wickham. A collection of critical Essays. Printing Hall, INC, Englewood Cliffs.
1983. Print
Miller, Arthur. Death of a salesman certain private conversations in two acts and a Requiem.
Penguin Books. 375 Hudson Street, New York 10014, U.S.A. 2009. Print.
Siegel, Paul. Willy Loman and King Lear. College English 17 . March 1956. Print.