Would you consider Willy Loman a tragic hero?

Willy Loman 's Failure to be a Tragic Hero

The tragic hero has long been a dramatic figure . Oedipus defines such a hero his future determined by the fates and the gods , his actions work together to bring it about even as he believes that he is taking pains to avoid it . He has no choice in how his story will end he is a hamster in a wheel running and running to go nowhere . Willy Loman is no such hero . While his story makes the reader feel for him and for his

family , it is more pathetic than it is tragic

Despite Miller 's well argued assertion that the common man can be a tragic figure , Loman does not fit the requirements for tragedy . A tragic hero suffers from lack of choice he suffers more than is his lot despite what he feels are wise decisions . He has no choice but to continue on his path because he lacks the possibility to choose . The audience must be moved by the hero 's fate , but both the audience and the hero himself must also learn from the play 's events

Loman does not measure up to being a tragic ' figure , however . He suffers , not because of fate , but because he has created his own destiny . His measure of greatness is too small . For Loman , a great man is well liked ' He repeats this theme throughout the play , using it to judge himself and to judge other people . However , as Charley points out , it is not necessary to be well liked in this life to be successful (Miller , 1977 ,

. 97 . Despite the repeated failure of his model for success Loman continues with it , even teaching it to his children perpetuating the cycle of failure . Although he seems to learn from Charley 's words that his only success lies in what he can sell , thus leading to the thought that all he has left of value is his life (Miller , 1977 , Loman proves to the audience that he has not learned at all . Instead , he fantasizes about how his family will love him for his sacrifice , not realizing that he will take from them what they truly cherish

Without doubt , it is possible for the audience to fear Loman 's fate . In today 's uncertain world that sees many people living from paycheck to paycheck , it is possible to feel that our lives are valueless . What makes Loman 's fate more pathetic than tragic , however , is his continued insistence on using a single , worthless , measure of success and his continued fantasizing . Had he learned from his mistakes and still continued to fail , or had he been compelled to repeat his actions through fate , he might have reached the level of tragic hero . However Loman is more allied with Tiresias , whose blindness reflects the unseeing actions of the other characters , rather than with the hero whose fated actions bring about his tragic end

Reference

Miller , A (1977 . Death of a Salesman . New York : Penguin ...