Source: Dictionary
Introduction
Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is a classical tragedy based upon Aristotle's Poetics while Arthur Miller's A Death of a Salesman is a modern tragedy. The main protagonists in both the texts Oedipus and Willy Loman are tragic heroes. Oedipus is a classic tragic hero who enjoys power, fame, wisdom, and love.
He cannot outlive his downfall. Willy, the salesperson cannot fulfill his American Dream by committing suicide. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex reflects influences such as time, fate, coincidence with various literary devices such as suspense, chorus, dramatic irony, and timing. He follows Aristotle’s view of a tragic hero, one who evokes a sense of fear and pity in the audience.
Aristotle believed “The tragic hero has to be a man who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty.” A Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller presents Willy as the tragic hero in romantic literature.
In his essay Tragedy and the Common Man, he states the characteristics of the tragic hero, as
“the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were”. The others are the difference between real and unreal worlds and to come to terms with reality. All the ideas mentioned in this essay reflect in his play.
Willy vs Oedipus
The protagonist Willy in The Death of a Salesman is a common man, a traveling Salesman. He is way too proud to believe he will achieve his American Dream without taking any action. He is not persistent like other tragic heroes who are persistent and honorable.
Even Oedipus, irrespective of being a king's son who solved the riddle of Sphinx, was persistent in saving the people of Thebes. Yet his hubris leads him to kill his father Laius when he was forced to the side by Laius' chariot.
Source: Amazon
Fate is one of the most dominant figures in any classical tragedy. Oedipus was a victim of fate. He was born in Thebes with his prophecy told upon Laius' house. Also, at the time of his birth, the King and Queen of Polybus were childless so they adopted Oedipus. In a modern tragedy, it is Society that becomes a source of a hero's tragedy along with his tragic flaw. Aristotle's tragic hero makes an error of judgment which ultimately leads to his destruction.
To "gain his rightful position in his society" the modern tragic hero struggles for his dignity. Oedipus was warned by Tiresias about the day that "will give you parents and destroy you". Oedipus still forced him to reveal his father's name showcasing the results of falling from political positions. Willy but desired recognition. His tragic flaw is his belief in the American Dream as he isn't satisfied by the reality of his life.
In a classic tragedy, it is the tragic hero's flaw that causes his downfall. Oedipus, without knowing that he killed his father, swore to punish the killer and exile him from Thebes. He led his own downfall. Miller's tragic hero Willy gets fired because of his job performance, verbal outburst, and the reduction in sales. His pride in not accepting a job from Charlie leads to his reversal of fortune.
Source: Amazon
Anagnorisis
Oedipus realizes that his downfall is because of his actions. He gets destroyed when the truth comes out. He killed his father in a rush of arrogance along with sleeping with his mother and that his sons are also his brothers. When he recognizes his Anagnorisis he punishes himself.
The modern tragic hero Willy Loman couldn't even accept that he led to his downfall. And that he couldn't make his children successful salespeople. When his son Biff tries to see the facts Willy refuses to accept reality. He dies without knowing his Anagnorisis.
Conclusion
Both the plays have both similarities and differences due to the period they were written. Oedipus in his Peripeteia not only banished himself but in his rage stabbed out his own eyes. His foolish pride and power lead to Catharsis the emotional cleansing which makes him realize all the wrongs he has done.
Despite being a modern tragedy, The Death of a Salesman qualifies the six elements of Aristotle’s tragedy: plot, diction, character, thought, spectacle, and music. Willy’s tragic flaw is his illusion of the American Dream. Unlike brave Oedipus when Willy realizes that he would never be successful he commits suicide.
Get your copy of Death of a Salesman here.
Oedipus Rex here.
Written by Garima Jain
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