"Tragedy and the Common Man"

1.What is the main point of this essay? Write Miller’s thesis statement below.

“I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were (Miller “Tragedy and the Common Man”).” Arthur Miller makes this statement and continues to prove it throughout “Tragedy and the Common Man.” In this essay Arthur Miller attempts to prove the point that tragedies no longer need to be associated with only kings and gods, but can also be applied to the lives of ordinary people in order to make it more modern and realistic.


2.According to Arthur Miller, what one quality causes every tragic hero to “fall?”

Tragedies always reveal a “tragic flaw” of the hero of the story, which is the reason for the downfall of that character because of the unwillingness of the character to work past the so-called flaw instead of fighting that flaw.


3.Based on Miller’s point about that quality, why does the common man fit so perfectly into the role of a tragic hero?

The common man would fit perfectly into the role of the tragic hero because most people are able to accept their flaws and move past them without a fight, but some cannot do so. These are the ones who try to change that which cannot and should not be changed, because changing those things would ruin the flow of life, which then causes fear and tragedy.


4.What is the one thing that separates the traditional tragic hero from a common everyman tragic hero? And is that one thing important, in his view?

The one thing that separates the traditional tragic hero from a common everyday man tragic hero is that the rank of the hero in the traditional tragedies is very important. Miller believes that this is not important, because it is just a “clinging to the outward forms of tragedy.” Also, he believes that the stories of monarchs are no longer interesting and take away from the importance of tragedies today.


5.What does Miller say about tragedies are actually optimistic?

Miller says that tragedies show more optimism in the author than a comedy does. The ending of a tragedy should be a reinforcement of the reader’s brightest opinion of humans. Tragedies demonstrate the indestructible will of man to achieve his humanity, due to his intent upon claiming his whole due as a personality in total and without reservation.


6.Using the points Miller has made in the essay, discuss how Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero.

Willy Loman is a common man who has to deal with his everyday problems throughout “Death of a Salesman.” He is a tragic hero, because he continually tries to overcome his major flaws, which cause him much pain. His struggle to overcome his flaws leads to his suicide.

Marriage

Why do you think two people get married?
Two people usually get married because they are deeply in love. There is a mutual feeling that they need each other, and they cannot imagine life without each other. They accept each other for who they are and they are extremely happy together.

Why do two people stay married?
Two people stay married because the feelings that they had for each other when they first got married have gotten stronger. Love is a powerful feeling, and it is what makes a healthy marriage that is full of trust and happiness.

Do you think that one partner should accept the other partner’s “failings” or “flaws”? Why or why not? Do you think there is a limit to what a partner should or should not accept? Explain.
I believe that a partner needs to accept his or her partner no matter what, because that is the only way in which they can be happy together. When entering a relationship, there is always the possibility of being hurt, and there will always be flaws, but working through those flaws is what makes a great marriage. Everyone has a limit to what he or she accepts, but the point of marriage is to accept each other no matter what, so unless that is taken literally, marriage should not be entered.

What do you think are some things married couples commonly argue about? Why do you think that is?
I believe that many married couples argue about small things, such as where to go to dinner or who’s house to go to on a holiday, but every once in a while there is a big fight. This fight might be about their kids or parents, or anyone else in the family. It could also be caused by stress outside of their marriage that is taking a large toll on them.

What should you do if you feel that one parent is abusing the other—verbally, emotionally or physically? Why?
If I thought that one parent was abusing the other in any way, I would turn to the rest of my family. I know that they would do everything to get the parent being abused out of the situation. My brother would be the first person that I would confront in the situation, because I know that he would help me fix the situation.

What would you do if you find out that one parent is lying to the other? Why?
If I found out that one parent is lying to the other, I would confront the lying parent in order to persuade the parent into telling the truth. It would be best for both parents if they talked about it themselves rather than getting others involved, but if the lying parent is impossible to persuade, then I would confront the parent being lied to because I would not be able to just stand around and watch any longer.