"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.