Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex :: comparison compare contrast essays

Julius Caesar, dying of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex Meet the Criteria of a Tragedy To be considered a classic cataclysm, a story should follow the principles presented by Aristotle in his work, Poetics. A tragedy, in Aristotles view, concerns the destruction of a person of high tender stead and strong character. The tragical fall of the individual is brought about by a tragic flaw. Arthur Miller expanded upon the classical definition of a tragedy to include not only those of high social status but also the common man. Using the criteria established by Aristotle and Miller, the walkaways Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex may be considered as trage flush its. Although the title of the play, Julius Caesar, focuses on Caesar, the play itself is really based on Brutus. Brutus had rather be a villager than to toy with himself a son of Rome.(Shakespe are 172). This was said by Brutus after Cassius told him how Caesar had become a towering figure over Rome and ho w Caesar controls Rome. Notice the good in Brutus, and the extremes he will go to in order to protect body politic in Rome even if it means killing the one he loves, Caesar. Brutus possesses one of the most tragic flaws. He is too nice of a person and therefore he gets taken advantage of. He lets Cassius curve him into killing Caesar for the good of Rome. Because he does for others more than himself he makes a pitch-black mistake, he lets Antony live. Brutus says to the conspirators, For Antony is but a limb of Caesar(Shakespeare 165) meaning that if Caesar is killed Antony will die off too. Brutus clearly does not regard Antony as being a threat, but little does Brutus know that Antony will stir up the townsfolk to seek revenge after the assassination of Caesar. This mistake will address him his own life. When he dies he becomes a prime example of tragedy because not only did he bring about his own termination he dies by his own hand. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowmans tragic flaw is that he is a dreamer who is unable to face the realities of a modern day society. Willy builds his whole life around the philosophy that if a person is well liked and good looking then he will be successful. Willy says to Biff, I thank Almighty God that you are both are built like Adonises.