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

Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex Meet the Criteria of a Tragedy To be considered a classic tragedy, 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 social view and strong character. The tragic fall of the individual is brought about by a tragic flaw. Arthur Miller expanded upon the classical definition of a tragedy to embarrass not only those of high social status just now also the common man. Using the criteria established by Aristotle and Miller, the plays Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex may be considered as tragedies. 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 repute himself a son of Rome.(Shakespeare 172). This was said by Brutus after Cassius told him how Caesar had become a towering figure over Rome and how Caesar contro ls Rome. Notice the good in Brutus, and the extremes he will go to in nine to protect democracy in Rome even if it means killing the one he loves, Caesar. Brutus possesses one of the most tragic flaws. He is too splendid of a person and therefore he gets taken advantage of. He lets Cassius persuade him into killing Caesar for the good of Rome. Because he does for others more than himself he makes a opprobrious 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 t cause to seek revenge after the assassination of Caesar. This mistake will cost him his own look. When he dies he becomes a prime example of tragedy because not only did he bring about his own death 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 shaper God that you are both are built like Adonises.