An essay on Arthur Miller's "Death of A Salesman".

What are the basic elements of tragedy? Arthur Miller believes that the common man is just as fitting to be a tragic figure as a king. However, this argument can be supported as well as it can be argued. The most common elements in a tragedy are that the figure be of noble status, have at least one tragic flaw, and gain tragic awareness before losing their life. Willy Loman can be considered a tragic …

…will, in the perfectibility of man." (pg 3) It is definitely up to us to perfect ourselves. We can not blame others for our faults nor expect them to make us better or more perfect. "It is time... that we who are without kings, took up this bright thread of our history and followed it to the only place it can possibly lead in our time -- the heart and spirit of the average man." (pg 3)