"Tragedy and the Common Man" Questions

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

The main point of the essay is that there are not many written tragedies in this age, mainly because there is a lack of heroes among us. Miller also makes a point to say that tragedies are only fit for the kings. We are either held below or above tragedy, which means that we never are actually held with tragedies. Miller’s thesis statement is “…the tragic mode is archaic, fit only for the very highly place, the kings or the kingly, and where this admission is not made in so many words it is most often implied.” The thesis restates the point that tragedies are outdated and really only happened during the time when there were “highly placed kings”.

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

According to Miller, the quality of the “tragic flaw” causes every tragic hero to “fall”. He continues to say that the flaw is not necessarily a weakness. The flaw, which is really nothing but the character’s unwillingness to stay passive in a challenge to his dignity, causes every tragic hero to fall. He also says that a tragic hero has a flaw or crack in their character, which is what essentially brings them to become unwilling. These cracks, or flaws, challenge the dignity and image of the character’s status.

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

Miller also says that the common man fits so perfectly into the role of a tragic hero. He says that the passive ones, which are those who accept their circumstances without retaliation, are “flawless.” The common man fits so perfectly into the role because most people do have this trait, and do not get caught up in the failing of the “tragic flaw”. 

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

One thing that separates the traditional tragic hero from a common everyman tragic hero is their nobility. If rank or nobility were essential, then it would follow the problems of those with rank or nobility. In Miller's view, nobility is important. This is because it separates the traditional tragic hero from the common tragic hero. It allows the two to be separate and distinct from one another and although they share many similar features, they do not share the rank or nobility.

5. What does Miller say about tragedies being viewed as being “pessimistic”? What reasoning does he give when he argues that tragedies are actually optimistic?

Miller says that "tragedy is of necessity allied to pessimism". This is why tragedy is viewed as being pessimistic. He says that the dictionary doesn't say much of anything about the word besides that it means a story with a sad or unhappy ending. He also argues that tragedies are actually optimistic. He says that tragedies that optimistic in their authors because the result is the reinforcement of the reader’s brightest opinion of the human. The “sad” part in tragedies are so fixed and poorly played out that they imply comedy, so they become optimistic.

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

Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero. Willy tried to be successful all his life, even when he was clearly not making enough money to financially support his family. Because Biff and Happy (more so Biff) failed in Willy’s eyes, he feels as if he failed as a father and in his own life. Willy was not able to achieve the “American Dream”, but he tried to provide that same perseverance in his children, and when their careers didn’t turn out very successful, Willy took the blame. Willy is mainly a tragic hero because his life ended tragically, with his suicide, but he was also a hero because he died in order for his family to be financially stable.