What Is in a Tragic Hero?

A tragedy is a type of drama that is found in the first century B.C. The famous “Poetics”, that written by Aristotle, happens to Aristotle’s theories on tragedies. Due to Aristotle’s “Poetics”, a tragic hero has to be qualified for all of his four criterions. Most important of all, the character must be a great man (kings, princes, etc…). Secondly, that tragic hero must have a tragic flaw that brings to his downfall. Then, he must have decent moralities, and be “true to life”. Last but not least, the hero must die at the end, leaving the audience a sentiment of tragedy. Based on the Greek’s definition of a tragic hero, then Willy Loman, the salesman of the play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, is not a tragic hero. Willy is just a common salesman, who has misconception of values and goals. Beside that, he is certainly not “true to life”. In fact, he is a liar as he commits adultery and lies to his wife about his incomes. Eventually, Willy Loman does die at the end of the play, because of his misconceptions of life that lead to his sad death; but Willy Loman cannot be considered as a tragic hero, because Willy is not dignified enough for a tragic hero.

Aristotle once said that “It must be good, the character will be good if the purpose is good.” Basically, according to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be a great man. The term “great man” involves the noble people such as kings, princes, war heroes… By that definition then Willy can not be consider a great man. Willy is just a common man; in fact, he is New England’s poor salesman. “The street is lined with cars. There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don’t grow any more, you can’t raise a carrot in the back yard. They should’ve a law against apartment houses,” (Miller 17) Willy describes his living condition. Obviously, Willy and his family live in a deprived place of the city. The reason a tragic hero has to be a great man is that a great man has so much to lose. Once a great man loses it all, then it is tragic. In contrast, Willy has nothing more to lose comparing to the great man. Even though the audiences can relate to Willy, but they may sympathize for Willy’s situation, the audiences can not look up to Willy and say that they admire him. Sympathy and admiration has difference meaning. If Willy is not admired then how can he be a hero? That is one of the reasons why Willy can not be considered as a tragic hero.

If to be a tragic hero, one must have at least one flaw, then Willy is qualified.