How is Death of a Salesman a tragedy according to the definition(s) of tragedy?
kplhardison Student Graduate School eNotes Editor The elements in Death of a Salesman that mark it as a tragedy are the ever declining fortunes of the hero and the ultimate demise of the hero. Elements that are contradictory of an Aristotelian Greek tragedy are that Willy Loman is a common man, a man of the people, and has no superior qualities by which to intensify the degree to which the audience can identify with and pity him, nor is the subject matter of a high “serious” nature; it too is commonplace. In Aristotelian Greek dramatic (play) tragedy, the hero must combine good and evil qualities and have a reputation of renown that incorporates superior attainments. Pity for the hero and fear for impending catastrophe must grip the audience on the hero’s behalf. Willy Loman matches none of these requirements. Further, the hero need not die. In Elizabethan drama (plays), changes were made to the nature of the tragic hero. First, he was required to die in the end and, second, he fell du
