Arthur Miller's Willy Loman As A Tragic Hero

Words: 252
Pages: 2

I believe that Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero, and was intended by Arthur Miller to be so, not as an individual, but as a representative. I personally find Willy Loman’s storyline to be too insignificant to be regarded as a true tragedy on its own, but if we take into consideration those who have followed and are following his footsteps, his demise is realized as the eventual fate of millions of American dreamers. Miller’s intention for Willy Loman to exemplify workers under capitalism is quite clear. Like Willy, they begin as young, enthusiastic individuals, filled with ambition, only to eventually fail miserably and be tossed aside, broken by their own naivety. It appears to be that their tragic flaw, or really, Willy Loman’s