Miller's paradigm was Willy Loman a common man who experienced tragedy through wealth. ... Oedipus and Willy Loman were both significant tragic heroes with different cases of tragedy. Out of the two, Willy Loman would have to be less tragic because Willy chose the tragedy he suffered. Willy Loman had the wrong aspirations since the beginning. ... Opposite of Willy Loman, Oedipus did not choose his own tragedy. ...

• Word Count: 719
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Willy Loman, the main character, symbolizes everyone who has ever fallen short of their dreams in our society of capitalism. ... Willy Loman's problems stem from his own delusions, and his quest for material happiness eventually takes his life. ... Although Willy Loman was struggling financially, he never realized what he actually had: a great family who loved him dearly. ... On the other hand, Willy's friend Charley and his son Bernard are quite successful compared to the Lomans. Charlie and Bernard stand for different beliefs than the Lomans and, ironically, end up far richer....

• Word Count: 744
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The plays plot specifically focuses on the relationships between the protagonist, Willy Loman, a salesman, and his sons, Biff and Happy. ... (Miller, 1150) Willy shuns his son Biff for not being what Willy wishes him to be. ... Happy states, "I gotta show some of those pompous self-important executives over there that Hap Loman can make the grade."" ... (Miller 1195) Biff highlights the walls and barriers that developed from the lack of communication in the Loman household. ... Willy Loman was so consumed with pleasing other people to attain the "American Dream-; he failed to understand the im...

• Word Count: 727
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The protagonist of the story is the 60ish Willy Loman being at the rough end of an undistinguished career as a salesman, and the pressures of his life are causing him to lose contact with reality. Living partly in the present (1949) and partly in the past (1928), Willy clings to fantasies of success for both himself and his sons, womanizing underachiever Happy and prodigal runaway Biff and simultaneously veils the family's hopeless financial situation. Since 36 years the small, almost fragile seeming and exhausted traveling salesman Willy Loman has been selling the products of the firm th...

• Word Count: 590
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

One of these instances is during a flashback Willy tells Biff Willy. "Be liked and you will never want Take me, for instance 'Willy Loman is here!' ... Appearances are also a big part to Willy Loman. ... In the Loman household the key to success is be well liked and look good. ... From there Bernard begins to give Willy a flashback and question him on a past event in Willy's life. ...

• Word Count: 1159
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The key difference between the tragic heroes in each example is Oedipus was a King, a figure of nobility, and Willy was an average man. ... We again, gain an emotional connection to Willy Loman because he is from the same walk of life as many of us. ... Arthur Miller's describes how Willy is a tragic hero in a modern sense in his "Tragedy of the Common Man". ... " Just like Oedipus but in a different sense, we pity Willy as we learn of his state of mind leading up to his suicide. ... What's sad is that Willy doesn't. ...

• Word Count: 1107
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School