Reflecting on two types of tragedy

Oedipus and Death of a Salesman:

The Human Connection

Oedipus and Death of a Salesman have much to teach about mankind. While Oedipus and Willie Loman may not seem to have much in common at first glance, they do share the experience of tragedy. Often, we think of Oedipus as a tragic play as we watch the king ruin his life. The tragedy results from the fact that Oedipus has no one to blame but himself for the events that occur. He did not mean to destroy his life but he was stubborn enough to do it anyway. Willy Loman, on the other hand, is no king but he does ruin his life through a series of poor choices over the span of his entire life. These men, though separated by thousands of years illustrate how humanity rarely changes. Settings, prevailing thoughts, attitudes and opinions may change over time but the human animal has a tendency to stay the same as Oedipus and Willy prove.

The plays are different in that they chronicle the events of two very different people. Oedipus is a remarkable person and very loved by those in Thebes. He is confident and well respected. The Thebans also have a great deal of faith in Oedipus as seen when they plead with him to find relief from the plague that afflicts them. They believe he can because they think he is "wisest in the ways of God" (Prologue 38). Oedipus fits what Aristotle defines as a hero. Because of his stature in the community, he becomes a tragic hero. In a stark contrast, Willy Loman is almost the opposite of Oedipus. Willy is no king and those around him do not respect him. His family or peers do not hold him in high regard. Where Oedipus is extraordinary, Willy is ordinary and common. He is a tragic character but he is in no way a tragic hero. Death of a Salesman would never qualify as a tragic play because

Oedipus and Willy are similar characters because they make bad choices. Oedipus runs into trouble when he starts acting in favor of his arrogance. He does not listen to Teiresias' warning about being haughty and declares he is a "wicked old man" (Sophocles I.i.118) with "no feeling at all" (I.i.119). He even accuses Teiresias for Laios' murder. These actions are not one of a king but a self-centered man and, over time, Oedipus cannot see what he is doing. He is blind and deaf to the truth. In fact, when he does hear the truth, it makes no sense to him because he is focused on his own selfish motives. When Teiresias tells him, "You yourself are the pollution of this country" (I.i.135), it does not make sense to him. Additionally, when Teiresias tells Oedipus that he is the "murderer whom you seek" (I.i.143), it goes right over his head. Even as he tells Oedipus that he "cannot see the evil" (I.i.148-9) his actions will cause, Oedipus sits in oblivion. He refuses to listen to his wife and brazenly tells her, "I will not listen; the truth must be made known" (II.iii.146). Iocaste morphs from being Oedipus' wife to his enemy because she is speaking words he does not want to hear. He tells her:

The Queen, like a woman, is perhaps ashamed

To think of my low origin. But I

Am a child of luck; I cannot be dishonored . . .

How could I wish that I were someone else?

How could I not be glad to know my birth? (II.iii.159-60, 164-5)

Oedipus' bad choice begins with arrogance and ends with isolation.

Like Oedipus, Willy makes poor choices. He is blind like Oedipus because he does not see things as they actually are. He lives in a fantasy world and tells himself and his family lies in order to stay within that world. Telling and believing lies about himself is easier than admitting there is a problem and doing something about it. After years of no success at his job, he believes he can "knock Howard for a loop" (Miller II.1070-1) and "get an advance, and I'll come home with a New York job" (II.1071). Oedipus is successful enough to allow himself to fall victim to his arrogance and selfish way of thinking. Willy, however, is living in a dream world as a means of surviving in the rat race. He does not have what it takes to pass muster but he does not know what else to do. Willy and Oedipus only make things more difficult for themselves. Willy does not admit to making any mistakes so he does not have to amend them. Even when it comes to asking Charley for money, Willy is refusing to change his life. He would rather ask for a loan than work for Charley. Willy is standing in his own way throughout most of the play and, unlike Oedipus, he does not realize his mistake.