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Tragedies are one of the most important components of literature and
have influenced man for many years. The Webster’s dictionary describes
tragedy as a serious drama in which the chief protagonist or the hero
is overcome by some superior force or circumstances. Tragedies invoke
terror or pity in the audience. Although tragedies have its supporters
and detractors, they are one of the mainstays on which world literature
has been built up over the years. Tragedies as a genre have helped us
to look at the deeper interactions of life and have helped us to
understand human emotions under difficult situations. They often strike
a rapport with our own emotions and many people identify themselves
with the characters in a tragedy. Many well-known tragedies are
considered as literary classics because of the level of involvement
that it elicits from the reader. It is reasonable to expect many more
tragedies from prominent writers in the years to come, because
tragedies have an undeniable place in world literature. Another
important factor that has helped to elevate the status of tragic plays
among others is the fact that tragic plays, almost always, depict the
lives of extraordinary men and women. While comedies are mainly
concerned with the day to day lives of ordinary people, the chief
protagonists of tragedies are often kings, queens, and noblemen who
were supposed to be strong willed and incorruptible. A tragic hero may
have many dimensions. For example, a tragic hero may have superior
human qualities and may be in positions of power. They could also be
people who may not be termed as “good” by conventional moral codes of
the society. What makes the life of tragic heroes attractive is the
contrast that shows them in a powerful position at a certain part of
their lives and the absolute chaos that seem to grip their lives as the
story progresses.
If we observe many literary pieces we can see that at the start of
the story, the hero is depicted as a content person who has happiness
and power at his command. Soon circumstances take their toll on his
life and he is subjected to all sorts of miseries and unforeseen
circumstances that seem to form a train of events that impinge upon his
life. We often see that even though the tragic hero tries to put a
brave face and fights the circumstances, he is soon overwhelmed by the
situations that seem to be far beyond his capacities and control.
Perhaps it is this crumbling of a powerful and emotionally superior
human being that evokes so much sympathy and interest from the viewers.
Antigone
The central theme of the play that is highlighted is the dilemma
that one faces, in adhering to ones own judgment or to abide by the
existing laws of the land. The play in a very distinct manner
highlights the fact that man who has been bestowed with independent
thinking and the capacity to analyze situations, must consult his
mental faculties and think rationally before taking a judgment. There
are also many sub themes that in fact, revolves around the main theme.
For example, the story also dwells on the all-pervading power of the
Gods and the importance of destiny in human life. It also hints at
one's actions that can influence the present as well as the future
generations in a country [Sophocles, 442 B.C.E; Novelguide.com, 2003]
The King, Creon is compelled to take a decision that is politically
correct, while Antigone is compelled by her sentiments for her dead
brother. The beginning of the play introduces us to a situation about
which, not many details are given. The onset of all problems in the
play happens after the death of Polynices, the brother of the central
character in the play, Antigone. We are told that Polynices had
attacked Thebes, and was killed in the battle. The reasons for his
attacks and the possible situations that encouraged him to attack his
uncle Creon, is not known in the drama and it must be said that in that
respect, the story continues with the previous play titled Oedipus, who
was the father of Polynices and Antigone. Polynices, due to his attack
against the Thebes is considered as a traitor and Creon orders that the
man should not get a decent burial since he is a traitor. This is the
main theme that creates the twists and turns in Antigone’s life. She is
in a dilemma because she is torn between honoring a person who is
considered a traitor, and providing a decent burial for her brother.
Perhaps the aspect that is highlighted as “bad” in Antigone is the
stubbornness that people display. Antigone insists that she would bury
her brother in an honorable manner and defies the King’s orders. She is
soon killed by the King for her defiance of the royal instructions. We
se that Antigone as a person is not able to raise herself above her
intimate sensibilities. Even though her brother has been considered a
traitor she is not able to resign to the fate that he should be buried
as a traitor. Antigone seems to be oblivious to the fact that the same
royalty that meted out a bad treatment for her brother was quick to
consider the services of another brother of hers, Eteocles, who was
buried with full state honors.
We can see that Antigone represents the human mind that is torn
between fiery nationalism and sensitive love for one’s sibling.
Patriotism demands one to consider ones’ relations after the interests
of one’s country. Antigone refutes this basic assumption and tries to
rebel against a moral code. There are many perspectives that we can
draw from the character sketch of Antigone. She may be accused of being
weak and selfish but it cannot also be denied that she died for loving
her brother. Perhaps this moral dilemma of balancing between remaining
steadfast to ones relations and one’ country makes the character
popular.
The death of a salesman
The death of a salesman is a story that tragically explains the
hopes and aspirations of a salesman who wanted to make it rich but
failed. Willy is a person who is egoistic, hardworking but not
manipulative. He often drifts between high ideals and lowly temptations
so much that his life is in shambles. He had pinned his hopes on his
two sons who unfortunately never grew to his expectations. We see that
in spite of his failures he considered himself to be superior and well
liked by people even though he in reality is unpopular [Arthuir Miller,
1976; Author not known, 2004]
We can see that Willy is a person who has been living in a
make-believe world: a world where he lived according to his fancies and
dreams. We see that as he gets older and poorer, he is engrossed more
and more with the ideals that he had in life. Even though he could not
stick to his ideals, he wants his sons to pursue them and make it a
reality, which they are not prepared for. We see that Willy is a
complete failure. He has not money, he has not been faithful, to his
wife and his sons have not become what he wanted them to be. His job is
in shambles and he does not have the money that he had wished for in
life.
The tragic hero in this play is not someone who is superior in any
manner. He is a person of many weaknesses. Still we feel sympathy for
him because he has a lot of dreams and none of them gets fulfilled even
though he had been trying for it. We identify with the failures of a
person who seems to make the wrong decisions always in life. We see
that even though people around him have become rich and famous, he has
been constrained to live a life that is not worth anything. We can see
that his material needs are often denied because he does not have
enough money to fulfill them. In fact the play talks about the
continuous failure of a person and his dreams.
Similarities and contrast
Both the characters, Antigone and Willy Lowman have one distinct
similarity about them: stubbornness. Both are not willing to look at
life objectively and so suffer for their faulty egotist tendencies.
While Antigone fails to appreciate the fact that the law of the land is
beyond human sentiments, Willy Lowman is living in a make-believe world
where he and his ideals are important than the realities and changes
that are happening to the society.
The contrast lies in the approach and emotional content of both the
characters. Antigone is ready to sacrifice her life for her love for
her brother, while Willy is more or less a self-centered person who
wants to enjoy life. Antigone depicts the compulsions born out of
emotional dilemma while the Death Of A Salesman depicts lost hopes and
aspirations.
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