What is a Tragedy

In the sense of theatre, tragedy is characterized as a circumstance in which the main character in the play experiences great sorrow or dies as a result of moral failure, tragic flaw, or inability to cope with difficult circumstances. Aristotle described the tragedy as "the imitation of a serious, full, and of a certain magnitude, in a language beautified in different parts with different kinds of embellishment, through acts rather than narration, and through scenes of pity and fear bringing about the 'Catharsis' of these emotions." (p. 1160). Tragic plays can be traced from their origin in Greek theater around 2500 years ago, and invoke various reactions from the audience depending on several factors including the plot of the story, the role of the character, and the moral lesson. Some of the most famous tragic plays in the history of drama and theater include Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth by Shakespeare, and Iphigenia in Tauris by Euripides, to mention a few.
The main aim of this essay is to compare and contrast two tragic plays from different times - Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman - and analyze the difference in tragic theater in ancient Greece and modern America.
Differences between Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman
Apart from the difference in time when the plays were authored, the principal difference between the two tragedies lies in the status of the main characters. Oedipus, the main character in the Greek tragedy, is a an important and noble man as he is the king of Thebes. As such, his actions and ultimate destiny affect many people, and also decide the fate of the nation. Furthermore, the fate of Oedipus seems to be beyond his control as depicted in the tragedy. Unknown to him, he kills the king of Thebes on his way there from Corinth, and assumes the king's position. He then marries the queen, whom he later comes to realize is his mother. Due to his actions, a plague descends upon the land, increasing the suffering of the citizens.
Willy Loman, on the other hand, is an average citizen, a salesman by profession. He is not very successful at his career, which he thinks is the main reason why his sons are not financially stable. In contrast with Oedipus, Loman's fate is directly related to the fact that he does not perform well in his job, and has no regard for academic qualifications. According to him, personal wit is more important for one to succeed rather than good grades. Also, Loman's case differs from Oedipus in that his death doe not affect many people apart from his immediate family members.
Another difference between the two characters is the fact that Oedipus actively seeks to find his true self, the results of which only worsen his situation and view of himself, and Willy does not. For instance, he moves to Thebes to escape his presumed fate, and seeks more information about his true parents by himself. By the end of the play, Oedipus completely knows and accepts himself including his failures. He also realizes that he is responsible for his tragedy. Willy, on the other hand, does not know who he really is: an average American salesman. He thinks that external forces are the reason for his unsatisfactory life, and has hope that one day he will make it big in the industry. Although he plans his death with the hope of liberating his family from the financial crisis, he dies not aware of his true self, and what the society thinks about him.
Similarities between Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman
The two plays are similar in a number of ways. First, the mental state of the main characters at the beginning and the end of the plays are similar. Both Oedipus and Loman are in a state of confusion as they do not understand how they ended up in that situation, and are not aware that they are living the consequences of their actions in the past. For instance, Oedipus fails to understand why his nation is suffering, and asks his brother-in-law to consult with the gods regarding his next course of action. When he is asked about he is doing about the plague, he claims that "You have not roused me like a man from sleep; know that I have given many tears to this; gone many ways wandering in thought, but as I thought I found only one remedy and that I took" (p.1166). As the play progresses, he comes to realize that all the misfortune that befell his country was as a result of his actions, and he is filled with sorrow and grief by the end of the play.
Just like in Oedipus's case, Loman is not aware that the reason why he is not living as he wished to be is because of his own actions. At the beginning of the play, Loman is stressed about so many issues including, their house, the neighborhood, and the increasing population, which he asserts are the reason why he is so uncomfortable. For instance, he complains that his house is a box; "Bricks and windows, windows and bricks" and "There's not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood" due to failing government policy (p.7).The only good thoughts he has are those of the past where they seemed to be a happy family. By the end of the play, Loman is disillusioned and decides to commit suicide so that his family can benefit from the insurance payments. Contrary to his expectations, his funeral is not attended by many people.
Another similarity in the play is the fact that both characters do not know who they really are until later in the play. Oedipus does not know his real parents or where he was born, and leaves Corinth for Thebes in an attempt to escape his fate. Unknown to him, he fulfills the prophecy by killing the king and marrying the queen who are his real parents. At the end of the play, he is fully aware of his situation and awaits judgment for his actions. Willy, on the other hand, is also not aware that he is simply an average man who will not be successful in his career or attain financial independence. Furthermore, he has the illusion that people like him and would feel sad when he dies. Unfortunately, he is wrong on both accounts, and his action of committing suicide does not improve his status among his family members or the community.
Conclusion
In summary, there are numerous similarities and differences between the two tragedies. The fact that they were authored during different times has contributed much to these distinguishing features. For instance, in Greek theater, most of the main characters were of the royal family or nobility but in more recent theater, the main characters are common people in the society (Miller, 2). All the same, tragedy in theater has proven to be a successful genre for over two millenia, and continues to contribute to theatrical prowess today.
Works Cited
"Aristotle's Concept of Tragedy." Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Thirteenth Edition. Pearson, 2016. 1160-1162.
Miller, Arthur. "Death of a Salesman." 10 February 1949. Pelister. Adobe PDF. .
Miller, Arthur. "Tragedy and the Common Man." The New York Times 27 February 1949. Web Site. .
Sophocles. "Oedipus the King." Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Thirteenth Edition. Pearson, 2016. 1162-1202.