Comparing_Oedipus_And_Death_Of_A_Salesman

Comparing Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and Sophocles’s “Oedipus Rex” coincide in that they both are tragedies, the former being a modern tragedy, specifically set in twentieth-century America; meanwhile, the latter is much older, of ancient Greek origin. Despite the extensive time frame between the two plays, in creation and in setting, as well as the different societies to which they pertain, both works remain true to the genre of tragedy; thus, the two pieces can suitably be placed side by side and compared to one another. Willy Loman is the central character in “Death of a Salesman,” and Oedipus is his counterpart in “Oedipus Rex.” Both Willy Loman and Oedipus have characteristics in common, like the fact that they are both blind to reality; yet both remain distinct in their own ways, and it is precisely these differences, such as their honour, what draws the line of distinction between Oedipus being a hero and Willy Loman being an anti-hero. Both Willy Loman and Oedipus suffer from a major flaw in their character, which is the primary factor in drawing the course of their respective fates. This flaw is blindness to reality. Willy Loman is incapable of discerning what is oedipus, willy, loman, man, hero, both, because, tragic, never, fact, dream, unlike, tragedy, considered, audience, people, men, makes, king, honourable, honour, flaw, death, blindness, being, anti-hero, sophocles, someone, salesman, rex, respect, present, past, own, however