Comparing the Tragedies of Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex :: comparison compare contrast essays

  For a story to be a tragedy it has to follow the principles set   by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, or those of Arthur Miller   who is a twentieth century playwright.   A tragedy, in Aristotle's   view, usually concerns the fall of an individual whose character is   good but not perfect and his misfortunes are brought about by the   tragic flaw.   This flaw is the part of the character that personifies   him as being tragic.   Miller uses this definition of a tragedy but   also broadens it to include the common man.   All of these   characteristics are seen in the plays   Julius Caesar, Death of a   Salesman, and Oedipus Rex.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the title of the play   Julius Caesar focuses on   Caesar, the play itself is really based on Brutus. "Brutus had   rather be a villager than to repute himself a son of Rome."(Act I,   scene II, line 172).   This was said by Brutus after Cassius told him   how Caesar had become a towering figure over Rome and how   Caesar controls Rome. Notice the good in Brutus, and the    extremes he will go to in order to protect democracy in Rome    even if it means killing the one he loves, Caesar.   Brutus possesses    one of the most tragic flaws.   He is too nice of a person and    therefore he gets taken advantage of.   He lets Cassius persuade    him into killing Caesar for the good of Rome.   Because he does    for others more than himself he makes a fatal mistake, he lets    Antony live. Brutus says to the conspirators, "For Antony is but a    limb of Caesar"(Act II scene I line 165) meaning that if Caesar is    killed Antony will die off too. Brutus clearly does not regard    Antony as being a threat,   but little does Brutus know that    Antony will stir up the town to seek revenge after the    assassination of Caesar. This mistake will cost him his own life.      When he dies he becomes a prime example of tragedy because not    only did he bring about his own death he dies by his own hand.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman's   tragic flaw is that