Tragedy and the common man

• Suggests that endings should leave the audience with a sense of optimism and admiration for Willy's determination to throw everything he has into the contest to secure his sense of personal dignity

  the commonest of men may take on that stature to the extent of his willingness to throw all he has into the contest to secure his rightful place in the world
• the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were'


  Willy's own emotions are the same as accomplished figures of greatness - something he believes himself to be
• Tragedy is the consequence of a man's total compulsion to evaluate himself justly'


  a sense of humiliation and a feeling of unjust

  "this is what I am and this is what I deserve"
• challenge his dignity, his image of rightful status'


  the point that drives a tragedy is the fact that when their dignity is challenged, then they fight back - that's when the tragedy process starts.
• the disaster inherent in being torn away from our chosen image of what and who we are in this world'


  a quality that we can relate to - driving the tragedy - evokes a sense of fear and pity for audience
• the thrust for freedom is the quality in tragedy which exalts'


  not all tragedies must be depressing - they can leave the audience with a sense of hope and optimism.

  idea of 'freedom' in the capitalist world being futile and impossible to break out the bounds of capitalism