The Volume of a Region Rotated About an Axis

"Tell you a secret, boys. Don't breathe it to a soul. Someday I'll have my own business, and I'll never have to leave home any more" (Death of a Salesman, 1559).

Coughdramaticironycough.

Do I think that Willy is a tragic hero?  My first thought is that no, I don't think that Willy exemplifies any of the characteristics of dramatic heroes.  In fact, his flaws are so easy to point out that it makes me feel really sorry for him -- so I'll start there.

In our small group discussion, some people said that Willy's tragic flaw was his idealism, and others said it was his pride.  I say, why can't it be a combination?  My quote for this blog post is a good example of his extreme idealism -- idealism that never actually pulls through in the end.  But it comes right after an interesting conversation Willy was having with young Biff -- "If somebody else took that ball there'd be an uproar," says Willy (1558).  Later he says, "You take me, for instance.  I never have to wait in line to see a buyer" (1561).  Aside from the fact that that's probably a complete lie, Willy is extremely cocky.  So prideful and idealistic that he ends up nowhere -- a sense of realism and humility (like that of Charley's*) would have brought him a better life, arguably.

As I said, it's easy to find Willy's flaws -- he cheats on Laura, encourages Biff's stealing, and has a horrible sales record.  Perhaps the reason that I feel sorry for him is an indication that he may have some heroic qualities after all.  His stuck-in-the-past-ness that he shares with Amanda in The Glass Menagerie is certainly a sympathetic character trait.  Though he's not realistic or truthful, Willy cares about his family and wants to see Biff and Happy become successful adults.  That's a major factor that pushes him to commit suicide at the end of the play.  Laura, Biff, and Happy acquired insurance money to pay off bills and start business.  The suicide was extremely unfortunate, of course, but we can't say that it lacked nobility.

*Side note: One of the primary things (that's right, I said "things") I got from this play was from the childhood clash between Biff and Bernard.  I think Death of a Salesman is a cautionary tale for those people who don't take math seriously.

"I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"

"I pray you, in your letters, / When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, / Speak of me as I am, nothing extenuate, / Nor set down aught in malice" (Othello, V.ii.339-42).

In Othello's final speech, he reestablishes his greatness and illustrates himself as a classic Shakespearean tragic hero.  First, as quoted above, he requests of his audience that they talk about him as he is -- nothing more, nothing less.

Then, Othello continues to say that he was "perplexed in the extreme" (V.ii.345).  When Othello killed his wife, he acted out of jealousy, but he argues that this jealousy was not entirely his fault.  Instead, he admitted that we was duped by the genius, witty, and attractive Iago.  (I'm taking some liberties in paraphrasing the text, here.)  I would argue that Othello's tragic flaw isn't his jealousy but his innate gullibility -- as Othello said in his speech, he is not naturally jealous but was hoodwinked into jealousy by the intelligent and beautiful Iago.  (Again, taking some liberties.)

Finally, Othello makes a little analogy.  One lovely morning*, Othello witnessed a Turk beating a Venetian, and Othello "took by the throat the circumcised dog / And smote him, thus" (V.ii.354-5).  Othello compared himself to Venice's enemy and explained through this analogy that he did not deserve to live due to his disservice to his people.  What a guy.

*lovely morning: setting not actually specified in the text