Comparing Pathos In Macbeth And Death Of A Salesman

During the different eras within the plays Macbeth and Death of Salesman we can observe the differing exhibitions of pathos. In Macbeth, we as an audience to a play, observe the downwards spiral and eventual collapse of Macbeth due to his thoughts being manipulated by supernatural forces into disrupting the Great Chain of Being. The notion that supernatural forces were capable of influencing ones actions and thoughts to such an extent, terrified the English population. This was due to lack of scientific understanding at the time and as such it should be considered an important contextual theme. In comparison, Death of the Salesman features a washed-up sales man, Willy Loman who is blinded by his pride and hubris which in turn prevents himself from recognising his own flaws leading him to denial. Although Willy has a professional understanding of the world of sales he doesn’t realise that this idealised world full of self-deceit that he retreats into has been hampering his ability to realise his own failures both personal and to his family. As such his inability to grasp the true personal, emotional and spiritual understanding of himself as a man and not as a salesman has led to Willy being labelled as a modern American tragic hero. Each audience in the respective era

As such the emotions linked with tragedy in relation to the human condition are all universal leading to tragedy and the emotions associated becoming a common part of everyday life. Such as the sense of less felt upon the death of a decent human being or the fear that the events that happen hit too close to home causing realisation of their own suffering. As such tragedy is indeed a timeless genre whereupon the pathos and emotions which are invoked upon the audience can be directly linked back to the main character and their