I agree with Arthur Miller’s essay, "Tragedy and the Common Man." According to Arthur Miller, the ordinary man is the most befitted for tragedy to fall upon him. Miller states, “The common man is an appropriate subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were”. As the audience, we may not grasp the struggles of a king or a God, however we recognize, realize and understand something more superior, we understand the tragedy that befalls a common man.
The question as the spectators we always ask ourselves while viewing a play is “how is this my problem?” This question is answered through the hero or the protagonist (being a common man) in the story desiring what most of the audience yearns for, whether it may be the American Dream or merely integrity or dignity. This is the bridge that shelters the gap between us the audience and characters in the play, it is when a common man is truly able to see the character in the play at the same level as they are. An example of this can be seen in the play, Death of a Salesman. Willy wanted to have a successful life however was not able to financially support neither himself nor his family. He also felt like he failed at being a father because his sons were not able to financially stabilize either. This plot allows many of the audience members to relate to Willy’s struggle to achieve the
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An example of this can be seen through Macbeth, a character who was willing to do anything to gain his rightful place in the throne. Thus, knowing that Macbeth was of a higher class, but the urge to gain the respect that he merited was the one thing that bridged the gap between him and the audience. Alas, he died never being able to seize the