"Death of a Salesman" has been called the first American Tragedy. The basis for this is the fact that Willy, the main character, has the needed tragic flaw and tragic end, and for those who believe this is a tragedy, also is the tragic hero. I disagree with this idea, because to be a tragic hero, you need to have power and status to lose. Willy has neither power nor status to lose, except that which he thinks he has, which is really none.
To have a true tragedy, there must be three main elements in the story, a tragic hero, tragic flaw, and tragic end. If you consider Death of a Salesman…
