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assassination of Caesar. This mistake will cost him his own life.
When he dies he becomes a prime example of tragedy because not
only did he bring about his own death he dies by his own hand.
In Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman's tragic flaw is that
he is a dreamer who is unable to face the realities of
a modern day society. Willy builds his whole life around the
philosophy that if a person is well liked and good looking then
he will be successful. Willy says to Biff , "I thank Almighty God
that you are both are built like Adonises."(Act I page 33) Later,
Willy makes the comment, "Be liked and you will never
want."(Act I page 33)
he often lies about his success; at times he even believes his own
lies. Willy always thinks his sons will always be successful
because they are good looking and good at sports, but in reality
they are failures just like Willy. At the end when Biff tries to tell
Willy that he is just a commoner and that he cannot live up to his
father's expectations, that they are "a dime a dozen." Willy thinks
he is just saying this to spite him. Willy says, "I am not a dime a
dozen! I am Willy Loman and you are Biff Loman!"(act II page
132). After this Willy decides to commit suicide so Biff can get
the twenty thousand dollar insurance money and he will finally
make something of himself. "He had the wrong dreams"(requiem
page 138) states Biff at Willy's funeral, but Charley, Willy's best
friend, says "A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the
territory."(requiem page 138) Unfortunately, Willy never realized
that his dreams and values were flawed and he died for it.
In Oedipus Rex Oedipus has a flaw that is unavoidable and
also uncontrollable. His flaw is fate. The plot juxtaposes