I feel that the evolution of tragedy is largely due to the existence of the common man in the twentieth century. Aristotle felt that a good tragedy requires a realistic story that is narrow in focus, including a tragic hero that is superior to the common man in one way or another. He must also have both good and evil along with the ability to evoke fear and pity. Death of a salesman does fulfill the category that it is realistic and narrow in focus. However, the hero is instead the common man and does not display good or evil clearly. Willy does evoke pity in the sense that for one who has worked so hard for 35 years, he is now a man trapped in his past and then discarded by his company. He evokes fear in the audience that they may just end up like him.

I...