Death of a Salesman
Is Willy a Tragic Hero?
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Willy is our protagonist and his demise is directly related to the flaws in his character. I think Miller was really trying to deconstruct the failed American dream through Willy. As readers, we quickly understand that Willy's version of the American dream is largely an illusion. Success, simply for its own sake, becomes a self-fulfilling failure. Willy wants his success quickly and easily without passion or pride. The spoils of his "success" never materialize. As Willie's illusion disintegrates, so does his identity built on that illusion.