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Discussion Questions
- Do you believe that Willy is great, but not perfect?
- Is Willy's downfall his fault, or fate's fault?
- Is Willy's punishment fully deserved?
Hamlet Discussion Questions
Do you think Hamlet deserved to die?
We only discussed some of the characteristics, do you think any of the other tragic hero characteristics relate to Hamlet?
Do you think Hamlet has any other hamartia?
Do you think Hamlet deserved to die?
We only discussed some of the characteristics, do you think any of the other characteristics relate to Hamlet?
- Is Willy's loss justified by the gain?
Willy's First Flaw: Poor Judgment
How Willy's poor judgment effects his effects his life
- Willy's poor judgment prevents success at work
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below words without through never go to heaven"
- Hamlet
- Gives him false expectations for work
- He was only trying to bring his father justice but got caught up in Claudius' games.
- He got all the facts before he acted
*set up The Murder of Gonzago to prove Claudius' guilt and in doing this makes sure the ghost is really his father
- Gertrude marries Claudius
- Claudius Takes Hamlets position as king
- Hamlet sees his fathers ghost
- Hamlet doesn't kill Claudius during the play, The Murder of Gonzago
- Causes fights with his son Biff.
How his poor judgment relates to being a tragic hero
- Causes a loss of fortune
- Causes despair in his life
Willy's Second Flaw: Greed
Willy's mistress
- Willy has a wife and family, and a mistress.
- Causes fights with Biff
- Forever sees Biff as spiteful.
How Willy relates to a tragic hero
- Willy's greed is one of his major flaws which lead to his downfall
- Hamlets classical Hamartia or tragic flaw is his contemplation, his hesitation and his indecisiveness
- As the play progresses, Hamlet is having trouble performing this challenge
Willy's Greed Part Two
- Hamlet is anxious about whether or not he is understanding the task right, indecisive and procrastinates his actions
Willy's suicide
"Why, what an ass am I! This is
most brave..."
-Hamlet
2.2.580-585
- To escape his problems.
"How all
occasions do
inform against
me..." -Hamlet
4.4.32-45
- Hurts his family for what he wants
"Does it not,
think thee,
stand me now
upon..." -Hamlet
5.2.69-73
How Willy relates to a tragic hero
- Willy brings his own downfall to himself from free choice
Third Flaw: Pride
Willy constantly wants to appear and be the best in life
- Informs his family that he is very popular and well-liked
- Presents strong confidence and pride in his son Biff
- Wants to appear more well-liked than his brother, Charley
How Willy relates to a tragic hero
- Inability to escape the despair of his life
1. Hamartia - Flaw in error or judgement (indecisive)
2. Peripeteia - The reversal of fortune brought on by error or judgement
3.Anagnorisis - Discovery and recognition that reversal was brought on by ones own actions
4. Hubris - Excessive pride
5. Catharsis - The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
6. The character's fate must be greater than deserved
Third Flaw Pride (Con't)
He is too proud to accept any job offered to him
- Brother Charley offers him one but he refuses
- Believes one can only hold a job if they have earned it
- If he was not so prideful he may have accepted the job and lived more comfortably and happily
How Willy relates to a tragic hero
- Need to put his pride before all other concerns in life
Tragic Hero
Fourth Flaw: Ignorance
Willy fails to acknowledge the love and support from
his family
- Linda, his wife constantly sympathizes for him and in turn he treats her disrespectfully
- Fails to notice how much Biff admires him and does not realize how much his affair with another woman will hurt his son
A tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error of judgement or has a fatal flaw, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy.
How Willy relates to a tragic hero
- Inability to see love from family causes him to feel alone and have suicidal thoughts
In Hamlet and Death of a Salesman