Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman Essay

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman - Essay Example Both plays have got ends that have got tragedies that are followed by accidents. For instance the act of putting the queen to death looks like just a mere twist of fate but it is in fact a catastrophic act that is faced by Oedipus in future. Wily’s death is a tragedy whereas his son’s failure to embark on business is a catastrophe (Cohen, 2003).Both plays draw the concentration of the audience in appreciating the manner in which human behavior can have profound emotions on a person. Oedipus after discovering the truth blinds himself, whereas Willy maintains that his son must become a businessperson even after finding out that his son is not interested in business at all. In both plays, the key characters are portrayed as having heroic qualities. Oedipus is a hero in his own right and there is no doubting that. This becomes evident and clear when he refuses to be victimized at all and instead chooses to remain totally loyal to Thebes people.Willy on other side kills himself for the noble cause of making sure his family is develops. In both plays, the key protagonists are tragic heroes. Both plays represent cultures and lifestyles settings that are completely different. Death of salesman represents a present day tragedy whereas Oedipus represents an old heroic tragedy.Willy’s story is about present day activities like insurance and sales, unlike the story of Oedipus which is told in a traditional setting. In Oedipus, the main protagonist is the king who is painted as a very confident, however the feeling that he portrays of himself to the audience about the real self is quite different. Oedipus on other hand is so full of himself and feels outstandingly perfect(Cohen,2003).Although Willy looks like he was treading on the right course in his activities just the way Oedipus did, he does not live to face the outcomes of his activities like Oedipus. While