As a king in ancient Greek literature, Oedipus was required to have a dramatically catastrophic fall, while modern literature needs a tragic hero who is an "everyman." But both suffered greatly in their own ways, and in ways that the audience both expected and regarded as essential. But while these two characters were both the central, tragic figure in their respective stories, their differences were a reflection of the role of dramatic tragedy in their societies. The subject of ancient Greek literature was often the magnificent deeds of the gods and heroes, while everyday life was more often forgotten. As a result, the tragedies presented often had as their main character a great person, sometimes with a major personality flaw, who suffers extreme torments and a mighty plunge from an exalted position. Nothing exemplified this excessive amount of suffering than Oedipus, a man who became a king only to later discover that he unwittingly killed his own father, married and had children with his own mother, and ended up a blind beggar. His tragic journey took him from king to pauper; but this was expected by the ancient Greeks.

On the other hand is the modern tragic figure of Willy Loman, a failed salesman, husband, and father who took his own life. As Oedipus represented the society in which it was conceived, so to did Willy Loman. Ancient...

But Willy Loman is a tragic figure of the 20th century, and thus his torments and failures are a reflection of a modern commercial society. His occupation as a salesman is representative of what is valuable in modern society, mainly things that can make money. Loman's failure at what is fundamental for success in modern society is what makes him a tragic figure and his fall symbolic to everyone in modern society. Modern society may not have kings to turn to beggars, but it does have tragic figures that both reflect the values of society as well as connect to the modern audience.
Tragedy, as an art form, has existed for thousands of years; but while the misfortunes and calamities remain a constant theme, the specific tragic actions have evolved over the centuries to reflect societal values. In ancient Greece the subjects of tragedies were larger than life characters who experienced outrageous hardships. But in the modern world, the audience has a connection with the tragic characters and the tragic events are often more relative to the audience's personal experience. While the scale and notoriety of the tragic characters may have changed, as well as the types of tragic events, which makes tragedy an emotional experience, the pity and fear felt by the audience, has not.

Works Cited

Aristotle, S.H. Butcher. "Poetics." The Internet Classic Archive. Web. 8 April 2012.

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.html

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. London: York, 1998. Print.

Sophocles. "Oedipus the King." The Internet Classic Archive. Web. 9 April 2012.

http://classics.mit.edu/Sophicles/oedipus.html