What Are The Similarities Between Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman

For one to be their own agent, they must have the ability and free will to change their course of actions at any given time in their lives. The theory of determinism states that every human decision to perform an action is an inevitable consequence of a prior affair, essentially deeming humans irresponsible for their actions. Tragedies often in times create a sense that its tragic hero’s are innocent regardless of their wrongdoings due to the prescience of a superior being or entity controlling the fates of the characters. Playwrights Sophocles and Arthur Miller, have allowed for the examination of fates role in the lives of humans through their works, Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman. There are countless parallels between these two
Though there is no superior being predetermining Willy Loman’s fate, his free will is crippled by society’s determination of his fate. Willy is forced to conform to his surroundings and to follow his perception of a happy live however, “he is trapped in a society which prevents him from establishing anything to outlast himself” (Parker 27). Parker highlights the fact that Willy is out of place in his society because he cannot be accepted as unsuccessful. Society has built a standard of living and due to the fact that Willy is incapable of achieving this standard, society ultimately determines his tragic
Much earlier, Oedipus’ birth parents attempt to rid themselves of him to ensure that the prophecy not become a reality. Laius believes that “never did that child, the hapless boy, slay him but died himself before his sire,” however he is blind to the fact that his attempt at exorcising agency would contribute to his demise. After being informed by the Oracle that he would murder his father and sleep with his mother, Oedipus attempts to exorcise his free will by making a conscious decision to leave his town and ensure that he would not commit these offenses. This very decision is what leads him to his father and eventually his mother. Though he commits these appalling acts, Oedipus is unable to evade their imminence and is not the “punishment of deliberate sin, but punishment of the unwitting sinner whose punishable acts are part of his destiny from the beginning and are performed in utter innocence” (Winnington-Ingram 203). Ingram emphasizes Oedipus’ innocence and lack of agency, thus implying that regardless of his actions, his fate is