Fate and free will were powerful life forces for both character. Oedipus was tragically doomed by fate at birth when it was foretold by Apollo that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus felt that he could escape his fate, relaying his own free will. However, his c

Both men faced the truth in their own ways. When confrotned with the truth Oedipus gouged out his eyes and begged them to send him away, where he could cause no more harm, instead of dying, as he himself had decreed. "Banish me from this country as fast as you can-where no man can see me or speak to me." Willy also banishes himself from those he loves through suicide. Willy was a smart man, and died heroically. He died for money and most of all for the love of his family. When he killed himself his family would then recieve a big sum of money. With this money he thought Biff would use to go on and be a big success. At his funeral he thought people would come from all over just for the death of Willy Loman. In the same way, Oedipus lived in a world in which he saw through his own eyes. He saw himself a great man. In the time of the great plague he thought he would be the savior when actually his sins were causing the sickness and pain of his people. Even when hinted that he was the one causing such disaster he shrugged off the idea. He saw himself the leader of the people, one greatly admired, not one who would cause any unhappiness. He came to the people in time of need and solved the Sphinx's riddle, and became their king when there was none. The Priest states, "YOu came to us once and liberated our city, you freed us form the tribute which we paid that cruel singer, the Sphinx. You did this with no extra knowledge you gor form us, you had no training for the task, but, so it is said and we believe, it was with divine support that you restored our city to life." Yet, even this world was shattered by the truth. Facing his sins he cursed the gods, but did not lay down to die. He gouged out his eyes so as not to see his doing and begged them to send him away, to die by himself where he could cause no more harm.

No matter which man you consider the more ideal tragic model, each book was written excellently, leaving the reader impacted; whether with pity or disgust. Both follow Aristotle's idea of a perfect tragedy.."A perfect tragedy should..imitate actions pity and fear...". It is plain to see no matter if the man is a commoner or all mighty when it comes down to suffering each can suffer as gravely as the other. If you combine two men's strengths and weakness only this will make a perfect tragic hero. With each reader it differs. To one Oedipus might be the greater tragic model, ot to another, Will

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Approximate Word count = 1648
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)