American Literature / Unit 2 AML 0124 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Tragedy, Comedy, and the Tragic Flaw
Captions available
The idea
Tragedy follows a serious action to an unhappy end, traditionally through a flaw in a figure of stature. Comedy moves toward reconciliation and usually a marriage. American drama's chief argument, which Miller made in print, is whether a salesman can be a tragic figure.
In practice
Downfall through a flaw, or reconciliation.
Where people slip
The American question is who may be tragic.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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