Julius Caesar, the Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex Meet the Criteria of a TragedyTo be considered a classical tragedy, a story should follow the principles presented by Aristotle in his work, Poetics. A tragedy, according to Aristotle, involves the destruction of a person of high social status and strong character. The tragic fall of the individual is caused by a tragic flaw. Arthur Miller expanded the classical definition of tragedy to include not only people of high social status but also the common man. Using the criteria established by Aristotle and Miller, the works Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex can be considered tragedies. Although the title of the play, Julius Caesar, focuses on Caesar, the play itself is actually based on Brutus. . "Brutus would rather be a villager than consider himself a son of Rome." (Shakespeare 172). This was said by Brutus after Cassius told him how Caesar had become a towering figure over Rome and how Caesar controls Rome. Notice the good side of Brutus and the lengths he will go to to protect democracy in Rome, even if it means killing the person he loves, Caesar. Brutus has one of the most tragic flaws. He is too kind a person and therefore takes advantage of it. He lets Cassius convince him to kill Caesar for the good of Rome. Because he does more for others than for himself, he makes a fatal mistake and lets Antonio live. Brutus tells the conspirators, “For Antony is but Caesar's member” (Shakespeare 165), meaning that if Caesar is killed Antony will die too. Brutus clearly does not consider Antony a threat, but Brutus does not know that Antony will stir up the city in search of revenge after Caesar's assassination. This mistake will cost him his life. When he dies it becomes a great example of tragedy because not only did he cause his own death, but he dies by his own hand. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman's tragic flaw is that he is a dreamer incapable of facing reality. of a modern society. Willy builds his entire life around the philosophy that if a person is well-liked and good-looking then they will be successful. Willy says to Biff, “I thank God Almighty because you both are made like Adonis.