Discussion: Tragic Hero

You have a choice of one of the two following topics for this discussion, one regarding Miller's Death of a Salesman, and one regarding Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet:

Choice A:

Let's discuss the idea of the American hero regarding Death of a Salesman. The American idea of a tragic hero differs substantially from the Ancient Greek idea of the tragic hero and one's tragic flaw. How do you find value in reading about such American tragic heroes such as Willy Loman? In what ways does the Willy Loman recognize his own shortcomings? How does Willy Loman reach an awareness about the truths of his own life in context to American culture? What did you personally learn about human behavior from the historical aspects of the play? How did you identify with any of the characters in the play?

OR

Choice B:

Let's discuss the idea of the classical Tragic Hero regarding Romeo & Juliet. The Shakespearean tragic hero is closely associated with the Ancient Greek idea of the tragic hero and one's tragic flaw. Who is the tragic hero in Romeo & Juliet? What is that person's tragic flaw? What is that person's catharsis? How does "chance" determine the fate of the characters in the play, and how does that sense of "chance" vie against the classical notion of "fate"? Specifically refer to the lecture on the "Elements of Shakespearean Tragedy" in Unit #4, and answer the following: who might be the scapegoat figure of this play, and how might we each, individually, learn from that character's experience?