'ambition is the root of all downfall'

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Introduction

On the whole, tragic texts include a tragic downfall, whereby a character may experience a tragic death, for example. In most cases, these occur as a result of hope and ambition which has been unsuccessful.

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Paragraph 1

  • DOASM 
  • willy wants to be a successful business man - american dream 
  • 'someday i'll have my own business'
  • setting - 'nine-sixty for the washing machine' and '21 dollars remaining'
  • consumerism 
  • slowly sends willy mad
  • has an affair - 'the laughter of a woman'
  • 'a length of rubber pipe'
  • stage directions - 'the sound of a car starting and moving away quickly at full speed'
  • his downfall results in his suicide
  • he loses all hope
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Paragraph 2

  • DOASM
  • Linda wishes for her family to be successful and happy
  • dialogue - 'well, next week you'll do better', encouragement 
  • does not become a reality because she suffers as a result of willy's downfall
  • willy constantly interruupts linda
  • she is unaware of willys affair with the woman - 'mending a pair of her stokcings'
  • downfall - lashes out at biff and happy, 'biff, his life is in your hands!'
  • complete change of character
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Paragraph 3

  • Keats - Isabella
  • dreams of falling in love and marrying Lorenzo
  • 'her lute-string gave an echo of his name'
  • her brothers take ths away
  • setting - 'into a forest quiet for the slaughter'
  • away from rules and society
  • imagery emphasises her devastation 
  • 'to see their sister in her snowy shroud'
  • she imagines the ghost of lorenzo at the foot of her bed - 'lorenzo stood and wept'
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Paragraph 4

  • Keats - Lamia 
  • Apollinous hopes for a world in which lamia does not exist 
  • 'the ghost of folly haunting my sweet dreams' 
  • 'robed in philosophic gown'
  • he is successful in his ambitions
  • foreshadowing - 'old apollinous - from him keep me hid'
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Conclusion

To conclude, in tragic texts, ambition is not the root of all downfall. The hops and dreams of tragic characters can result in their downfall, but there are examples where characters are successful in acheieving what they want.

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