The tragic heroes from the plays “Oedipus Rex” and “Death of a Salesman” may be from two distant eras and on opposite ends of the social ladder, but their fates and life journey's are similar. Oedipus is chasing the truth of Laius’ killer and Willy is chasing his dreams. They seem like two different goals, yet they meet a familiar end. They're both in a position that causes their issue, they’re both chasing after something, they're both driven by character, they're both still confused about their own identities, and they both end with a tragic hero, worth death. The parallels between the two tragic heroes take in part of their journey to their destination, meaning their similarities are the paths they blaze. Oedipus is the king; and as the king he has to exile the killer of the previous king to end the famine, infertility and the sickness’ that haunts Thebes. Willy is an average Joe; just like everyone else, he has to pay mortgages and all other necessities we all pay for, and in the pressure not being able to pay for it he adds it his oldest son, Biff. At first, Oedipus is searching for the truth behind Laius’ murder, but ends up looking for his own identity. Willy is after his American dream, which is wealth by esteem from others, but ends up trying to force success into his sons since he realizes he’s a failure with no legacy. Oedipus’ character leads him to the path of fulfilling his prophecy by trying to fight it. Willy’s character puts him right in the situation that eventually drags him to the grave. Oedipus still doesn't know his true bloodline and because of it he fulfills the prophecy he fights. Willy is in denial, or living in illusion, and that causes him to continue on the wrong path. Also, they both reach an unkind end: Oedipus and his self- inflicted blindness and exile, and Willy and his suicide by automobile accident. Their positions in life have caused the two most of the main obstacles in Oedipus’ and Willy’s lives. Oedipus is royalty and has the responsibility to address the worries of his people. Oedipus states to the Chorus and the Priest, “For your pain comes upon the individual, but my soul groans for the city, for me AND you together,” (Sophocles 13). His duties as king lead him to what will be his chase for the truth. Willy, on the other hand is an everyday guy you see walking down the street, the kind of man who shares the same difficulties in life as you and me. As an average man not everybody remembers him and this causes him to lie about himself sometimes and other times to be truthful, which drives him insane. Willy confesses, “they just pass me by. I’m not noticed,” (Miller 36), to Linda, he wants to be noticed, he wants to be remembered for being a wonderful salesman, and when he isn't he loses himself. If Oedipus wasn’t king he wouldn't be chasing his exile, and if Willy had fortune he wouldn't need to have all the respect he craves for his and his children’s success. The obstacles in their journey are due to social standings, but then there’s the