Evaluate competing theories of tragedy—Aristotelian catharsis and modern tragic irony—using Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman as case studies. Assess how each framework accounts for plot, character, audience response, and ethical/social implications; compare explanatory power and limitations; support claims with close readings, structural analysis, and secondary criticism. Conclude by defending which theory (or synthesis) offers a more persuasive account for each play and why.