Death of a Salesman as a Modern Tragedy Essay Example
Death of a Salesman as a modern tragedy
Death of a Salesman as a modern tragedy
Death of a Salesman is typically classified as a modern tragedy. This implies that it follows the example of the classic Greek tragedies, Roman tragedies and Shakespearian and Jacobean tragedy. There are, however, subtle but vital differences between these forms. Aristotle’s classic view of tragedy saw the form as one which only properly deals with the fate of gods, kings and heroes. In the twentieth century, such a restricted definition would consign tragedy to the waste bin of literary history. Consequently, in Death of a Salesman, Miller challenges this view and presents us with an entirely new one.
Our increasingly secular world no longer believes in gods, and kings and heroes are increasingly humbled, brought down to the level of ordinary men and women. Miller therefore embarked upon a project to reinvigorate the classic tragic form in order to make it more relevant to the world we live in.
Miller uses elements of the classical tragedy to create a new and compellingly human drama, one which is true to tradition but conceived on a domestic scale so that audiences can identify with the chief protagonist and draw parallels with their own lives.
The basic elements of the Aristotelean tragedy may be summarised as follows:
• A play with an unhappy ending.
• Serious, wide in scope, and complete in itself.
• Having a “hero” who, because of a particular tragic flaw, goes from happiness to misery and death.
• Frequently having a sense of waste at the death of the tragic hero, together with relief that he no longer has to endure pain or suffering.
• A point at which the tragic hero recognises both his fate and the weaknesses in himself that have brought him to it - this is often referred to as anagnorisis.
• A catharsis or purging of emotions at the end, often leading to a sense of ultimate peace and regeneration or the rebuilding of lives and societies.
Death of a Salesman as a modern tragedy
Death of a Salesman is typically classified as a modern tragedy. This implies that it follows the example of the classic Greek tragedies, Roman tragedies and Shakespearian and Jacobean tragedy. There are, however, subtle but vital differences between these forms. Aristotle’s classic view of tragedy saw the form as one which only properly deals with the fate of gods, kings and heroes. In the twentieth century, such a restricted definition would consign tragedy to the waste bin of literary history. Consequently, in Death of a Salesman, Miller challenges this view and presents us with an entirely new one.
Our increasingly secular world no longer believes in gods, and kings and heroes are increasingly humbled, brought down to the level of ordinary men and women. Miller therefore embarked upon a project to reinvigorate the classic tragic form in order to make it more relevant to the world we live in.
Miller uses elements of the classical tragedy to create a new and compellingly human drama, one which is true to tradition but conceived on a domestic scale so that audiences can identify with the chief protagonist and draw parallels with their own lives.
The basic elements of the Aristotelean tragedy may be summarised as follows:
• A play with an unhappy ending.
• Serious, wide in scope, and complete in itself.
• Having a “hero” who, because of a particular tragic flaw, goes from happiness to misery and death.
• Frequently having a sense of waste at the death of the tragic hero, together with relief that he no longer has to endure pain or suffering.
• A point at which the tragic hero recognises both his fate and the weaknesses in himself that have brought him to it - this is often referred to as anagnorisis.
• A catharsis or purging of emotions at the end, often leading to a sense of ultimate peace and regeneration or the rebuilding of lives and societies.