Introduction
Would American theater exist without Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller? Death of a Salesman is a classic play by Arthur Miller, first produced in 1949 (Benziman 20). The tale’s protagonist is the traveling salesman Willy Loman, who struggles to realize the American Dream.
The connection between Willy and his two sons, Happy and Biff, is also explored in the drama. Happy makes a valiant effort to emulate his father to win his father’s favor, whereas Biff is presented as a lost soul who cannot live up to his expectations. The drama explores themes of identity, disillusionment, and the destructiveness of capitalism. By analyzing the play’s adherence to Aristotle’s stringent criteria, including catharsis, character development, and plot structure, Miller’s masterwork perfectly captures the spirit of ancient tragedy.
Structure
“Death of a Salesman” follows Aristotle’s description of tragedy in terms of story structure. Aristotle emphasized that a tragedy must have a well-structured plot consisting of three distinct parts: beginning (protasis), middle (epitasis), and end (catastrophe), as depicted in the part where Willy struggles with his American dream (Steadman 732).
Accordingly, the quote “I’m always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for the car, and it’s on its last legs” highlights Willy’s initial struggle and sets up his tragic downfall, which crushed his dream (Miller 52). The text in this stage shows Willy’s internal conflicts and desperate attempts to succeed. The quote shows a disastrous conclusion when Willy kills himself after realizing his mistakes. When Willy’s dream comes crashing down, and he discovers that his life has been built on false ideals, the play follows Aristotle’s theory of peripeteia, or reversal.
Characters
Tragic characters should have specific attributes, such as grandeur or nobility. Aristotle states that they should also have defects or poor judgment that ultimately lead to their ruin (Reeves 173). Willy fails to appreciate the present and always thinks about his past accomplishments during the performance. He says, “The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out at twenty-one, and he’s rich!” (Miller 27). This quote highlights Willy’s severe shortcomings and captures his unwillingness to face his current failures. Willy’s terrible weakness is his incapacity to face reality, which pushes him towards self-destruction.
Catharsis
Tragedy should make the audience feel scared and sorry for them. Aristotle also believed that it would eventually result in catharsis or the clearing or purging of emotions (Daniels and Scully 205). As readers observe Willy’s hardships, they are forced to examine their lives and the effects of their decisions. In Act II, Linda expresses her concern for Willy’s mental state: “He’s been trying to kill himself… I won’t have him punish himself anymore” (Miller 40). This quote elicits pity for Linda and Willy while instilling fear in the audience as they witness the tragic consequences of Willy’s actions. Hence, the purpose of the scared audience is accomplished by introducing an approachable protagonist whose demise arouses pity in the viewer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, given that it adheres to Aristotle’s stringent criteria, Death of a Salesman unquestionably qualifies as an Aristotelian tragedy. The drama skillfully combines themes of ambition, disappointment, and mortality with a well-structured storyline that builds to disaster. The text is essential because it offers insightful observations on human nature through the imperfect character of Willy Loman. Through catharsis, Miller’s masterwork evokes feelings in its audience, such as terror and sadness, making it a timeless example of classical tragedy.
Works Cited
Benziman, Galia. “Success, Law, and the Law of Success: Reevaluating ‘Death of a Salesman’s’ Treatment of the American Dream.” South Atlantic Review, vol. 70, no. 2, 2005, pp. 20–40.
Daniels, Charles B., and Sam Scully. “Pity, Fear, and Catharsis in Aristotle’s Poetics.” Noûs, vol. 26, no. 2, 1992, p. 204.
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Heineman, 1994.
Reeves, Charles H. “The Aristotelian Concept of the Tragic Hero.” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 73, no. 2, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1952, pp. 172–88.
Steadman, John M. “Milton’s ‘Summa Epitasis’: The End of the Middle of ‘Samson Agonistes.’” Modern Language Review, vol. 69, no. 4, Modern Humanities Research Association, 1974, pp. 730–30.