Discuss Death Of A Salesman As A Tragedy. As Defined By Aristotle, Is It Correct To Label The Play As A Tragedy?

Research Paper

Discuss Death of a Salesman as a tragedy. As defined by Aristotle, is it correct to label the play as a tragedy?

Outline

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman"

B. Willy Loman spent his life searching for success and happiness based on self centered ideals and illusion

II. MAIN BODY

A. Willy's Life

1. Grasping for success

a. Measurement of success

b. Distorted view

2. Self Worth

a. Successful men

b. Risk taker

3. Lack of happiness

a. Impacts the family

b. Delusional

III. CONCLUSION

A. Death of a Salesman is not a tragedy

B. Willy chose his path in life

Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman" is centered around Willy Loman a husband and father of two sons, who is grasping to attain his dreams and hopes of success and ruining his life and his families lives at the same time. Miller's play is seen by many as a tragedy. A tragedy, according to Aristotle in his Poetics, is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Aristotle further clarified that a tragedy depicts people of high noble character not by birth but by moral choice. A noble person is one who chooses to act nobly. "Tragic characters are those who take life seriously and seek worthwhile goals, while comic characters are "good-for-nothings" who waste their lives in trivial pursuits."(qtd. in Brown) Given the clarification by Aristotle "Death of a Salesman" does not fit Aristotle's model of a tragedy. Willy Loman spent his life searching for success and happiness based on self centered ideals and illusion.

Willy desperately grasped to be successful. Although his intent is worthwhile the ideals Willy uses to measure his success are self centered. As Willy tells a secret to his boys about one day owning his own business his son Happy makes a comparison to his "Uncle" Charley. Willy quickly points out that his business would be bigger (or more successful) "Because Charley is not - liked. He's liked, but he's not -well liked." (Miller 1559) Willy puts much more emphasis on physical appearance and personality than he does on academics. This is evident when Bernard tells Willy that Biff needs to study because a statewide proficiency exam is being administered with in a week and Biff isn't doing well in math class. Willy makes a comment to his son, Happy, basically saying that Bernard may be smart but he (Happy) will be more successful. Willy reiterates this by his statement "...thank Almighty God you're both built like Adonises." (Miller 1561) Willy judged his success and the success of others materialistically. A student of Brozosport College supports this idea in that they wrote "Willy grew up believing that being "well-liked" was important to becoming a success. He believed that being well-liked could help you charm teachers and open doors in business." Through out the play Willy demonstrates his selfishness towards the success of others and what he believes it takes to be successful. Willy clearly has a distorted idea of what it takes to be a success. Accordingly, "perhaps Willy's philosophy that charm, popularity and physical appeal are the catalysts that fling open the doors of opportunity is rooted in his feelings of inadequacy over his own deficiencies in these arenas". (Anglefire.com) It's not all about looks and popularity, success is the outcome of hard work, perseverance and a bit of risk taking. Richard Pfaff concurs that, "Willy Loman valued money as the key indicator of success. What he valued more was being well liked. Popularity to him was the key to his success as a salesman because he felt that through popularity, business relationship capable of providing financial success could be formed."

The successful men in Willy's life all took risks. His brother Ben headed off one day to what he thought was Alaska and wound up in Africa. Once there he became a wealthy man. Willy's father would load the family into the wagon and move across the country making and selling flutes. Both of these men were risk takers. Willy does not take risks. He ponders on the past and wishes he had taken a risk or two. Such as buying the land next door to them so they weren't boxed in by buildings or talking to his boss about working in New York instead of New England. Willy didn't take risks he would only look back and wish that he did. Perhaps this is the cause of the constant quarrelling with his sons. Both of his sons live life by the seat of their pants. They're free-spirited and willing to think outside of the box. According to Studyworld.com, "As he tries to live the American dream he venerates those who have been successful at doing so, like Thomas Edison, B.F. Goodrich, and Ben, his successful brother. Furthermore he punished those who did not work towards that ideal or accomplish it, such as Biff, his son, and most importantly himself." Willy may have been envious since he is not content with his life. Willy's pride had a devastating affect on his family. As Dr. Ruppel put it, "He suffered from false pride, and because he was a salesman, he believed that he needed to sell himself as well as his wares. This meant that he lied to others and to himself about his own qualities, much as a salesman will inflate the value of his products."

Willy's quest for happiness had a severe impact on his family. The play opens with Willy unexpectedly returning from a sales trip. Willy tells Linda, his wife, "...Suddenly I realize I'm goin' sixty miles an hour and I don't remember the last five minutes. I'm - I can't seem to -keep my mind to it." (Miller 1547) Willy further tells Linda that he opened the windshield of the car "...and just let the warm air bathe over me." (Miller 1547) Later that evening when Linda