TheanalysisofthetragedyintheDeathofSalesman.docVIP

The Analysis of the Origin of Western Tragedy in Death of Salesman外国语学院 英语系 0901507 张凤娇【Abstract】This paper centers on the finding of the western tragedy from Arthur Millers famous novel Death of Salesman. By analyzing the main character Billy, we may find both the modern tragedy and traditional tragedy are well combined in this novel【Key Words】origin; traditional; modern; tragedy【significance】Arthur Miller has a deep influence on the modern tragedy, his famous drama, Death of Salesman, has become the well known world classic which is a great shock in the theatrical circles. By studying this drama, we can roughly trace back to the origin of the western tragedy. 1. IntroductionDeath of Salesman is a classical drama which has a huge influence all over the world because of its tremendous tragic power. It deeply reflects the tragic life in American society. Willy Loman is the typical tragic character in many ways. This paper will main discuss the problems reflected by Willy and reveal the significance through the analysis of the traditional and modern tragic elements appeared in this drama.2. The origin of Western tragedyAs one of the main forms of drama, western tragedy is originated from the 5th BC in ancient Greece. Most of those tragedies stem from the myths, legends of heroes as well as epics. The main characters are superior gods or noble persons without any exception. They have strong wills, but always encounter in sudden misfortunes. And this conflict perfectly shows their extraordinary perseverance and immoral spirit. Ancient Greece philosopher Aristotle suggested that” tragedy, then, is a process of imitating an action which has serious implications, is complete, and of a certain magnitudein language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions (Aristotle, Poetics).” Tragedy is the production of the specific epics, which reflects the social issues and the human nature. Since the 20th century, the whole society went through tremendous social unrest. In this social background, tragedies witness the radical reformcharacters in writers books become those ordinary people instead of the heroes. Those writers depict the life of those common people from the realistic prospect and reveals social evils. Among these prominent writers, Arthur Miller is the spearhead. Miller argues that “we common can act like the kings who can become the main character in the tragedy. Any character who sacrifice his own life for the purpose of defending his self-respect if necessary, he can arouse our tragic sense. This point of view sends shock waves to the traditional tragedy followed by the fierce dispute in the theatrical circle. They argue that whether the main character in tragedy should be heroes or common people. But Miller does not mean that every people in street can be the main character of tragedy. They must be the ones whose nature of defiance will last to the end when their dignity and the social status being challenged. This view is well showed in Death of Salesman. 3. The Characteristics of Modern Tragedy In this Play Death of Salesman vividly describes the suffering of a little man in the modern society of America. The story of Willy Loman developed through two time lines: one is the real time lasting 24 hours from a specific Monday night to the next night. The other is the time in his memory acrossing some decades in his life. These two tome lines mingle together and reflect the confusion and contradiction in Lowmans life which derives from the failure to pursue the success. Compared with Oedipus and King Lear in classical tragedy, Willy seems to be insignificant. He is not a noble person with royal blood, but he wishes that he and his two sons could be popular and he also wants to be successful and realize his dream. Therefore, some critics indicate that Willy is not equipped with the quality of traditional tragedy lacking in noble temperament. All that Willy has showed is only his foolish behaviors. For Willy, upper social status, power and success are the only real things-the brilliant shines reflect in the sky of the city from the roof which become stars in Willys eyes(84). So Willy cannot be considered as a tragic figure. Willy Loman typically represents the common people who fight for their own dream with great courage. The quality of the businessman in 20th century is fully embodied in Willy, so the problems with him are endowed with realistic meaning. Former play writers including Shakespeare are inclined to portraying significant tragic heroes and alienating them from the public in order to make readers feel sympathy to them. But in Millers drama, readers are not separated with Willy, instead, they tried to avoid the cruel reality together with Willy, they even imagine themselves as the same kind of people as Willy. For this reason, public would not treat Willy in the same way they do with Oedipus. Willy Lomans tragedy is universal, because most people are eager to achieve success and be accepted by others. At the same time, they want to realize their own values. Death of Salesman has completely incarnated the popular features in modern tragedy. What is more, Arthur Miller makes tragic conflict shift from external affairs to inner world. And Death of Salesman has exhibited the conflict in the main characters inner world incisively and vividly. In this play, Willys soliloquy is the reflection of his inner conflict. He is not able to face the reality and indulges in his inner world, and this gives him a lot of pain. Therefore, in a sense, this morbid inner spirit might blames for Willys failure. 4. The Inheritance of the Modern Tragedy from Traditional Tragedy.Modern tragedy develops on the basis of traditional tragedy, and it has inherited some features from the former one. First of all, concerning for society is the common features for every era. Arthur Miller constantly pays special attention on the social issues, and he usually reveals the social morality and other problems. Willys tragedy is also the tragedy of American social life. His failure symbolizes the disillusion of American Dream as well as the moral missteps of American capitalism. Moreover, it reveals the mercilessness and cruelty of American capitalist system. Secondly, as a tragic figure, Willy shares some common features with those traditional tragic characters: a. Willy has the strong will and perseverance and he never compromises which is same with traditional tragic figures. His sufferings result in the complicated emotions such as anger, joy, sympathy and fear among the readers in the same way those traditional characters do,.b. Willy is a typical individual like traditional tragic figures. He has the similar tragic weaknesses with them. He accepts the wrong value of capitalism hastily and treats it as the key to success. Under the control of this conception, Willy exerts all his energies making his dreams come true. However, this fatal blindness leads to his collapse in the end. Besides, his proud and self-conceit qualities are the inner causes leading to his mental dissociation and death in his old age. Miller criticizes Willy that “his mistake is that he is so dedicated to his fake self-respect and those false words contained in his conception of success.”c. As the eternal topic of the tragedy, sacrifice is also one of the topics in this play. Willy Loman pursues his own success and self-respect at the expense of his life and his family. But at the same time, he committed suicide for his f