Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' Difference from Its Classically Tragic Ancestors

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I think Arthur Miller's 'Death of a salesman' is a tragedy and it is a modern tragedy. Arthur Miller's play 'Death of a Salesman' is based on such a dream-breaking story. An American salesman has always dreamed of financially comfortable and debt-free living for himself and his family, but that dream ends with his life. The lifelong dream of the common middle-class and lower-middle-class fathers of this capitalist society is reflected in the children's dream of success. But his ability to fulfill his dream is hampered by the fact that in the end, the father leaves the mark of his last effort for the children through death. In this way, 'Death of a Salesman' is formed by combining the story of the life and death of thousands of dreams with one death. That's why we can say it is tragedy and tragedy is shown by Willy, who is plagued by his American Dream which is unrealistic and impractical. He is obsessed with glitz and fascination, wanting success through recognition. Willy who believes in recognition as the way to success lives his life as an inappropriate salesman. His spiritual redemptions make him struggle his life and eventually commits suicide to leave his legacy upon his son Biff. Arthur Miller, the author of this play refers tragic hero as a common person. He clearly explains this using Willy as his character, which successfully identifies the tragedy of his life.

Now, we can say it is a modern tragedy. Because modern tragedy is also more likely to focus on society, rather than fate or fortune, as that which oppresses the hero. However, the modern tragedy retains a highly solemn tone and focus on matters of grave and ultimate importance, features common to tragedy throughout its history. As Willy Loman didn't do anything special for his future so he didn't get any good results. Here nothing based on his luck. So it's not a greek tragedy it's a modern tragedy.

We can see the picture of our current society from here. There are many people in our country like Willy who can't live their own lives. So this is also a modern tragedy.

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People all over the world are now moving to cities. From the village, from the muffs all, people are now migrating to all the big and busy cities with dreamy eyes. In these big cities, there are huge buildings, mills, factories, factories, and companies that have sprung up like frog umbrellas. This enormity speaks of wealth, fame, and recognition of the abundance of wealth.

A classical Greek tragedy is the story of a hero who experiences a reversal of fortune set in motion by the gods as a result of hubris. Now This was the tragedy of willy's life. Now the greek tragedy is a play where a disaster happened to the protagonist. And in a modern tragedy, it's all about suffering. Another thing is a greek tragedy is based on luck but modern tragedy flew with the character's decisions. In Greek tragedy, the main character or protagonist. A tragic hero is a person of high rank who accepts his or her downfall with dignity. But we can see Willy is a common man who works as a little salesman and can do little for his family.

The ancient Greek tragedy believes in the idea of fate or a destiny preordained by the gods no matter what action a person takes in the presence of fate. More were three goddesses who determined the length of a person's life and how much suffering it would contain Greeks believed that no one could escape their fate out even the God's themselves. But in this play, Willy Loman didn't do anything special for his future so he didn't get any good results. Here nothing based on his luck. So it's not a greek tragedy it's a modern tragedy. Medieval tragedy mostly took the form of narratives, rather than plays, and focused on the fall of great men caused, not by a tragic flaw, but instead by the spinning of fortune's wheel. Renaissance tragedy took its inspiration from classical tragedy, while changing the form in important ways, by including subplots, comic relief, and expanding the possibilities for the tragic hero.

So finally we can say that Arthur Miller's 'Death of a salesman' is a tragedy and it is a modern tragedy We understood that from the above discussion.

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Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ Difference from Its Classically Tragic Ancestors. (2023, April 21). Edubirdie. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/arthur-millers-death-of-a-salesman-difference-from-its-classically-tragic-ancestors/
“Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ Difference from Its Classically Tragic Ancestors.” Edubirdie, 21 Apr. 2023, edubirdie.com/examples/arthur-millers-death-of-a-salesman-difference-from-its-classically-tragic-ancestors/
Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ Difference from Its Classically Tragic Ancestors. [online]. Available at: <https://edubirdie.com/examples/arthur-millers-death-of-a-salesman-difference-from-its-classically-tragic-ancestors/> [Accessed 16 Apr. 2024].
Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ Difference from Its Classically Tragic Ancestors [Internet]. Edubirdie. 2023 Apr 21 [cited 2024 Apr 16]. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/arthur-millers-death-of-a-salesman-difference-from-its-classically-tragic-ancestors/
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