Aristotle's Definition Of Tragedy In Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy. “A tragedy is the imita tion of an action that is serious and also, a s having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.” The play, “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller , Consists of Willy Loman, the father of Biff and Happy, a salesman living in New York City in the late 1940's. He also lives with his wife, Linda. They’ve been in the same house for the last twenty-five years. The theme of this book is definitely a tragedy. The two major reasons why DOAS fits the definition of a tragedy is
Suicide; he thought that killing himself would wipe …show more content…
Success as a salesman , success as a father. The lifelong journey from a young man in sales to a man of 63 with “nothing in the ground” (ACT II) is Arthur Miller's way of showing a slow destruction of the ideal known as the American Dream of Upward Mobility.
According to Aristotle a literary character who makes a judgement error that inevitably leads to his or her own destruction. However Arthur Miller in his essay states “ a character why he is willing to lay down his life to secure his/her sense if personal dignity.” He felt that all men and women in life are heroic as they travel through and struggle through their own battle, their lives . I believe that Willy Loman is definitely a tragic hero. The following characteristics support the claim: Willy has a flaw or error of judgement, he has excessive pride, and lastly his story arouses fear and …show more content…
When he’d come home from a trip; or on Sundays, making the stoop; finishing the cellar; putting on the new porch; when he built the extra bathroom; and put up the garage. You know something, Charley, there’s more of him in that front stoop than in all the sales he ever made. CHARLEY: Yeah. He was a happy man with a batch of cement. LINDA: He was so wonderful with his hands.
BIFF: He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong. (Miller)
Biff is explaining that although his father spent a lifetime as a salesman, that he really had exceptional talent in another area- but continued to pursue the American Dream of success and upward mobility through sales- a profession that made many promises, but guaranteed nothing.

Willy Loman is a tragic hero because he has excessive pride. This applies to Willy throughout the entire play. Text evidence to back this up could include when he was offered a job and turned it down even though he really needed it. In the text it states :
CHARLEY (sitting down on the table): Willy, what’re you doin’? What the hell is going on in your head?
WILLY: Why? I’m