Death of a Salesman

A detailed Summary of Death of a Salesman


"If the exaltation of tragic action were truly a property of the high-bred character alone, it is inconceivable that the mass of mankind should cherish tragedy above all other forms" (Dwyer). It makes little sense that tragedy should only pertain to those in high ranks. As explained in his essay "Tragedy and the Common Man," Arthur Miller sets out the pattern for his own idea of a tragedy and the tragic hero. This pattern supports the idea that a tragedy can occur in characters of common men as well as those in high places. In his paper, he demonstrates that it should be possible for everyone to be able to identify with the tragic hero. Miller redefines tragedy as more common occurrence than what might happen in such tragedies as portrayed by Shakespeare and Euripides, thus defining Death of a Salesman as a tragedy.

Willy Loman is a tragic hero. His fear is that he wants to be viewed as a good, decent human being. He wants to believe that he's a well liked, decent person who doesn't make mistakes. The truth is that he makes mistakes, many that haunt him, and that he is human. Willy does not consider this normal and severely regrets such failures such as raising his children poorly, as he sees it, not doing well in business, thou


http://pilot.msu.edu/user/dwyerdav/papers/tragedy.htm. Internet. 1998.

Willy, in addition to meeting Miller's definition of a tragic hero, in a way connects with the traditional requirements. Willy, after he receives an assurance that Biff loves him, offers the only thing he knows to somehow make recompense; he takes his own life. He does this so Biff will attain the insurance money. Here we can see that Willy's sincere desire is directed at something greater than himself, his image, or his success. He is motivated by his love for his son. Therefore, since his primary focus is beyond himself, it consequently elevates him. "He taps into and is accordingly clothed with the grandeur tragedy" (Dwyer). Willy, like traditional tragic heroes, has a tragic flaw.

Dwyer, David W. "Tragedy and the Common Man." Online Posting:

"I thought I'd go out with my older brother and try to locate him, and maybe settle in the North with the old man. And I almost decided to go, when I met a salesman in the Parker House... and he was eighty-four years old, and he drummed out merchandise in thirty-one states... he'd pick up the phone and call the buyers, and without even leaving his room, at the age of eight-four, he made his living" (Miller, Death... 81).

Miller, Arthur. "Tragedy and the Common Man." Online Re-posting:



Some common words found in the essay are:
Miller Death, Willy Loman, Tragedy Willy's, Arthur Miller, Tragedy Setting, Indeed Willy, , Death Salesman, Parker House, Online Re-posting, tragic hero, tragedy common, miller tragedy, miller death, death salesman, willy loman, he's liked, tragic flaw, tragedy common online, arthur miller, passively established, liked he's liked, comes conceivable possibility, submit passively established, underlying fear displaced,

Approximate Word count = 1248
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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