Welcome to your Study Guide for 'Death of a Salesman'!
Hi there! Welcome to these study notes on Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. If you are studying for your Oxford AQA International AS Level, you are in the right place. We are focusing on the Aspects of Dramatic Tragedy.
This play can feel a bit heavy or confusing because of how it jumps around in time, but don't worry! We are going to break it down into easy, bite-sized pieces. By the end of this guide, you’ll understand why Willy Loman is a tragic hero and how his story fits into the grand tradition of tragedy. Let’s get started!
1. What Kind of Tragedy is This?
In traditional tragedies (like those by Shakespeare), the hero is usually a King or a great General. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller does something different. He gives us a Domestic Tragedy.
Domestic vs. Classical Tragedy
Classical Tragedy: About "high-born" people (Kings/Queens). Their fall affects a whole country.
Domestic Tragedy: About "ordinary" people (like a salesman). Their fall affects their family and themselves.
Analogy: Think of a Classical Tragedy like a massive skyscraper collapsing—everyone in the city notices. A Domestic Tragedy is like a family home catching fire—it’s smaller in scale, but just as painful for the people inside.
Did you know? Arthur Miller wrote a famous essay called "Tragedy and the Common Man." He argued that ordinary people could be just as "noble" and "tragic" as Kings!
Key Takeaway:
Willy Loman is a Domestic Tragic Hero. The play proves that you don't need a crown to have a tragic downfall.
2. The Tragic Hero: Willy Loman
To be a "tragic hero" in this syllabus, a character needs specific "aspects." Let’s look at Willy’s.
Willy’s Flaws (Hamartia)
Hamartia is a fancy word for a "fatal flaw." Willy’s flaw is his obsession with a false version of the American Dream. He believes that if you are "well-liked" and "personally attractive," success will just happen automatically.
Willy’s Pride (Hubris)
Hubris is excessive pride. Willy is too proud to accept a job from his neighbor Charley, even when he is failing. He would rather pretend to be successful than admit he needs help.
Blindness vs. Insight
For most of the play, Willy is blind to the truth. He lies to his wife, Linda, about how much he earns. However, at the very end, he has a moment of insight (discovery). Sadly, his "insight" is that he is worth more dead (for the insurance money) than alive.
Quick Review Box:
- Hamartia: Obsession with being "well-liked."
- Hubris: Refusing help from Charley.
- Insight: Realizing Biff loves him, but using that to justify suicide.
3. Setting: The Trap of the City
The syllabus asks you to look at "the settings for the tragedy, both places and times."
The House vs. The Skyscrapers
The Loman house is surrounded by "towering, angular shapes" of big apartment buildings. This represents how Willy feels boxed in by modern society. He used to be able to see the stars and hunt in the yard; now, he can't even grow a carrot in the backyard because there isn't enough light.
The "Jungle"
Willy’s brother, Ben, represents the "jungle"—a place of wild, quick success. Willy is haunted by the idea that he missed his chance to enter the jungle and get rich.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just describe the house. Explain why it matters. It’s a symbol of Willy’s entrapment and his failure to keep up with the changing world.
Key Takeaway:
The setting isn't just a background; it’s an opponent. The crowded city symbolizes the cold, hard reality of capitalism that is crushing Willy.
4. The Journey to Catastrophe
The syllabus looks at the "structural pattern" of the text. Miller uses a unique structure to show Willy's mental breakdown.
Order to Disorder
The play starts with Willy coming home early because he can't drive anymore (Order is breaking). It moves through complications (Biff and Happy’s failing plans) to the catastrophe (Willy’s suicide).
The Use of Time (Mobile Concurrency)
Miller doesn't just use "flashbacks." He uses "mobile concurrency." This means Willy’s past and present happen at the same time on stage.
Example: Willy might be talking to his son in the present, but seeing his brother Ben from 20 years ago at the same time.
Memory Aid (Mnemonic): Use C.C.R. to remember the tragic structure:
1. Complication (The job loss/Biff’s failure).
2. Climax (The restaurant scene/The truth about the affair).
3. Resolution/Catastrophe (The suicide and the funeral).
Key Takeaway:
The play’s structure reflects Willy’s disordered mind. The "past" is always leaking into the "present," making his end feel inevitable (Fate).
5. The Tragic Opponent: Who is the Villain?
The syllabus asks about the "role of the tragic villain or opponent." In Death of a Salesman, there isn't a "bad guy" with a cape. It’s more complicated.
Is it Howard Wagner?
Howard is Willy’s boss who fires him. While Howard seems cold (he cares more about his wire recorder than Willy’s 34 years of service), he is just a businessman. He represents the System.
The Real Villain: The American Dream
You could argue the "villain" is the false promise of the American Dream. It’s an invisible force that makes Willy feel like a failure because he isn't rich. It "directly affects the fortune of the hero" and leads to his demise.
Encouraging Note: Don't worry if you can't find one single villain. In modern tragedies, the "villain" is often a social pressure or a set of wrong ideas rather than a person!
6. Dramatic Language and Audience Impact
How does the play make us feel? The syllabus mentions pity and fear.
Pity and Fear (Catharsis)
Pity: We feel sorry for Willy because he tries so hard for his family but doesn't understand why he is failing.
Fear: We feel fear because Willy’s struggle is so relatable. Most of us worry about money, success, and our children. We fear that, like Willy, we might be "discarded like a potato peel."
The Symbol of the Flute
The play begins and ends with the sound of a flute. This is a "heightened" use of dramatic language/sound. It represents the "grass and trees and the horizon"—the simple, honest life Willy’s father had, which Willy has lost in the city.
Key Takeaway:
The audience experiences Catharsis (a release of emotions). We feel a deep "pity" for Willy’s "blindness" and a "fear" of the society that chewed him up.
Final Quick Review: The "Cheat Sheet"
Type of Tragedy: Domestic (Ordinary people).
The Hero: Willy Loman (Flawed, proud, but loving).
The Flaw: Seeking success through being "well-liked" instead of hard work/truth.
The Setting: A claustrophobic house in New York.
The Structure: Past and present overlapping to show mental collapse.
The Ending: A "catastrophe" (suicide) that Willy thinks is a victory (insurance money).
Good luck with your revision! Remember: Tragedy isn't just about sadness; it's about the struggle of a human being trying to find their place in the world. You've got this!