Miller's Points Of Tragedy example essay topic

There are six elements that Aristotle sees are essential to dramatic tragedy. There are plot-structure, characters, style, thought, spectacle and lyric-poetry. Aristotle thinks that the most important is structure. I agree with Aristotle when he says, "Without action you would not have a tragedy". Which is why structure is so important in building the action of the plot.

And then without characters you have no plot. So plot-structure and characters are the two most important parts. Thought is what makes the tragedy. Characters who possess thought have real character. They know how to project their point and argue a situation. The next thing he talks about is style.

He says, "The verbal expression achieved through the choice of words". Style in turn then goes together with thought and characters. He says that lyric-poetry is the most important of "garnishing's". With that he means the extra's put into it like rhythm and melody. Spectacle is not really powerful, because the author does not worry about how the tragedy will be acted. Miller says that tragedy for the kings or the very high people.

He says that tragedy should be for the common man and not only the elite. He says "Tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure on thing -- -his sense of personal dignity". I think character is important in the way Miller puts it, "the individual attempting to gain his "rightful position in society". I think we can all relate to that even now. I think that the structure in which Aristotle says is the most important was very good in "Death of a Salesman". The plot built the action right until the very end when Willy killed himself.

The characters in this play were very complex. They made the plot thrive into what it was structured to be. I think that the characters had little thought though. They always argued about different things, but never knew how to get their point across.

Their fights were pointless and never accomplished anything. The style was okay. Their choice of words goes along with the thought of the play. The characters although complex never got anything accomplished. Miller's point was that tragedy was for the common man. Willy, Biff and Happy were all common, trying to become something in society.

That is what the whole play was, becoming someone in society. Willy wanted to be more than the common man and like Miller said he wanted his "rightful position in society". And he wanted his boys to get their position and to obtain what everyone calls "The American Dream". I really tried to relate with Miller more even though I don't know that I totally understood what he was saying. If I did get the whole point, I think the Miller's points of tragedy fit "Death of a Salesman.".