Traditionally, tragedies featured protagonists who were of high social status, such as kings, queens, or other figures of authority. While there had been earlier attempts to address this subject, it was only with Arthur Miller's play that the story became universally relatable across a broader, social and demographic spectrum of audience members. However, Miller's protagonist, Willy Loman, is a simple salesman who struggles to provide for his family. By doing so, Miller made tragedy accessible to a wider audience and showed that even ordinary people can experience tragic events.
Here are some specific ways in which Miller changed the genre of tragedy in Death of a Salesman:
* He used a protagonist who was not of high social status. Traditionally, tragedies featured protagonists who were kings, queens, or other figures of authority. However, Miller's protagonist, Willy Loman, is a simple salesman who struggles to provide for his family.
* It was also unique to the era this work was written as working/manual labor employment provided greater stability and opportunity
* He focused on the psychological rather than the physical. Traditionally, tragedies focused on the physical suffering of the protagonist. However, Miller's play focuses on Willy Loman's psychological suffering as he comes to terms with his failures in life.
* He used a non-linear structure. Traditionally, tragedies followed a linear structure, with the protagonist's downfall occurring at the end of the play. However, Miller's play uses a non-linear structure, with Willy Loman's downfall occurring in the middle of the play. This allows Miller to show the audience the events that led to Willy's downfall and to explore his character in more depth. * **He utilized flashbacks of happier scenes and memories, juxtaposed alongside bleak circumstances.* This structure gives insight into both character relationships, as well as provides commentary into how a character's choices were affected by his history
Miller's changes to the genre of tragedy made Death of a Salesman a powerful and moving play that is still relevant to audiences today. The play shows that even ordinary people can experience tragic events and that the American Dream is not always attainable.