The Function of Ben in the Tragic Structure of Death of a Salesman

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The function of Ben in the tragic structure of Death of a Salesman Arthurs Millers Death of a Salesman, written in 1949, is the heart rendering story of the road to suicide of the salesman Willy Loman. Miller clearly demonstrates the influence of Aristotle and Greek tragedy in the play and tackles the effect of capitalism and the myth of the American dream on the ordinary family. In Millers words, the play takes place in the Greek unity of 24 hours: and yet it is dealing with material that goes back probably 25 years. The tragedy ends in death of its hero – Willy Loman and I shall look at the dramatic function of his older brother Ben in this ending. The play was written and opened in 1949 and at this post war time, America was in recession and it was feared that another depression was imminent. For this reason, Miller portrays an economic sense of anxiety over the play and this is a feeling very recognisable to audiences both at that time and today. At this time the play many Americans were reading ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People ‘ by Dale Carnegie, a book demonstrating how human relations could be exploited for practical gain. Willy was a salesman in his sixties and he believed in this and believed that it was important to be ‘well liked’ as people would then trust him and buy from him. This leads to Willy fatal flaw in Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy – his hamartia throughout the play – his self delusion. He is obsessed with living the American Dream, with being successful, with materialistic success and being well liked – the whole American Dream. He fails to see that he is the opposite. As Fletcher says in Death of a Salesman ‘ Miller dramatically presents the complex moral world of mid-nineteenth century American values and beliefs’. Juxtaposed to this is his older brother Ben. Miller shows the audience that Ben is the antithesis
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