摘 要
悲剧是一种起源于希腊的戏剧形式，长期以来，悲剧的主人公都为帝王或出身高贵的上流阶层。现代剧作家阿瑟·米勒凭借自己多年的经验与非凡的洞察力，提出了自己独特的现代悲剧观，他打破了传统悲剧的僵化模式，更加实用地继承与发展了悲剧形式。米勒独具建树的悲剧观，在其杰作《推销员之死》中得到了完美诠释。本文试图从悲剧理论出发研究米勒的悲剧观，再通过对其代表作《推销员之死》的分析，具体研究该剧中米勒独特悲剧观的体现。在《推销员之死》作家米勒继承并革新了传统的悲剧理论，认为普通人对生活有更深刻全面的理解，他们才是最适合的悲剧主人公。在该剧中，体现了米勒独特的悲剧观。推销员之死在戏剧结构，象征手法的应用与主人公的性格方面继承了传统悲剧，而在题材的选择既主人公的普通性，悲剧的成因及悲剧所体现的乐观思想方面发展则打破传统，发展了传统的悲剧理论。
关键词：阿瑟·米勒， 悲剧观，《推销员之死》，发展与继承
ABSTRACT
Tragedy is a drama genre originated in Greek. For a long time, it is an accepted rule that the tragic hero must be the kings, nobles or protagonists with high rank. However, Miller states his unique view of tragedy, which both inheritates and develops the theory of traditional tragedy. That is, Arthur Miller breaks the mold of the formulaic tragedies of previous era since Aristotle and redefines that the common people are as apt a subject for tragedies in its highest sense as kings were. Typically, Miller’s tragic view is presented in his masterpiece—Death of a Salesman. On the basis of the traditional theory of tragedy, this essay aims at pursuing Arthur Miller’s unique view of modern tragedy embodied in Death of Salesman, which is both the inheritance and the development of the traditional theory of tragedy.
In this play, Miller fully practices his unique view of tragedy. In such parts as the drama structure, the use of symbolism and the characteristics of the protagonist, Miller follows the theory of traditioanl tragedy. However, he breaks the archaic theory and makes great develoment to the theory of modern tragedy in the following aspects: the subject matter, the tragedy causes and the ending enlightment.
Keywords：Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, tragedy, succession and development
Contents
1.Introduction 1
2.Traditional View of Tragedy 2
3. Miller's View of Tragedy 3
3.1 The Great Influence of His Early Experience on the Forming of Miller’s Tragic View 3
3.2 Arthur Miller’s Unique View of Modern Tragedy 4
4. Miller’s Inheritance and Development of Traditional Tragic View in Death of a Salesman 5
4.1 Miller’s Inheritance of Traditional Tragic View 5
4.1.1 Arthur Miller’s Acceptance of Traditional Drama Structure 6
4.1.2 Traditional Symbolism Applied in Death of a Salesman 7
4.1.3 Characteristics of Traditional Tragic Protagonist Embodied in Death Of a Salesman 8
4.2 Miller’s Development of Traditional Tragedy in Death of a Salesman 9
4.2.1 Little Man as Protagonist in Death of a Salesman 9
4.2.2 The Personal and Social Elements Being the Causes of Tragedy 10
4.2.3 Optimistic View of Tragic Ending Reflected in Death of a Salesman 12
5.Conclusion 14
Acknowledgements 15
References 16
