9.2.4

Emotional Release

Test yourself

Emotional Release: Catharsis

The Requiem can be seen as providing the emotional release for the audience (required in a tragedy) in its reflective tone.

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Aristotle

  • For Aristotle, the climax of a tragedy should act as an emotional release for an audience, help to purge (relieve them of) the emotions of pity and fear built up through the tragedy.
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The Requiem

  • Miller’s short closing scene (the Requiem) can be seen as providing such a release for audiences in its reflective tone.
  • The characters have had the opportunity to reflect on Willy’s life and death and therefore offer judgements which help characters such as Biff, and so audiences, to move forward.
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Resolution

  • But as many commentators have argued, there is no ‘neat’ resolution at the end of the play.
  • Both of Willy’s sons are in conflict while Linda still cannot comprehend Willy’s death.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction

2Act One

3Act Two

4Extended Passage Analysis

5Character Profiles

6Key Themes

7Writing Techniques

8Historical Context

9Literary Context

10Critical Debates

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