Emotional Release
English Lit: AQA A Level Death of a Salesman, topic 9.2.4
Emotional Release: Catharsis
The Requiem can be seen as providing the emotional release for the audience (required in a tragedy) in its reflective tone.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Emotional Release
What part of Death of a Salesman can be seen as providing emotional release for the audience?
Why have commentators argued that there is no 'neat' resolution to Death of a Salesman?
Who, in particular, cannot comprehend of Willy's death at the end of Death of a Salesman?