A Cause Analysis of Biff’s Tragedy in Death of a Salesman_英语论文

摘要

阿瑟·米勒是二十世纪美国最杰出的剧作家之一。他作品的恒久主题是美国社会底层小人物的奋斗故事。米勒的戏剧被称之为社会剧，因而他被誉为“美国戏剧的良心”。1949年《推销员之死》问世，奠定了米勒在美国现代戏剧史上的地位。《推销员之死》中主人公威利·洛曼的大儿子比夫·洛曼的悲剧是该戏剧中的重要内容。个性的软弱和不成熟以及来自家庭和社会的双重压力致使比夫在成长过程中迷失自我，从而逐渐忘记自身的价值，最终落得一事无成的结果。他的悲剧表明他是美国梦的受害者。本论文旨在从个人成长过程的角度剖析比夫·洛曼的悲剧形象，并从个人、家庭和社会三个方面分析他悲剧的形成原因，揭示了比夫这一悲剧形象在主旨意蕴、审美表达等方面的作用。

关键词：阿瑟·米勒；《推销员之死》；比夫；悲剧；美国梦

Abstract

Arthur Miller is widely regarded as one of the most important American playwrights of the 20th century. Miller’s lifelong theme is the struggle of nobody in the American society. Miller’s plays are called social plays and he is crowned as “the conscience of American drama”. Death of a Salesman, published in 1949, establishes his position in the history of modern American play. The tragedy of Biff, the elder son of the protagonist Willy Loman, is an important part in the play Death of a Salesman. His weak and immature personality and the pressures from his family and society lead to the loss of Biff’s selfidentity in the process of growth and he gradually forgets his own value. Ultimately, he achieves nothing. His tragedy reveals that he is a victim of the American dream. This thesis explores the causes of Biff’s tragedy from three aspects, namely, Biff’s personal causes, the influences of Biff’s family and the influences of the social environment on Biff, with the focus on the contributions of Biff’s tragic figure made to the expression of the theme as well as the aesthetic value of this play.

Key words: Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, Biff, tragedy, the American Dream

Contents

1. Introduction1

2. Demonstration3

2.1 Personal causes leading to Biff’s tragedy3

2.1.1 Biff’s weakness in personality3

2.1.1.1 Biff’s susceptibility to others 3

2.1.1.2 Biff’s lack of perseverance4

2.1.2 Biff’s immaturity in personality5

2.1.2.1 Biff’s subordination to his father Willy Loman5

2.1.2.2 Biff’s abnormal obsession with his mother Linda Loman5

2.2 Family influences contributing to Biff’s tragedy6

2.2.1 The negative role model of Biff’s father Willy Loman6

2.2.1.1 Willy’s wrong values influencing Biff6

2.2.1.2 Willy’s expectations driving Biff to pursue the American Dream7

2.2.1.3 Willy’s betrayal of his marriage7

2.2.2 The misleading role model of Biff’s uncle Ben Loman8

2.2.2.1 Ben’s success in pursuing the American Dream8

2.2.2.2 Ben’s encouragement to Biff8

2.2.2.3 Biff’s failed attempt to emulate his uncle Ben9

2.3 Social environment contributing to Biff’s tragedy9

2.3.1 The age of pursuing the American Dream9

2.3.1.1 The fear of the Great Depression 9

2.3.1.2 The atmosphere of social Darwinism10

2.3.2 The distorted social values11

2.3.2.1 The extreme individualism in society11

2.3.2.2 The prevalence of money worship and utilitarianism in society11

3.Conclusion12

Works Cited13

Bibliography14