《推销员之死》中威利·洛曼的悲剧命运解读_英语论文

An Interpretation of Willy Loman’s Tragic Fate in Death of a Salesman

摘要

阿瑟•米勒是当代美国最著名的剧作家之一。他的作品涉及的主题主要包括个人与社会的义务,家庭关系以及道德责任等方面。阿瑟•米勒凭借《推销员之死》获得了1949年的普利策奖，安托瓦内特•佩里(托尼)奖和纽约戏剧评论奖。

《推销员之死》被戏剧评论家和历史学家视为杰作。故事的主人公是老推销员威利·洛曼。他将一生倾注于推销商品和教育儿子，以求得事业上的成功和家庭中的威严，但社会的无情和艰辛使他所有的梦想破灭。他最后在绝望中自杀身亡。该剧淋漓尽致地描述了一个小人物的真实生活，展示了他梦想与现实的碰撞，谴责了社会迫使个人为了实现物质上的成功而放弃天赋和尊严的残酷现实，并引发了人们对美国传统价值观的更深层次的思考。

阿瑟·米勒强调戏剧创作不应单纯描写人的心理和主观世界，也应该剖析复杂的社会生活。本论文试图通过分析主人公威利走向自我毁灭的全过程，从社会大环境以及他自身弱点来解读其悲剧命运的原因，从而揭示《推销员之死》作为悲剧所具有的广泛而持久的现实意义。 

关键词: 阿瑟·米勒；《推销员之死》；威利·洛曼；悲剧

Abstract

Arthur Miller is considered as one of the most distinguished contemporary American playwrights. His plays explore themes of individual and social commitment, familial relationships, and moral obligation. Death of a Salesman in 1949 brought Miller the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

Death of a Salesman is considered as a masterpiece by theater critics and historians. The protagonist, Willy Loman, an old salesman, spends his whole life on selling goods and fostering his sons so as to pursue his success in work and dignity in family. But his dream is crushed by the ruthless society. Eventually, he commits suicide. Through the vivid description of the real life of a nobody, the play shows the collision between the reality and the dream. It condemns the harsh reality which compels individuals to forsake their natural talents and dignity to achieve material success and also tackles larger issues regarding American national values. 

Arthur Miller stresses theatrical creation should not only simply focus on people's psychological and subjective world, but also analyze the complicated social life. By analyzing the whole process of Willy’ self-destruction, this paper attempts to interpret his tragic fate from the perspectives of the social environment and his own weaknesses so as to reveal the universal and lasting significance of the play as a modern tragic drama.

Keywords:  Authur Miller  Death of a Salesman  Willy Loman  Tragedy