Death of a Salesman revision booklet AQA A Level English Lit B
compare & contrast of the characters Willy Loman and Charley in the play Death of a salesman by Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman as a story told through mind and memory of Willy Loman
All for this textbook (32)
Written for
A/AS Level
AQA
English Literature B
Aspects of Tragedy
All documents for this subject (227)
Seller
Follow
ramiriam
Reviews received
Content preview
Significance of Journeyʼs In Tess of
DʼUrbervilleʼs and Death of a Salesman
Significance of Journeyʼs In Tess of DʼUrbervilleʼs and Death of a Salesman
Tessʼs journey to Trantridge changing her life – single journey having devastating
consequences (journey into adulthood)
Tessʼs movement in each phase and each setting mirroring her psychological state.
Society not taking the same journey.
Willyʼs lack of journeyʼs being his tragedy.
His psychological journey from past to present representing something fundamental to the
tragedy.
In Aristotleʼs Poetics, Aristotle stated that there should be a ‘unity of placeʼ, so focus is not
taken away from the tragic heroes personal journey from being “highly renowned and
prosperous” to a diminished shell of their previous character. Death of a Salesman and Tess of
DʼUrbervilleʼs subvert this aspect of tragedy by incorporating journeyʼs into the novel as the
tragic heroes are itinerant moving from locale to locale so the setting and atmosphere of the
tragedy changes. In this essay I will therefore discuss the significance of journeyʼs in Tess of
DʼUrbervilles and Death of a Salesman.
In Tess of DʼUrbervilles, journeys are not fulfilling for Tess. Her move from her family home to
Trantridge where Alec DʼUrberville resides, metaphorically represents her transition from
girlhood to womanhood being confirmed through his final assault of her in the Chase. The
journey is rash and aggressive with Alec driving too fast and throwing out violent curses; “you
will regret that” which also appearing to attempt to seduce Tess; “you big beauty”. Tess
attempts to take control of her own journey to the farm by walking however it does not change
her fate from occurring later on in the novel. This journey in Phase the First represents a single
event which causes devastating consequences for the rest of the novel which causes her to
become ‘fallenʼ in terms of the 19th century puritanical purity perspectives. It introduces the
tragic villain, Alec, who appears to be an almost melodramatic moustache twirling character
with his attempts to tame the horse which tries to kill him, being reflected onto Tess later on in
the novel; ,stating to her “you will be my creature again”. This initial journey represents how one
event has widespread and unchangeable consequences resulting in the build-up to the tragedy
later on. As readers we cannot help but wonder how different the tragedy would be if this
journey did not occur.
As Tess undertakes journeyʼs in each phase, each movement seems to reflect a psychological
journey which she experiences within herself. Her move back from Trantridge to her family
home is where her “Sorrow lay”, and later move to Talbothays presents an attempt at an
emotional rejuvenation in the Edenic bliss of the summer as she learnt that “the serpent hisses
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ramiriam. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.55. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
