Books Quote by Arthur Miller
““There is a misconception of tragedy with which I have been struck in review after review, and in many conversations with writers and readers alike. It is the idea that tragedy is of necessity allied to pessimism. Even the dictionary says nothing more about the word than that it means a story with a sad or unhappy ending. This impression is so firmly fixed that I almost hesitate to claim that in truth tragedy implies more optimism in its author than does comedy, and that its final result ought to be the reinforcement of the onlooker's brightest opinions of the human animal.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Tragedy, 1950s (published in The New Yorker)
Tragedy, contrary to common belief, often carries an optimistic view of humanity, reinforcing belief in human potential despite sorrow.
In simple terms: Tragedy can be hopeful, not just sad.
Key Takeaway
Recognize optimism within sorrowful stories.
Themes
tragedy
optimism
human nature
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- theatre criticism
- creative writing workshops
- philosophy seminars
Key Concepts
philosophical
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a tragic story uplifting?
- Can optimism coexist with suffering?
A Different Perspective
May overlook works that are purely bleak.
![“The human animal, like others, is adapted to a certain amount of struggle for life [and] the mere absence of effort from his life removes an essential ingredient of happiness. [. . .] He forgets that to be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/218/bertrand-russell-69_absence_the-human-animal-like-others-is-adapted_281043.jpg)
![“(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, [Larry] was my son. But I think to him [the pilots killed] were all my sons. And I guess they were, I guess they were” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e8/arthur-miller-947_killed_looking-at-the-letter-in-his-hand-then-w_55336.jpg)
