Discuss the view given of the American way of life in 'Death of a Salesman.

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Death of a Salesman.

Discuss the view given of the American way of life in ‘Death of a Salesman.

Context.

Millers’ most famous work deals with the painful conflicts within one family but also relates to American national values. It examines the blind faith of the American dream, a post war tragedy. Miller in ‘Death of a Salesman’ accuses America of selling a falsehood to the public in the post war economy built around a capitalist materialistic doctrine superseding the original American dream of the country’s founders. America, post World War two, faced profound tensions domestically in what became known as ‘The Cold War’. The propagation of the myths of a peaceful homogenous America was counter manded by a constant anxiety of the Red Menace of communism and bitter racial conflicts. Most post-war Americans could not join in the affluent dream that the American economy was now making a reality for the conservative rich. However the pursuit of this materialistic dream meant a radical change in the mindset of the American public as they became embroiled in a race for conformity within the material world of keeping up with the trappings of neighbours and peer groups. The accessories of affluence in the form of material possessions such as appliances, cars and television drove the American economy. At the same time the post war generation of writers and artists, influenced by the existentialists philosophy, took up arms against the hard sell philosophy of American industry and manufacturing.

The basis for the dramatic conflict in ‘Death of a Salesman’ lies in Arthur Millers conflicted relationship with his uncle, Manny Newman, also a salesman.  Manny imagined a continuous competition between his son and Miller refusing to accept failure and demanded at least the appearance of complete confidence in his household. Miller in his youth had written a short story about an unsuccessful salesman, which he revived after his experiences with his uncle. The result was that he produced one of the most successful dramas in the history of the American stage. He expressed the emotions of his uncle, Manny, through Willy Loman and in doing so Miller touched deep emotions in the American psyche. (Benjamin Nelson. 1970, Arthur Miller. Portrait of a Playwright. Peter Owen Ltd.)

 

Act one begins with flute music playing as Willy Loman enters, the music of the flute is symbolic for Willy, his father was a flute maker and the young Willy, along with his elder brother Ben, helped in the door to door selling of his fathers work. It also represents a painful side of Willy’s past when his father abandoned him. (Act one, p. 8.)

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Abandonment is an important and recurring theme in Millers play, it is symbolic for Willy Loman and at the same time it symbolises Americas abandonment of the first American dream held by the immigrants and pioneers looking for a new life in the ‘land of opportunity’. The abandonment that Willy experiences reoccurs throughout the play, as one by one the important people in Willy’s life leave him. At the time in which the play was written America was taking advantage of its new empire won or stolen in the Second World War. A new ‘American Dream’ was being sold to ...

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