Death of a Salesman as a Social Tragedy: A Sociological Perspective
Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" explores the social realities faced by the common man, portraying the struggles between the individual and society. Willy Loman, the protagonist, embodies the victim of the American Dream, highlighting the societal pressures and expectations that lead to his tragic downfall. Miller skillfully blends elements of tragedy and social commentary, delving into themes of social status, recognition, and the impact of societal norms on individuals.
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I.B. P.G. COLLEGE, PANIPAT CLASS : M.A. ( ENGLISH) PREVIOUS YEAR UNIT : DEATH OF A SALESMAN TOPIC : DEATH OF A SALESMAN AS A SOCIAL TRAGEDY
PRESENTED BY PREETI PAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
DEATH OF SALESMAN-ARTHUR MILLER AS A SOCIAL DRAMA Arthur Miller was one of the most successful American dramatists. He had distinction of being the most outspoken American writers of the last four decades. As a dramatist, Miller is a socialistic who conceives that society is inside of man and man is inside of society. According to Miller, The greatest dramatist seems to have been speaking for some fate-making power behind the social force itself.
His dramas deal mainly with man s relation with his family and society. Death of Salesman is a typical modern tragedy shows the social reality of common man. It can be described as a great social tragedy because it extends itself out of the family circle and into society. Now discuss Death of Salesman as a social drama in a depth. Death of Salesman is a Sociological Tragedy. Generally it is believed that a drama can not be both tragic and social because a social drama depicts, the common man as victim. It arouses out pity but not terror like tragic plays. On the other hand tragedy neglects material conditions with which social drama deals. But Miller has reconciled both these aspects.
Death of Salesman deals with the common theme of the individual versus society. Like Ibsen, Shaw and GalsworthyMiller also deals with social problem of modern men. The play is not so much concerned with the life of an individual-Willy Loman but with the life of a section of society, which the representative of Willy is. The play is a good example of so called middle class tragedy , having social impact on it. It depicts the fate of a commonplace man in a common place environment In words of John Mason Brown, Saturday Review of Literature Death of Salesman broaches the questions of a social status,social honour and recognition,which expand its vision and lift it out of the merely particular towards the fate of the generality of men.
Willy Loman is a victim of the American Dream. Much of Willys suffering is due to the nature of American society. American society is highly commercializes and nightly competitive. One of the most dominant beliefs of American society goes by the name the great American Dream . It means the view held by most Americans that it is possible to for a man to rise to the top through good looks, personality, attractiveness, winnings manners, and social contacts. Willy Loman is a fervent believer in the romantic American Dream. He believes, Success falls inevitably to the man with the right smile, the best line, the most charm, the man who is not only liked,but well liked.
Though the reality is different, Willy is having a very high opinion about himself and his contacts in society. He considers himself indispensable for Wagner Company. He feels that he is largely responsible for the large sales of the products in New England. He thinks himself to be a very successful salesman but it is his self-deception as in reality he is nothing. Same way he deceives himself by high opinion regarding his son Biff. He lionized his son and kept telling him that he had a great future before him. He thinks that Biff is a very hard working young man with a lot of a personal attractiveness. But in the reality, Biff has achieved nothing though he is thirsty four years old.
On social level, Willy is a victim of the American Dream which is personified by three different figures. First there is Ben, Willy s brother, the self made man who went into the (capitalist) jungle and came out rich. Ben is the totally self-assured man who knew what he wanted and got it with his efforts. His motto is: Never fight fair with a stranger. Willy s life is dominated and governed by Ben Loman. The American Dream is also symbolized by Dave Single man, who is Willy s ideal salesman. His life had inspired Willy to become a salesman. It is Dave Singleman s success that leads Willy towards selling profession. Finally, the American dream is symbolized, in its most noble embodiment, by Willy s father. He was who not only ventured into a pioneer s wilderness with no security or assurance of success, but also was also- a creator.
Death of Salesman is deals with the evils of Capitalism. Howards treatment of Willy shows us how an innocent man is made victim by selfish and harsh society. Howard doesn t pay any attention to Willy and is fully absorbed with a toy like machine. Willy tells him to give him travel. But Howard suggests a cut in salary from sixty to forty dollars a week. Howard grants none of Willy s requests and casually dismisses from the company. Willy fails to convince Howard. Willy remembers Howard s father and adds that that it was he who had suggested Howard s name but Howard doesn t move. We find Willy caught by evils of Capitalism. The play can be regarded Communist propaganda denouncing the evils of Capitalism In a word of Eleanor Clare, The play is a crude Marxist attack on the brutal capitalist system in America..
Willy is a victim of this merciless social system which drives people to frantic, all-consuming dreams of success. The commercial society gives importance to success, appearance, ambitiousness and self interest. Willy is ruined by all such forces. He loses his life in seeking his place in that society. Thus the American Social System leads Willy to kill himself as he is unable to provide comfort and he gives it after his death as insurance amount. Willy s fate shows that Miller seems to be disapproving a system that demands total commitment to success without regard to human value. Esther Jackson rightly remarks perhaps most nearly nature myth about human suffering in an industrial age. Death of Salesman represents
To summing up, Death of Salesmanis primarily a social-political criticism of American culture. It strikes a balance between the social problem of the shattered myth of success and Willy Loman s sex and family problems. Miller uses appreciate concrete symbols for the social realities of his time and place. He achieves an internal drama of a man s epic journey to self-knowledge through experience and Death of Salesman in this sense, is a recognition scene.
