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Critical Analysis-Death of A Salesman

The play Death of a Salesman provides a vivid depiction of post-depression era American society and the personal struggles resulting from socioeconomic expectations and the myth of the American Dream. It follows Willy Loman as he faces his own mortality and failed career while reliving regrets through conversations with his subconscious. Willy's depression and discontent with his unsatisfying life lead to his self-destruction. The contrast between the dreams of his family members underscores the tragic consequences of blindly pursuing material success over simple happiness. Considered one of Arthur Miller's most influential works, it offers a timeless examination of these themes that still resonates deeply with audiences today.

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2K views2 pages

Critical Analysis-Death of A Salesman

The play Death of a Salesman provides a vivid depiction of post-depression era American society and the personal struggles resulting from socioeconomic expectations and the myth of the American Dream. It follows Willy Loman as he faces his own mortality and failed career while reliving regrets through conversations with his subconscious. Willy's depression and discontent with his unsatisfying life lead to his self-destruction. The contrast between the dreams of his family members underscores the tragic consequences of blindly pursuing material success over simple happiness. Considered one of Arthur Miller's most influential works, it offers a timeless examination of these themes that still resonates deeply with audiences today.

Uploaded by

Yadhu Gopal G
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Critical Analysis of 'Death of a Salesman'

Death of a Salesman

Critical Analysis

The play is another brilliant depiction of society in a period by Arthur Miller, as he delves into the socio-
economic expectations and personal grief during the post-depression era. The plot involves complex
scenes which often revolve around the abstract and lamented daydreams of Willy Loman, as he is faced
with his own mortality, both in his life and his career. The overarching effects of the “American Dream”,
as it was perceived in that era have been vividly explained by the characters’ thoughts and actions as
they descend down the road to reminiscence.

Willy Loman’s story is the center around which, most of the story revolves. About how a man faces his
ghosts of lost opportunities and bad decisions. Although very powerful in its own, we get a wide
perspective of the after effects of the corporate scenario and the self-destruction that at times, is
brought down by it. Faced with never-ending sorrows of financial and emotional dissatisfaction, Willy
Loman starts fading away from reality as he seldomly finds peace and happiness in it anymore. The
masterful tale of events, in which Willy laments back at his career, affair and his treatment of Happy and
Biff is portrayed mainly through conversations with his own subconsciousness, which often takes the
form of Ben. This makes it possible for an unforgettable walk, through the psyche of a man who believed
in the dream and ultimately is now struggling to accept his failure towards it.

The play and its scenario give a prime example of the myth of contemporary life, in which all actions are
directed by a pre-emptive belief towards a certain goal, regardless of the consequences along the way.
This is tragically portrayed by Willy’s thoughts and descent into depression, as well as Happy’s
discontent with what he has become. A modern tale of unsettling dreams, depicting the disastrous
conditions which often plague the ‘American Dreamer’. The only comparative literature in existence is
perhaps F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘ The Great Gatsby’, which similarly explores the tragic side of following the
American dream.

The contrast of satisfaction and suffering is subjected to the reader by the subsequent dreams of Happy
and Biff where they want to lead a simple and content life in the countryside. This is synonymous to how
Ney York city developed during the early 1900s as it was identified as a ruthless urban center. Miller
explores the choice and subjectivisms of a content life, in which Willy has forced the Urban dream upon
himself and his family which further leads them to move apart from each other. This in turn translates
into his feelings of melancholia and depression as he tries his hardest to make a way for his family, a
thing that he finally tries to achieve through his death. Upon his death, we are again treated with the
dissent of the life lead by Willy as few people are present at his funeral. His family feeling betrayed by
his directions and decisions, were left flustered by his sudden actions and their future, ultimately
depicting the widespread effect of blindly following materialistic growth. The character arc finally
emphasizing the question of source of content and happiness for the reader.

The intricately woven stories of the Loman family being contrasted with their friends, neighbors, and
relatives, leaves an everlasting impact on the reader in terms of life and its consequences, making
‘Death of a Salesman’ one of the finest works in theatre and playwrighting. A testament to the brilliance
and the depth of the play is that even after 80 years, it is still the staple of Broadway and major theatres,
while many critics term it, deservedly, one of the most influential works in American literature.

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