A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY “DEATH OF A SALESMAN” BY ARTHUR MILLER

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Language

There is no effort by the playwright to use an elevated poetic language characteristic of classical tragedy. He uses the everyday language of the contemporary man. Consequently, slang and other forms of language are used freely as can be seen in this conversation between Willy and Howard.

Howard: Yeah, but Willy, see I…

Willy: I tell ya why, Howard. The kids are all grown up, y’know. I don’t need much money any more. If I could take home – well, sixty-five dollars a week, I could swing it….

Howard: I appreciate that, Willy, but there just isn’t a spot here for you. If I had a spot,I’d slam you right in, but I just don’t have a single solitary spot… it’s business, kid, and everybody’s gotta pull his own weight. (62)

Music is used to enhance the mood and define locale sometimes. For instance the music from the flute helps to highlight Loman’s solitary funeral and the solemnity of the occasion at the end of the play.

Tragic Hero and Tragic Flaw

Usually, a hero is associated with noble deeds but Loman is an unsuccessful salesman; what then qualifies him as a hero? In the portrayal of this character, the playwright calls for a redefinition of tragedy and tragic hero in modern times. According to him, since kings and princes are no longer available, tragedy should be based on the heart and spirit of the common man. He therefore created Loman in his daily struggles to earn a living as every other man in the society. He is not a character of high social status but he struggles to maintain his family.

Despite the obstacles, he tries to secure his rightful position in the society, at least to maintain his conceived image of himself. In this struggle, he is willing to throw in all that he has into the contest and this makes him a hero. He pursues his set goal to its logical conclusion even to the extent of losing his life.

Tragedy is the consequence of a man’s compulsion to evaluate himself justly and the action reveals a tragic flaw in the tragic hero. This failing, according to Miller, is not peculiar to noble characters alone. This flaw is usually as a result of inherent unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity, to the image of his rightful status. So, a common man who is ready to lay down his life to secure his sense of personal dignity is also a tragic hero.

Loman is neither too vicious nor too virtuous. He is a hero because of his brave attempt to confront negative forces entrenched in the capitalist society. This society discards him like an orange peel once he is no longer strong and useful to the society. The society at this point no longer regards him as a man. However, he does not relent but fights on till the end.

We do not blame the society entirely for his failure. He has his own fault which is his tragic flaw. He is a dreamer. He refuses too face reality and keeps on believing that he is well-liked by everybody. Unfortunately, he dies and is buried as Mr. Nobody.

CONCLUSION

Arthur Miller’s major contribution to modern drama is his elevation of the common man to the status of a tragic hero. This is a deviation from the earlier conventions of drawing the hero from the noble class. The hero’s fate is no longer determined by his personality. This play shows clearly in practical terms that drama is not for entertainment alone but it is used also as a tool for social change in the society. To achieve this aim, the playwright uses everyday language to make it accessible to a wider audience.

 

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