Capitalism in Arthur Miller's Play "death of a Salesman"

Abstract

This research paper tackles Capitalism in Arthur Miller's most well known play "Death of a Salesman (1949)". It also tries to show how Miller criticizes Capitalism, Materialism and the idea of what is so called the "American Dream" in this play in an implied way. However, Arthur Miller is an American playwright who is widely known as one of the most important writers who adopt the middle class issues. In his play, Miller sheds the light on the exploitation of the capitalist society, and the repression on workers who are lost in such a system form of economy. Furthermore, this paper tries to explain how The American Dream, somehow, supports the idea of Capitalism. "Death of a Salesman", with its familial setting, stresses something about the material circumstances of a typical family from the American society. Therefore, this paper concentrates on Willy Loman, the salesman, and how the American Dream takes part in his death.

Acknowledgment

First, I would like to thank my parents for all the support they have provided me over the years, actually I can't thank them enough for all that they have done for me.

Also, I’m grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Salma Al-Hasan, for help and guidance. My special thanks to Dr. Abdullatif Alkhaiat and Mrs. Ala Yaghi for their influential thoughts throughout my literary courses.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction………………………………………………………. 1

2. Significance of the Study………………………………………… 3

3. Questions of the Study…………………………………………. 4

4. Review of related literature………………………………………. 5

5. Discussion………………………………………………………... 7

1. Major points contribute in understanding the tragic events in Death of a Salesman……………………………………………… 7

1.1 The shift between time and place…………………………. 7

1.2 Regarding responsibility………………………………….. 8

1.2.1 Individual level……………………………………… 8

1.2.2 Societal level…………………………………………