Death of a Modernist Salesman Essay - 3513 Words

Death of a Modernist Salesman The modernist movement in writing was characterized by a lack of faith in the traditional ways of explaining life and its meaning. Religion, nationalism, and family were no longer seen as being infallible. For the modernist writers, a sense of security could no longer be found. They could not find any meaning or order in the old ways. Despair was a common reaction for them. The dilemma they ran into was what to do with this knowledge. Poet Robert Frost phrased their question best in his poem â€Å"The Oven Bird.† Frost’s narrator and the bird about which he is speaking both are wondering â€Å"what to make of a diminished thing† (Baym 1103). The modernist writers attempted to mirror this despair and†¦show more content†¦In a sense, Miller is a part of the second half of the modernist movement. His characters in Death of a Salesman are attempting to come to terms with a democratic, capitalistic society which has been functioning for some time. A s well as demonstrating to his audience the hopelessness of Willy’s situation, Miller is also trying to convey that the values society places on material wealth and the models of success they look to are not necessarily the best solution either. Willy is a societal failure, but how successful are the other members of society by comparison? This is the question Miller seems to be asking throughout the play as he shows the demise of Willy’s life and society’s reaction to this demise. Sociologists, psychologists, theologians, and philosophers have found Arthur Miller’s major works, especially his Death of a Salesman, both fascinating and quotable as they discuss problems as ‘alienation’ and ‘loneliness;’ ‘dehumanization’ and ‘desocialization;’ ‘the alienated ego’ and ‘existentialism;’ and ‘dogma’ and ‘freedom.’ (Hayashi v) When the focus of people’s lives becomes money and getting ahead, the essence of what it means to be a human being and the true meaningful things of life are the first things to be put aside, Miller seems to be saying. In order to understand Willy Loman and the struggles with which he is dealing,Show MoreRelated Dehumanization in Death of a Salesman Essay example1245 Words   |  5 PagesDehumanization in Death of a Salesman      Ã‚   Alienation and loneliness are two of the frequently explored themes in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.   Yet they can also cause other effects which are just as harmful, if not more so.   In Death of a Salesman, two of these other results are dehumanization and a loss of individual freedom.   This is a very complex web of emotions, but as Miller said, â€Å"Death of a Salesman is not, of course, in the realistic tradition, having broken out into quiteRead MoreModernism Versus Postmodernism918 Words   |  4 PagesPost-modernism follows and shares many of the same ideas as modernism. Though, at the same time, they differ in many ways. 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Eliot, Tennessee Williams, And Arthur Miller2539 Words   |  11 Pagesappearance has over people has intrigued readers of all time periods, authors T. S. Eliot, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller have shed light on the theme with their works â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† A Streetcar Named Desire, and Death of a Salesman. First off, appearance was exceedingly significant in T.S. Eliot’s â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† and readers have a lot to learn from this work. Before examining the theme, the poem’s basic plot, as well as the author of the work,Read MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller2091 Words   |  9 Pagesprosperity through hard work. Both in Arthur Miller s Death of a Salesman and F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is a strong theme throughout, as ultimately the protagonists in the novel and play fail to achieve their dream. 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