1.1.4

Social Issues

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Introduction to the Social Issues Raised: The American Dream

Miller examines the idea of the American Dream in his play and questions his society’s notions of what constitutes success, failure, freedom etc.

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The American Dream

  • At the heart of the American Dream is the belief that ideals such as equality and freedom are available to all and that prizes such as material wealth and property ownership can be won by anyone willing to work hard to achieve them.
  • Miller does present us with successful characters in the shape of Charley and his son, Bernard, men who work hard and live happy, respectable, dignified lives.
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The Loman family

  • However, through the Loman family, he also shows us how destructive this dream can be.
  • Willy and his sons judge success on personal popularity (being “well-liked”), initiative and self-reliance.
  • Each of them exaggerates their success and, as a result, loses sight of reality, a realisation which strikes Biff in Act 2:
    • “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been. We’ve been talking in a dream for fifteen years.”

Introduction to the Social Issues Raised: Capitalism

Miller shows how ruthless and cruel a capitalist society can be, only seeing worth or value in those who can make money. He also explores the effects this has had on American family life.

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Self-worth

  • Despite decades of loyal service, Willy is fired by Howard when he is no longer an asset to the company.
  • Willy comes to judge his own worth in purely financial terms, the value of his life insurance policy, and decides to kill himself in order to be of material worth (twenty thousand dollars) to his family.
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Family life

  • The spotlight is also shone on family life (the relationship between husband and wife; the influence of a father on a son) in order to expose the reality (the tensions & conflicts) behind the idealised versions of American family life celebrated in the adverts and radio/television shows of the day.

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1Introduction

1.1Introductions

1.1.1Author

1.1.2Historical Context

1.1.3Setting

1.1.4Social Issues

2Act One

2.1Key Events

2.1.1Staging

2.1.2Key Events 1&2

2.1.3Key Events 3&4

2.1.4Key Events 5&6

2.1.5Key Events 7&8

2.1.6Key Events 9&10

2.1.7Key Events 11&12

2.2Key Themes & Links

2.2.1Foreshadowing & Inevitability

2.2.2Time

2.2.3Settings

2.2.4Family

2.2.5Reality v Fantasy

3Act Two

3.1Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&2

3.1.2Key Events 3&4

3.1.3Key Events 5&6

3.1.4Key Events 7&8

3.1.5Key Events 9&10

3.2Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride

3.2.2Metaphor

3.2.3Self-Realisation

4Extended Passage Analysis

4.1Act One

4.1.1Staging

4.1.2The Woman

4.2Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office

4.2.2The Final Confrontation

4.2.3The Requiem

5Character Profiles

5.1Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman

5.1.2Linda Loman

5.2Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman

5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy

5.2.3Happy Loman

5.3Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben

5.3.2Charley

5.3.3Bernard

6Key Themes

6.1Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream

6.1.2Fathers & Sons

6.1.3Nature & the City

6.1.4Success

6.1.5Men & Women

7Writing Techniques

7.1Structure

7.1.1Act One

7.1.2Act Two

7.2Realism

7.2.1Introduction

7.2.2Staging

7.2.3Language

7.3Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction

7.3.2Staging

7.3.3Music

7.4Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds

7.4.2Diamonds

7.4.3Alaska & Africa

7.5Motifs

7.5.1Introduction

7.5.2Cars

7.5.3Silk Stockings

7.5.4Money

7.5.5Mythological Figures

8Historical Context

8.1Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression

8.1.2America’s Recovery

9Literary Context

9.1Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction

9.2Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero

9.2.2The Tragic Flaw

9.2.3Recognition

9.2.4Emotional Release

9.2.5Chaos & Disorder

9.2.6Revenge

9.2.7Inevitability

10Critical Debates

10.1Introduction

10.1.1Introduction

10.2The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis

10.2.2The Marxist Reading

10.3The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis

10.3.2The Feminist Reading

10.4The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis

10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.3Post-pastoral

10.5Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy

10.5.2The Critics

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Setting

Staging