Death of a Salesma

Discuss how drama provides an effective medium to represent confrontational aspects of culture and identity.

 

  1. The capitalist culture that defines peoples values through economic success

    • Confrontation between personal self-worth and societal expectations

    • Drama - allows audience to witness Willy's psychological collapse - cultural pressure of capitalism emotionally confronting

    • Capitalist culture: centred on accumulation of private ownership and market exchange, emphasises individualism, competition and efficiency.

 

  • Quotes

    • "because the man who makes an appearance in the business world … is the man who gets ahead" - dialogue

      • Shows dependence on self-deception for his own self-esteem

      • Appearance means better than doing well in school

    • "the small fragile seeming home" with "towering, angular shaped behind it, surrounding it on all sides" - stage directions

      • Visual representation of capitalism closing in on willy

      • Personal identity overwhelmed by modern economic culture

      • Pressure from the societal culture of measuring success

    • The only thing youve got in this qorld is what you can sell”

 

 

  1. The capitalist culture creating masculine identities that pressure men to fulfil the provider role

    • Expectations of masculinity: emotion vs societal definitions of manhood

    • Rigid gender roles defining identities / struggles with identity

    • Masculinity ties to financial success and dominance

    • Willy projecting expectations on Biff

 

  • Quotes

    • "a man who can't handle tools is not a man" - dialogue

      • Willy criticising biffs practical failures

    • "Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? ...when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!" — Biff dialogue

      • Lack of identity

    • Descriptions: Biff- "worn air" "less assured" "succeeded less, and his dreams are stronger and less acceptable than Happy"/ struggle with high pressure = competitive masculinity imposed by willy (body language - stage directions)

      • Visual reflection of pressure of failed expectations externalising internal struggles through appearance

 

 

  1. Illusion of the America dream creating conflict between dream and reality fracturing identity

    • American dream: promises success, happiness and fulfilment through hard work

    • An illusion that creates confrontation between aspiration and reality

    • Constructed identities around the myth - witness it collapse visually and emotionally

 

  • Quotes

    • "A melody is heard, played upon a flute…telling of grass about trees and the horizon"

      • Sound motif - pastoral past and Willys father (travelling craftsman connected to nature compared to corporate capitalism)

      • Alternative dream based on freedom over capitalism :nature vs urban setting

      • Sound externalising memory and longing - audience emotionally experiences nostalgia

    • "an air of the dream clings to the place, a dream rising out of reality" - stage directions

      • Expressionist setting - house existing between realis and illusion

      • Reflecting Willys blurred perception of success and failure

    • "only the music of the flue is left on the darkening stage"

      • Willy dies pursuing the illusion of success

      • Dream persists after death

      • Darkness - collapse of constructed identity (American dream offering no resolution)