Arthur Miller's Use of Capitalism in Death of a Salesman - Research Paper Example

English  21 November Arthur Miller's Use of Capitalism in Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller focuses on the society’s wayof life and ambition to fulfill the misinterpreted American dream after the Second World War. A story written in the event of American economy growth and recovery, where families and individuals no longer had to worry of their lives and liberty, but concentrated to search for wealth and maintain their happiness in life. In search for wealth and success, the society seemed to adapt to modern ways at the time due to the changing economic and business environment. Capitalism as a social economic system has been expressed in the story to have been a key determinant in the life of the main character, Willy Loman, and his family’s failure. He held on to the former taught business ideals of individualism from the previous generation to use in the present, which could not be acceptable revolutionized society. According to Karim, Willy’s failure resulted from his inability to revolve but continued to apply the ‘winner take all business’ principle in an urban society that was passed that stage (67). One could consider him as an outdated individual who clings in the past knowledge in the hope that he can attain a goal, even after having to depend on the same wisdom in the past. He believed that winning the trust and likeness from the society, was the ultimate way to achieve his long waited success. However in the past, as the transition from old ways were been replaced by the modern methods of conducting businesses, Willy as one of the American people who held on to the former faith of individualism, as an early frontier ethic in business had the several opportunities of his former success, but he could no longer manage to compete in the climate of the business that was favored by capitalism. Everyone plans to live a happy and satisfied life. However the means to achieve the desire varies in different personalities. For some, even if it takes illegal means, it does not matter as long as the end goal is achieved. Others prefer honesty and integrity as a moral character and value. This was what directed the history of America towards certain individuals’ success before capitalism in early 19th Century, as illustrated by the stories told, for whatever it took to become successful (Cullen 60). Willy Loman was no different, and he strived hard in his sales job to sustain his family, and fulfill his desires of living an American dream. His Social status best expressed as a middle class was accompanied with hardship in acquiring wealth, and hence he had to depend on how the society would take him, based on likeness for him to thrive in the sales job. The principle of self made man, and though being helpful before, failed as capitalist would attain the American dream more easily than using the former strategy. The growing capitalism taking over in the business world forced Willy out of the sales job, because it came with better ways of producing and distributing goods, for much more profit that Willy could not keep up with. Loman suffers frustration after been declined for a job knowing he had retired as a salesman, which he struggled tirelessly all through his life. Through capitalism, power is associated with capitalist like Howard, who dares fire Willy after his long service in the company, without even minding the moral decency of setting him aside for retirement (Sterling 5). Indications of an old car, non profit making individual, and financial struggles show that his financial status was worse to raise capital, so that he could start a business of his own closer to home. As an investor, Howard hoped for delivery of an efficient service as he also paid wages to his workers, which determined his profit too. As a capitalist, it would then be arguable whether Willy’s firing was justified or not. The aim of capitalism is to acquire more profits after sales and production. Capitalism will make use of the working class to efficiently expand the profit margin, giving little attention to other issues that might frustrate the workers. The bitterness of the situation after been sucked was far much more to handle for a man who intended to defend his family at all cost. Once Willy mentions that Howard could not consume the orange and later throw the peelings away; as a man was not a piece of fruit that could be used for another’s’ gain and later be set aside (Sterling 5). This act portrays the inconsiderate and dehumanizing aspect of capitalism to the working class that depends on it. To add on that, when Howard tells Willy to buy a wire recorder, knowing his financial constraint and the wife’s jobless state, it appears as a mockery separating the two worlds of the individuals, in the presence of reality and a wish on the side of Willy Loman. That was cunning and inappropriate for the boss, who later fired him instead of consoling him. As a capitalist he was rich and had money, but poor Willy was only trying out his lack to empower himself financially. In the family’s struggles, Willy’s last hope turns on his sons, especially Biff to enable them achieve the dream of good life. Willy met his sons at the restaurant, after hitting the 1st round of frustration, only to find there was another awaiting mockery on their life turnaround. Oliver, the only hope where Bill would get a business loan, turns out as a failure, something which as the father, Willy refuses to embrace in his heart. Oliver was used to express the deceitful nature of capitalists, who are driven by selfish ambitions and fear that the prosperity of others would activate competition. Oliver definitely knew Bill, and they had an earlier association, since he once employed bill. From the story, Bill had formerly stolen his fountain pen (Miller Shmoop.com); besides probably been ignored for that reason, Oliver could definitely not forget such an association with Bill in past, and that’s why his motive could revolve around fear for Biff’s excelling in business, or perhaps for revenge purpose. One could wonder whether money was ever enough in Willy’s life. He travels as a salesman in pursuit of money, spends time away from the family still in business, but later comes back still with financial problems. A lot of doubts on his success exist, even if he was ever to acquire the job or if his son, Biff was to get the loan. Miller expresses the theme of materialism around Willy and his family’s quest for the American dream, which proves difficult for the family, which was attached to an outdated ideology in business. In the house, Willy and his wife, Linda talk about the accumulating bills on household equipment repairs, which kept reminding him of his financial obligations in the family. He needed more money, though he could afford to engage in another marital affair, cheating on his wife in the middle of a financial difficulty. Willy’s son, Happy has to offer a loan to his mother to solve the problems that faced them. With enough money, the family would face off most of the problems that brought shame. Lacking capital to start a business and save his family from such devastation, and inability to provide for his wife’s needs, made Willy to reach to a climax of his frustration and guilt. As his wife, Willy should have been able to meet her desires, but the guilt of formerly cheating on her entangled in his mind as a failure. His sons had become grown ups and could decide on what to follow, unlike in their earlier age when he could guide them into a better future. They had become free will individuals, who would dare attempt to steal from a neighborhood construction site, without anticipating that the watchman would catch them (Karim 70). He seemed to be more concerned with materialistic competition with his friend Charlie, who introduced a sense of right reasoning to Willy, as much as he refused to admit his reasoning. That is why he sees no fault in his sons’ stealing character, since he was in favor of gains from a ruthless success. Dissatisfaction in the nature of power, capitalism and materialism in Willy’s sons, gave them an opportunity to set out for flesh desires in women, whom they charmed and seduced with their attractive physical appearances, hoping that those characters would instigate success and an upward mobility in life. According to Sterling (2), Happy had a job, but wanted recognition which he never had in his position: he was jealous of men who excelled in their careers, moving up higher in the corporate ladder, while he remained unable to succeed in the business world, using his fathers’ strategy on self made man, which further separated them from capitalism. To compensate for the failure, he sexually exploited women as vengeance, which associates him to his father’s poor reasoning on how to view women. Happy did not achieve his mission on been noticed; before Biff realized that his father was wrong and had brought them up with insufficient knowledge, their mind had already been fed up with wrong principles on acquiring materials based on charms and likeness. Success that came with capitalism was what was associated with more money, power, and wealth. Miller’s story also indirectly illustrates the blurred thoughts of Willy’s family. Did it ever occur to them, that they could have raised a small amount of capital by themselves to start their business, and steer their success? Happy could afford to give loan to his mother; his brother too had a job, but their social dealings in romantic affairs, and poor guided thoughts in business, could have blocked the ultimate goal of good life. Their father could also manage to borrow money from Charley to pay for his house bills (Miller cliffsnotes.com). The family either lacked intelligence, or was rather foolish, as they would have combined the little they had, including using the money borrowed to create capital instead of paying the bills. It was and still is, normal for bills to be there all along in life, but without proper organization in any present the future would be hectic. Every business has a beginning, either humble or as big as it may seem, the start must have been small, but through hard work and the use of the capitalist system, their bosses, Howard and Charley had developed a sense of identity. Their lives are reliant on impossible miracles (a job transfer for Willy closer to home, even if he could not make a profit for the firm and Biff’s hope, to acquire a business loan from a man he had stolen from) to change their then, life reality. Linda confessed that his sons’ father had thought of committing suicide, but instead of hiding the rubber hose, he puts it back in its location. Though she had no job and lived as a mere housewife, she understood how badly the family needed money to excel. If then she loved the husband despite her sobbing in the funeral, she could have hidden the rubber hose to prevent her hallucinating husband from committing suicide. Her act expressed her, as woman with a hidden motive behind Willy’s death, and though she had no money, her materialistic nature is indirectly shown. Miller used capitalism to represent power and ability, but at the same time, it humiliated the human spirit towards upward mobility. To patch up the past and the present, Willy committed suicide, so that his family could benefit on his life insurance. This could solve Biff’s problem by getting capital to start a business, since their biggest issue was money. He sacrificed his life for his family’s American dream, though a cowardly move, showing his inefficiency to handle the reality of his failure, he emerged as a hero, who would defend his course at any cost. However, his death implies his final admission to the sense of capitalism as a plan to power, wealth, and recognition, agreeing to Howard’s earlier statement on the concept of aiming at profit margin (Sterling 5). His death was of benefit to his family, in terms of providing capital and to fasten the ultimate goal to an American dream. Works Cited Cullen Jim. The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. Karim Sajjadul. “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman: A Nightmare for a Dreamer.” BRAC University Journal, vol. III, no.2 (2006): 67-74. Web. 21 November, 2012. Miller Arthur. “Death of a Sales Man Summary.” Snmoop.com. 2012. Web. 21 November, 2012. Miller Arthur. “Play Summary.” cliffsnotes.com. n.d. Web . 21 November 2012. Sterling, E. J. Ed. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. New York, NY: Rodopi, 2008. Print. Read More