The Representation of Loss: Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams - Dissertation Example

Introduction
However, the writers have made indelible marks in the literature that one cannot ignore their contribution to American as well as world literature. Even a primary reading of these writers is capable of unveiling some of their resemblances in the adopting and presenting themes. One such resemblance can be identified with the representation of loss in their plays. The writers have made use of the aspects of loss in their works profoundly, therefore, the proposed research probes into the level and type of loss presented in the prescribed texts under this study. Loss has been a perennial subject in literature and it appears to be a vague topic. If one goes through the works of the major writers all through the times, one can identify the influence of loss in the characters ever from the period of Sophocles to the post-modern playwrights. Consequently, any study concerning the meaning of loss in the plays should be encouraged.

It is common knowledge that there will not be anyone in this world who has not been confronted with any loss in his/her life. This is quite true that he/she might have undergone various losses in life such as loss of power, food, money, game, job, affair, and so on. A person may be affected either by external or internal loss. All through one’s life, one comes across various obstacles which may lead to irrecoverable losses. These obstacles and losses also may cause pauses or full stops in one’s life where only a man of extra energy or willpower will be capable of overcoming such a critical juncture. Various factors, including one’s own activities, feelings, and situations cause a loss in one’s life. Though the term has often been regarded as ambiguous, all human beings are involved in it.

As literature is the true representation of reality, dramatists often adopt loss as an important theme. So in the plays also the element loss has taken a key role. The loss can be divided into different layers of human situations. The physical aspect of loss like some physical inabilities can cause problems in a person. The psychological or mental aspects of the human beings cause for solemn loss than the previous one. As man is a social being the sociological loss also makes him subside. So the life of a person is so closely twined with the element of loss. The characters in the plays depict the same aspect of loss. The major losses in the plays are external loss, psychological loss, and societal loss. The morality of the characters brings moral loss to this group.

Arthur Miller has often been considered as one of the modern writers who stood for the concept of the American dream. His fame lies in the presentation of modern America through many books and with his marriage of the renowned actress Marilyn Monroe. The popularity of his books enabled him to attain an enviable position among the prominent writers of modern America. Miller has endeavored his best to uphold the American lifestyle and therefore he used his characters as his mouthpiece to unveil his dreams of a new America.

Arthur Asher Miller was born on October 17, 1915. His parents were Polish - Jewish immigrants. He was inflicted by the 1930’s depression and by doing different works he entered the world of plays. He started his writing plays with The Man Who Had All the Luck (1940) and later many renowned plays came from his pen. The plays like All My Sons (1946), Death of a Salesman (1948), The Crucible (1955), and A View from the Bridge, earned him the title of a high profiled playwright of the modern world. His marriage with Marilyn Monroe surprised many of his friends, but the pair went along with their marriage. They got divorced in 1961 and soon Monroe died of a drug overdose. Miller further wrote many plays, essays and the readers welcomed them all. He died in February 2005. His works surpassed the writer and now he is widely read and discussed. He had evolved the man with his haunting thoughts.

Tennessee Williams was a great contemporary playwright of Arthur Miller. He is considered the greatest Southern playwright in the history of America.