Naturalism & Expressionism in Death of a Salesman

This study will examine naturalism and expressionism in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. The study will argue that the play employs both naturalism and expressionism in the author's portrayal of Willy Loman's losing struggle against social, familial and economic forces beyond his control, and that these literary and philosophical approaches are used to show the break-up of Willy and the family (an expressionistic effect) as well as the cause of that break-up (through expressionistic devices). At the same time, Miller was not restricted by the traditional uses of expressionism and naturalism in this play, choosing instead to use those approaches according to his own needs and interpretations.

Although there are many varieties of naturalistic writing, in all of them there is a strong sense of the individual as the victim of natural or social forces. There is a certain degree of determinism in every naturalistic approach, therefore, but Miller can hardly be considered one of the most strict adherents of naturalism in this respect, for he is profoundly sympathetic toward Willy and his plight, and many readers have seen in Miller's play the suggestion that the capitalistic system, rather than some immutable natural force, is the culprit in Willy's tragedy. There is a profoundly humanistic sense to Willy's play, which undermines the pessimism or even cynicism of many naturalism-based works, even those critical of society and economic forces.

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e steps necessary to avoid those particular pitfalls. Had no character learned anything from Willy's tragedy, the reader would be free to see the play in more purely naturalistic terms, but Biff's gradual awakening---beginning with the discovery of his father's extramarital sexual involvement---gives the play a more humanistic color. Also, had Biff shown nothing but bitterness and a sense of moral and fatherly betrayal toward his father, as he expressed after that discovery, the play would similarly be far more naturalistic than it is. Upon making the discovery of his father's infidelity, Biff is enraged because Will is exposed as a hypocrite---raising his sons according to moral principles which he himself has failed to live up to: "You-you gave her Mama's stockings! . . . Don't touch me, you---liar! . . . You fake! You phony little fake! You fake!" (95). However, Biff moves through his rage and bitterness and comes to a place where he can begin to forgive Willy, or at least cease blaming him. This change occurs more as a result of self-knowledge than any profound understanding of his father: Today I realized something about myself and I tried to explain it to you and I---I think I'm just not smart enough to make any sen

Category: Literature - N