1.

Introduction: This play aims to show how the American dream influenced the twentieth
century after World War II in the American community. People were aspired to
accumulate wealth in economic "Capitalism" during the Great Depression. Arthur Miller
tried to portray the American dream in his play Death of a Salesman, that what is truthful
and what is illusory in the American Dream and hence, in the lives of millions of
Americans. He presents how these people achieve their American Dream. From the
cradle to the grave, these people dream about money [to be wealthy], but they didn't
know how to do it until the mid-twentieth century, even though they posited all of the
means of wealth [Death of a Salesman] emerged in this era and manifested some of the
aspects which Capitalism started engulfing the weak and suppressing the humanity all
over the world.

1.1. Capitalism: Capitalism is that part of economic systems where productions are
owned and managed by private individuals and institutions. It is about private
ownership of the means of production within a market economy. Liberty is given to
choose various techniques of production and produce anything of their desire. It is
economic individualism wherein the individuals are the one to decide what and how
much to produced and distributed. This economic system has many dark faces, such
as, inequality in the distribution of national wealth; fluctuations in the level of
employment, class conflicts, waste of talents, heavy expenses on publicity result into
increase in cost and price of the commodity, unemployment, and so on. This system
is framed on the basis of monopoly system , that made a few of people or specific
group of people whom controlled and dominated the markets for their
particulars and the rest of the people are indulged in competition to climb the social
ladder. It made all people busy and in competition for collecting
money, and everyone that merely though a round to him to be rich by any way.

2. Capitalist Dream in Arthur Miller's Death of a Saleman: “The American Dream is

that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone,
with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement.”
Willy, in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman pursues wealth to uplift his social status,
secure his family and pursue his American Dream. He constantly toils to achieve the
dream which, in reality, is still impossible. Of course, he is an American citizen who
works hard for the purpose of getting rich. Yet, in spite of his hard-working, he does not
achieve success. He ceaselessly labours to have a sufficient salary through which he can
be happy. He also sacrifices himself to help his son Biff be self-secured and self-reliant.
The latter is mainly characterized by an endless pursuit of wealth and profit. He is part of
a system which he cannot escape from. At a time, when he fails in business, he starts
blaming himself. In his thoughts, he accuses himself for the fact that he does not join his
brother Ben who makes it at the age of twenty-one after coming out of the jungle.
Typically, in Willy’s psychology, there is a kind of shame, self-condemnation and
disappointment since he dismisses his life opportunity through which he can become
wealthy Eventually, he gets wealth by sacrificing himself. His death guarantees twenty
thousand dollars for Biff who constantly tries to get a job and be self-assured. A man
“worth more dead than alive” and thus Willy loses his Capitalist Dream to achieve
success. as he discovers that his future labour will be unproductive, he thinks about death
which, as he believes, is much fruitful than being alive. He radically accepts the truth
that, only through his death, he is going to get the wealth he and his family lack. The
death of the salesman symbolizes not only the failure of the American dream, but also the
fall of capitalism Therefore, things are not working the way he desires. Willy:
“Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with
such personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s
Hard work is not a key to success but luck can be as Howard inherited his company from
his father. Moreover, this dream compels Ben to leave his home in pursuit to accumulate
wealth. Each character, except Bernard who became a lawyer through his hard work, fall
into the dreams and promises made by the system. t
Hard work is not a key to success but luck can be as Howard inherited his company from
his father. Moreover, this dream compels Ben to leave his home in pursuit to accumulate
wealth. Each character, except Bernard who became a lawyer through his hard work, fall
into the dreams and promises made by the system. This system has many bad faces which
curtail people’s dreams such as, unemployment, and so on.

2.1. Unemployment: Unemployment destroys capitalism. The Lomans are jobless, the
reason why they suffer. Biff, Willy’s son, is a thirty-four year old jobless citizen who
fails to achieve his dream. He does not want to be like his father who has entirely
dedicated himself for running after wealth which he cannot get. Basically,
unemployment prevents the Lomans from being wealthy. Willy is no more successful
in business, the reason why he feels inferior and unsatisfied. He used to be a well
liked successful salesman, but today he is financially and healthily insecure. He had
lots of fruitful business trips. In contrast, in the present day, he is uselessly trying to
find a proper job.
2.2. Dehumanization: In capitalism, money and wealth are absolutely necessary in
determining one’s social position. In other words, one’s social status is inevitably
dictated by one’s economic status. Wily's relationship with his family and friends has
been reduced to be merely materialistic rather than humane and valuable. He believes
that money is key in being liked by others rather than personal attractiveness and
moral behaviours. Going back to the theory, in fact, this constant worship of money is
basically laid on the values that capitalism has been teaching to societies that hold it.
Particularly, the values that capitalism produces are essentialized in the materiality.
Money and wealth change the whole society from being based on morality and real
values to regarding every human aspect as being inherited in material economic
purposes. The notion of the exchange-value of commodity confirms that money, the
price of commodities alienate the producer from the product of their labour. On the
other hand, it introduces the idea that the relationship between individual and other
individuals disappears and is replaced by a material relationship between individual
and money.
 2.3. Alienation: In Capitalism, employee are constantly exploited by employers. The
idea of exploitation is central in capitalism. The employer owns the company in
which they may not contribute physically contribute in production process, should rip
his employees off to gain profit. In this process, the few who own the means of
production through which they control the majority. In the play, Willy Loman, once a
successful seller, is neglected by his employer Howard. The relationship between
Willy and Howard shapes modern business community that is grounded on two
actors: employer and employee. Willy used to be a successful salesman. Today, he is
old, the reason why he is fired by Howard, his dead friend's son. He contributed to
founding the Wagner Company, but “how much loyalty does a company owe to it’s
employees after thirty-four years of service?” Howard, does not desire Willy because
he cannot make much sells. For him, business is business:
Howard: "No, but it’s a business, kid, and everybody’s gotta pull his own
weight”.
In Capitalism, employees are constantly exploited by employers. Willy says"
Howard, all I need to set my table is fifty dollars a week”. But he cannot pursue
his work anymore.
Adam Smith, the pioneer of Capitalism, footing Capitalism on moral principles. The
moral he sets is based on the principles of sympathy. He emphasizes that rich should
sympathize with the poor people. But Howard cares about acquiring more power, money,
richness, respect and honour. He creates his own fashion in matters of style, dressing,
language and behaviour. But he disregards Willy and refuses to assist him, upon which
Willy states:
“I put thirty-four years into this firm, Howard, and now I can’t pay my insurance!
“You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away a man is not a piece of fruit!”
(After a pause.) Now pay attention. Your father _in 1928 I had a big year. I
averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in commissions.
HOWARD (impatiently): Now, Willy, you never averaged...
WILLY (banging his hand on the desk): I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars
a week in the year of 1928! And your father came to me _ or rather, I was in the
office_ this desk it was right over this desk and he put his hand on my shoulder...
(2, 58).

3. Conclusion:
Death of a Salesman exposes the problems of capitalism. It reveals the reality of modern
economic and social system. It is, of course, a multi-dimensional play that depicts the
American family, the American Dream, and the notion of success. However, the issue of
capitalism lies in its core. Miller indirectly represents capitalism as the first theme. The
play seems to focus on the idea of the American Dream, but more importantly, it is a
criticism of capitalism. The play aims to portray the negative aspects of the Capitalism.