Summary notes on the contemporary societal context and beliefs/values that are at the heart of the play; also explores Miller's inspiration for the play. Knowledge of both the former and latter is key to grasping a full understanding of the play and its message.
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Death of a Salesman Context Notes
The American Dream
The idea of the American Dream is that, through a combination of hard work,
courage and determination, prosperity can be achieved. These values came to
America with the early settlers and were passed to later generations.
At its core, the American Dream represents a state of mind- that is, an enduring
optimism given to people who might be tempted to succumb to the travails of
adversity, but who, instead, repeatedly rise from the ashes and continue to build a
great nation.
Arthur Miller described the American Dream as ‘the largely unacknowledged screen
in front of which all American writing plays itself out… whoever is writing in the
United States is using the American Dream as an ironic pole of his story.’
The American Dream and Consumerism
Although the term had not yet been coined, the Dream became part and parcel of
the national psyche during the 1920s, when consumer goods such as radios, cars,
and, most importantly, homes, became readily available.
Consumer credit enabled the widespread consumerism of mass produced
manufactured good. During that decade, about 2/3 of the GNP became attributable
to consumer spending; this share has persisted ever since.
Some say that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity-
that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of
prosperity for their families- but have less time to enjoy their prosperity.
Others argue that the American Dream is beyond the grasp of the working poor, who
must work two jobs to ensure their families’ survival.
Others look toward a new American Dream with less focus on financial gain and
more emphasis on living a simple, fulfilling life.
The Great Depression
An economic slump in North America, Europe and other industrialised areas of the
world that began in 1929 and lasted until 1939.
The Depression ruined thousands of individual investors and greatly strained banks
and other financial institutions.
By 1932, the unemployment level had risen between 12 and 15 million workers, or
25-30 per cent of the workforce.
Post-war America
In America, the end of the war was met with much celebration and hope for the
future, even as the threat of conflict within the Soviet Union loomed like a dark
cloud.
Emerging from WW2 as a victorious superpower, America’s future appeared bright.
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