Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, 1949, is traditionally viewed as a modern tragedy. Ample evidence in the text, however, suggests that Miller leans also toward the convention of the Theatre of the Absurd. Miller uses several techniques, including an absurdist handling of set, time and space, thought, action, and language to contribute to the larger absurdist "poetic image" of the death of a salesman. And the thematic interpretation of that image in terms of character and audience suggests the perpetuation of illusion, a common absurdist theme.Because Miller effectively combines the absurdist with the realistic elements of the drama, an absurdist reading of the play does not negate its readings as tragedy and social realism, but rather enhances those readings, providing an important additional perspective from which to view the play. An absurdist reading also establishes a definite tie between this important twentieth century playwright and the influential absurdist convention in theatre. / Department of English
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183538 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | Langteau, Paula T. |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of English., Koontz, Thomas W. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 50 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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