A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Is Death of a Salesman Realist or Modernist?
While Death of a Salesman does not fall into the realm of Realist or Modernist writing, it obviously is influenced by both literary movements. Which style, in your opinion, influences the play predominately?
I feel as if Death of a Salesman is predominately Realist. The play as a whole deals almost entirely with everyday occurrences. All of the objects of the play are common objects and Willy is living in a middle class lifestyle. Also the emotions the characters experience throughout the play are typical, everyday emotions such as the arguments between family or the longing for a higher salary. For these reasons, Death of a Salesman is predominately Realist.
While it is true that the detail of the play may associate it with Realism, there are still several aspects which make it predominantly modernist. First of all, as a play, spaces serve double purposes. An example of this is the yard which is the Loman's backyard and Willy's destination of hallucinations. Also, the set is filled with common furniture in the kitchen only contains a refrigerator and a table. The concepts of Willy going crazy and having conversations with people in his mind are not an "everyday" actions we all might share, which would make the play more Modernist than Realist.
I agree with both Conor and Zack that Death of a Salesman borrowed styles from both Realism and Modernism. In the view of Realism, Death of a Salesman is based on a normal setting. Comparing to Henry James' The Real Thing, Death of a Salesman deals with conflicts between social classes as well. Like the Monarchs had tension with the narrator of The Real Thing, Willy has an antipathy and jealousy towards Charley. Both protagonists from two novels have aspiration for social climbing. In the view of Modernism, Death of a Salesman agrees with the essay, "American Versions of Modernism" we read. There is discontinuity and we are distracted by Willy's random day dreams and appearances of Ben which totally goes against Realism. Also, choosing Willy, the Outcast, as a protagonist describes reality and confusion of the situation in more effective ways.
Death of a Salesman inevitably borrows principles from Realism and Modernism. Many, many people can relate to Death of a Salesman due to it's average, middle class society, the father of the family works while the mother of the family stays at home (making it traditional), the people of the family have dreams, and there are not only conflicts between social classes amongst Willy and Charley, but also amongst Willy and Howard Wagner, exemplifying how the play is realist. As Hae-Soung mentions, the play displays discontinuity and ambiguity which are heavily influenced by Willy's mental lapses and hallucinations, exemplifying how the play is modernist. However, i believe that the play is predominately realist because even though Willy's mental problems create ambiguity and discontinuity, many people in society have or can relate to the mental problems Willy experiences.
While there are aspects of Death of a Salesman that are modernist the play as a whole can be seen a more realist work. the scene in which Willy commits suicide is a modernist scene yet leading up to that point it was a mostly realist work. the play dealt with daily life and did not have many exciting scenes. instead the daily life was rather rudimentary and boring which was a staple of realist work.
I think Death of a Salesman's medium, theater that is, forces it to strike a balance between the two movements. A Realist play (like the Age of Innocence play) would be a complete failure because it's supposed to be entertainment and Realism just isn't entertaining.
At the same time, it can't be completely Modernist either because so much of Modernism is about perception and it's difficult to both put 100% on stage, while still maintaining a coherent plot line.
This balance is what makes Death of a Salesman so fascinating. It keeps it from plunging into either area too heavily and makes it seem more original.
I agree that a play of Age of Innocence wouldn't be entertaining due to the realist nature of it, but also the play would be completely different from the book. Even if a playwright tried to convert it as accurately as possible a play would lose the focus on others' thoughts that is present throughout Age of Innocence. Jessica put it well when she said it is the balance between these two opposing literary movements that makes Death of a Salesman fascinating and I'd even say functioning.
I agree with Andrew and Jessica that it is a mix, but I feel that it is a modernist work that uses the realism to help connect to readers. I think although it is based around the everyday experience of Willy' life, that it is the fragmented multi-perspectives we experience through Willy's deteriorating mind that makes it more of a Modernist work than realist.
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ReplyDeleteI feel as if Death of a Salesman is predominately Realist. The play as a whole deals almost entirely with everyday occurrences. All of the objects of the play are common objects and Willy is living in a middle class lifestyle. Also the emotions the characters experience throughout the play are typical, everyday emotions such as the arguments between family or the longing for a higher salary. For these reasons, Death of a Salesman is predominately Realist.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that the detail of the play may associate it with Realism, there are still several aspects which make it predominantly modernist. First of all, as a play, spaces serve double purposes. An example of this is the yard which is the Loman's backyard and Willy's destination of hallucinations. Also, the set is filled with common furniture in the kitchen only contains a refrigerator and a table. The concepts of Willy going crazy and having conversations with people in his mind are not an "everyday" actions we all might share, which would make the play more Modernist than Realist.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Conor and Zack that Death of a Salesman borrowed styles from both Realism and Modernism. In the view of Realism, Death of a Salesman is based on a normal setting. Comparing to Henry James' The Real Thing, Death of a Salesman deals with conflicts between social classes as well. Like the Monarchs had tension with the narrator of The Real Thing, Willy has an antipathy and jealousy towards Charley. Both protagonists from two novels have aspiration for social climbing. In the view of Modernism, Death of a Salesman agrees with the essay, "American Versions of Modernism" we read. There is discontinuity and we are distracted by Willy's random day dreams and appearances of Ben which totally goes against Realism. Also, choosing Willy, the Outcast, as a protagonist describes reality and confusion of the situation in more effective ways.
ReplyDeleteDeath of a Salesman inevitably borrows principles from Realism and Modernism. Many, many people can relate to Death of a Salesman due to it's average, middle class society, the father of the family works while the mother of the family stays at home (making it traditional), the people of the family have dreams, and there are not only conflicts between social classes amongst Willy and Charley, but also amongst Willy and Howard Wagner, exemplifying how the play is realist. As Hae-Soung mentions, the play displays discontinuity and ambiguity which are heavily influenced by Willy's mental lapses and hallucinations, exemplifying how the play is modernist. However, i believe that the play is predominately realist because even though Willy's mental problems create ambiguity and discontinuity, many people in society have or can relate to the mental problems Willy experiences.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are aspects of Death of a Salesman that are modernist the play as a whole can be seen a more realist work. the scene in which Willy commits suicide is a modernist scene yet leading up to that point it was a mostly realist work. the play dealt with daily life and did not have many exciting scenes. instead the daily life was rather rudimentary and boring which was a staple of realist work.
ReplyDeleteI think Death of a Salesman's medium, theater that is, forces it to strike a balance between the two movements. A Realist play (like the Age of Innocence play) would be a complete failure because it's supposed to be entertainment and Realism just isn't entertaining.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, it can't be completely Modernist either because so much of Modernism is about perception and it's difficult to both put 100% on stage, while still maintaining a coherent plot line.
This balance is what makes Death of a Salesman so fascinating. It keeps it from plunging into either area too heavily and makes it seem more original.
I agree that a play of Age of Innocence wouldn't be entertaining due to the realist nature of it, but also the play would be completely different from the book. Even if a playwright tried to convert it as accurately as possible a play would lose the focus on others' thoughts that is present throughout Age of Innocence.
ReplyDeleteJessica put it well when she said it is the balance between these two opposing literary movements that makes Death of a Salesman fascinating and I'd even say functioning.
I agree with Andrew and Jessica that it is a mix, but I feel that it is a modernist work that uses the realism to help connect to readers. I think although it is based around the everyday experience of Willy' life, that it is the fragmented multi-perspectives we experience through Willy's deteriorating mind that makes it more of a Modernist work than realist.
ReplyDelete