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The Marxist Theory of Consumerism in Death of A Salesman A Play by Arthur Miller
The Marxist Theory of Consumerism in Death of A Salesman A Play by Arthur Miller
Although consumerism is not directly defined by Marx, it is well within the realm of his work.
According to Lois Tyson in a chapter on Marxist Criticism, “Consumerism, or shop ’till you
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dropism…is an ideology that says ‘I’m only as good as what I buy’” (Tyson 60). This way of
thinking leads to uncontrollable spending and often a large amount of debt, all in pursuit of the
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“American Dream”. When discussing the role of money in his theories on alienation, Marx said,
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“The quantity of money becomes increasingly its only important quality…Excess and
immoderation become its true standard” (Fromm 46). In this quote, Marx mentions the “excess
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and immoderation” displayed in consumerism, in which the consumers must have “more”
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simply because of the esteem associated with innumerous purchases. Tyson elaborates by
saying, “For Marxism, a commodity’s value lies not in what it can do (use value) but in the
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money or other commodities for which it can be traded (exchange value) or in the social status it
confers on its owner (sign-exchange value)” (Tyson 62).Thus, consumerism can be considered
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machine. Charley bought a General Electric and it’s twenty years old and it’s still good..."
(Miller 31). This is a perfect illustration of consumerism. Willy is content with his new machine
until he realizes that his brother has something better. To Willy, his self-worth is directly
attached to his material possessions. When these things begin to fail, he, too, feels like a
failure.
Miller’s play is well-suited for a Marxist approach. The economic themes actually helped turn
the lens on myself. Willy Loman is not a very likeable guy, especially with his constant need to
be the provider. His drive to live the American Dream takes away from the truly important things
in life, primarily his family. It is easy to hate Willy for his obsession with money and material
possessions, and yet those same qualities can be found on any modern day street. The loathing
that readers feel towards Willy speaks volumes about the current economic situation. Money
rules the world around us, and yet we fail to see it. However, a Marxist Criticism of Death of a
Salesman helps bring to light the realities of these issues and their potential consequences.
Willy strived to show the world his perfect life through material belongings, and in doing so he
missed out on living a real life and was left with nothing.
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