Dehumanization in the Death of a Salesman Alienation and loneliness are two of the frequently explored themes in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. However, they can also cause other effects that are just as harmful, if not more so. In Death of a Salesman, two of these other outcomes are dehumanization and the loss of individual freedom. This is a very complex web of emotions, but as Miller said, "The death of a salesman is obviously not part of the realistic tradition, having erupted into an entirely new synthesis of psychological and social dimensions" (Octavo vii) . In fact it “exploded” in the modernist direction. It is a wonderful example of the way modernist writers expressed their beliefs. They believed that the industrialization of society caused people to lose their individuality. Willy's seniority at his advertising firm means very little in the bigger picture of things. He is just one of many workers. It is starting to wear out and be of little use. Therefore, he is discarded and presumably replaced with someone who will do the job more efficiently. He is not treated as a human being but as part of a larger mechanism, a larger machine. This destroys what little self-esteem he has left. This mechanized society can also lead to the loss of individual freedom. To survive you have to be part of the competitiveness. This may mean giving up the freedom to choose an enjoyable occupation. Biff wants to find his own way and do what he wants; he is despised because of his desire. Happy, his brother, wants to be financially successful. He knows that to do so he needs to enter the workforce and persevere where his father failed. In this society, you can do whatever you want... middle of paper ... ...g the Loman family, Miller connects the larger, more all-encompassing themes of the modernists to an ordinary American family. Miller connects them, particularly Willy Loman, to society as a whole and to the smaller social unit of the family. He then goes on to show the psychological responses and results of social conditions. Specifically, it demonstrates that interacting with modern society without some understanding of what is happening can lead to alienation and loneliness. These, in turn, can lead to the dehumanization and loss of freedom of the individual. Works Cited Baym, Franklin, Gottesman, Holland, et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 4th ed. New York: Norton, 1994.Florio, Thomas A., ed. "Miller's Tales." The New Yorker. 70 (1994): 35-36.---. Eight comedies. New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1981.