A MARXIST ANALYSIS OF CAPITALISM AND ALIENATION IN DEATH OF A SALESMAN AND THE GOOD WOMAN OF SZECHWAN

Abstract

This article conducts a Marxist analysis of capitalism and alienation in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman of Szechwan. Utilizing Marxist theory, it explores how both plays critique the capitalist system and its dehumanizing impact on individuals. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's tragic downfall exemplifies the alienation resulting from a life defined by economic success and societal expectations, leading to his estrangement from family and self. Conversely, The Good Woman of Szechwan centers on Shen Te, whose struggle to maintain her morality within a capitalist framework forces her into a dual identity for survival. This comparative study reveals how Miller and Brecht, through their portrayal of alienation and economic exploitation, expose the class struggles and commodification of human relations inherent in a capitalist system that prioritizes profit over genuine human values and connections.