Death of a Salesman- Political/Marxist lens

In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the man character Willy and his family of three others are slaves to money. The play as a whole represents the death of the "American Dream." When one pictures the American Dream, one pictures a content family with the latest technology, kids in school on their way to higher education, the man providing for the family and the mother running the household. Willy’s family is experiencing the failure of that dream. Both kids are out of high school, trying to make money but having trouble Linda is trying desperately to uphold the household, but so often we see bits and pieces of the household breaking, requiring money to get working again, and money is something becoming harder to come by. Willy loses his job, and can no longer provide for the family. In a time where capitalism was revered by America, Death of a Salesman offers an interesting take on the negative side of capitalism, exposing the servitude people experience when in a society where money makes the world go on. This contrasts with the Utopian, Marxist Dream, which seeks to remove the power money holds. Willy’s money worries are exemplified when he's talking to Linda about the refrigerator needing fixing. He says, “I just finished paying for the car and it’s on its last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a goddam maniac… They time them so when you finally paid for them, they’re used up.” Where the advancement of technology is something to celebrate, when society becomes a slave to what one has to do to keep up technology, then things become difficult for middle class families. This is also displayed when Willy is talking to Howard about getting a recorder. Willy hears about the recorder and says, “I think I’ll get one myself.” Howard responds with, “Sure they’re only and hundred and a half. You can’t do without it.” This represents the sickness that is the obsession to have what others do. The situation is seen as annoying because obviously Willy cannot afford a recorder, yet still has the temptation to buy one for the sake of showing off, just as Howard does. Capitalism, arguably, drives society into this material obsession, which is what Marxism seeks to eradicate, by putting all on level footing.