Estrangement and Identity Formation in Arther Miller’s Death of a Salesman through a Psychoanalytic lens

Abstract

This study examines estrangement and identity formation in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman through a psychoanalytic lens. The objectives are to explore capitalist materialism’s weakening of family values and mental well-being, to investigate repression and inner conflict in Willy Loman’s breakdown and isolation, and to analyze the portrayal of tension between family relationships and material success desires in modern society. The research employs a qualitative method of close textual reading. The theoretical framework draws primarily on Sigmund Freud’s concepts, including the structural model of the psyche (id, ego, superego), repression and defense mechanisms. Key findings reveal that Willy’s identity fragments due to internalized capitalist norms that tie self-worth to popularity and productivity, leading to repression of failures, superego-driven guilt, and ego weakness. His hallucinations and suicidal acts reflect the return of repressed guilt from events like the Boston affair and professional rejection. Family bonds suffer as love becomes conditional on achievement, evident in generational conflicts with Biff and Happy, where material ambitions replace emotional authenticity. Estrangement emerges from this psychic split, turning the home into a site of conditional approval rather than refuge. Implications extend to understanding psychological costs of performance-driven societies. The conclusion affirms that the play portrays identity as precarious when built on illusion.