A View from the Bridge and Death of a Salesman: A Case Study of Male Betrayal

Abstract

Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge and Death of a Salesman show the protagonists as transgressors of moral laws as they betray not only other characters but their own ideals too. Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge helps two illegal immigrants providing them shelter in his own house. However, he seeks out ways of getting rid of them and finally informs to the immigration bureau himself betraying his own moral concepts in helping others. Likewise, Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman is involved in marital infidelity. Willy Loman betrays social ideals because he cannot achieve the goals society has conditioned him to strive for. He fails to be moral ideal of his sons by his teachings as he betrays his own ideals. Both Eddie and Willy, the protagonists of these plays as well as other minor characters betray each other though they know the fact that their acts of betrayal would bring several of the disasters in their lives.