1.

Introduction

The study about Death of a Salesman (1949) had been done in some approaches with
different subject of study. In the field of language there is a research about context of maxim
(Triyatun,2013). In the field of psychological approach there are research about the inner
conflict of the main character (Raudhina, 2011), related to the obsession of the main character
(Karim, 2013), and study about moral choice of the main character (Pratiwi, 2013).The other
study focused in capitalist society (Khodambashi, 2015) and lost culture of the the main
character (Mamet, 2015) which are related with the theme about cultural change using
Sociological Approach. One of the social conditions of society is the cultural change.
Changes in the culture of the society is called the cultural change as stated by Horton & Hunt
(1984). This dynamic process of society enhances cultural with refreshment and for every
generation a new culture than for the previous. Dessier & Cams in Dua (2013) stated that
cultural change is the modification or discontinuance of existing 'tired'and 'tested' procedures
transmitted to us from the culture of the past as well as the introduction of the new
procedures. According to Koentjaranigrat (2000:203) the cultural change is the process of
shifting, subtraction, addition, and the development of elements in a culture. In other word, a
cultural change is the dynamic that occurs as a result of clashes between elements of different
cultures. Literature, as a form of culture,does not just describe the creative imagination that is
built on the idea the author. However, it is also a reflection of a society (Laurenson and
Swingewood, 1972). By becoming a reflection of society, literature became a medium to
express the various problems faced by the community. A copyright literature as a result of
human work can not be separated from the social conditions surrounding communities.
Literature often placed as a social portrait. He reveals the social conditions of society at a
particular time. One of the authors, who adapted the problem of cultural change, is Arthur
Miller.Arthur Miller wrote his play Death of a Salesman in 1949 when America had suffered
from World War II. However, the play shows that Miller interested in the influences of the
past.Arthur Miller addresses cultural change in Death of a 3 Salesman because he wanted to
reveal about the cultural change that had been occured since the Great Depression in
America. Death of a Salesman is a play about a social tragedy and also individuals who
demonstrate a change in culture. It can be seen from the main character in this story is Willy.
He is one of a group of middle-class neurotic trapped in a big city. In Death of a Salesman he
describes cultural changes, which occurred in the 19th century. He also explained the reality
of the social and cultural changes implicit. He made every character in his work so
realistically with problems that usually occur in our society. This play reflects the social life
in 1949 at the elite community. Arthur Miller wrote the play realistic and beautiful. The
second is the author of interests with Willy and Biff charismatic in years. Based on
illustration above, the writer want to analyze this play using Sociological Approach entitled
Cultural Change Reflected in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Drama (1949): A
Sociological Approach. Problem statements of this study are formulated in the questions
below: What are the indicators of cultural change in Miller’s Death of a Salesman? How
cultural change depicted in Miller’s Death of a Salesman? And why does Arthur Miller
address cultural change in Death of a Salesman? While the objective of the study are to
describe the indicators of cultural change in Miller’s Death of a Salesman, to describe how
cultural change is depicted in Miller’s Death of a Salesman and to reveal the reason why the
author addresses cultural change in Death of a Salesman. 2. Research Method The type of
this research is descriptive qualitative research, which is the result of the data is a written
data. The object of the study are formal object and material object. Formal object of the study
is some books which discuss about cultural change and material object of the study is Death
of a Salesman drama script which is written by Arthur Miller. The type of data in Death of a
Salesman drama consist of words, phrases, and sentences which are used to analyze the
drama. There are two types of data sources which are needed to conduct this 4 research they
are primary data source and secondary data source.The technique of data collection the writer
used in this study is library research by collecting and selecting both of primary and
secondary data source compatible with the problem statement and objectives of the study.In
order to analyze Death of a Salesman drama the writer uses sociological of literature and
applies it using descriptive analysis which concerns to make some interpretation of dealing
with the drama. 3. Analysis and Discussion 3.1 The Main Findings The main finding of this
research is the cultural change that happened in the drama Death of a Salesman. The first
finding is the change of the elements of culture. The second finding is the depiction of
cultural change and the third is the reason why Arthur Miller gave concern in cultural change
issues. 3.1.1 Elements of Culture The cultural change that found in Death of a Salesmanis
about the changes of the elements of cultural. The researcher found four of elements of
cultural change shown in Death of a Salesman, they are tools and equipment life, livelihood
system, system of kinship and social organization, and language. 3.1.1.1 Tools and
Equipment Life First, the changes in Tools and Equipment life is the productive tools. The
changes is the use of modern tools to help the character to do her house work. Refrigerator,
washing machine and vacuum cleaner are tools that usually used in the house at twenty’s
century. Second change is clothes. Clothes is the things that people wear to cover their bodies
and that are usually made from cloth.The change of the clothes is the jacket that Willy wears.
Willy has wear the jacket long time so the jacket became worn. Third change is housing.
House is the buildings used as a place to stay for a certain period of time. Willy has lived in
the same house for the last twenty-five years. The house once set apart from other homes,
now it is surrounded by apartment buildings, which makes Willy feel closed in. 5 Fourth
change is tools of transportation. In their movement, people need tools to help them and it
were called by tools of transportation. The changes shown in Willy’s car. The car has been
used for several years so it becomes old and broken. 3.1.1.2 Livelihood system Willy Loman
as the main character has a job as a salesman. Before Great Depression, Willy was a success
salesman. It is shown with a car that Willy bought in 1928. However, after that time, Willy
performance in sales was decrease and finnaly he became a bankrupt salesman. 3.1.1.3 The
System of Kinship and Social Organization Kinship system is the rules used to regulate the
classification of people who belong to the relatives. Kinship system is the existence of social
institutions is not separated from the norm in society.Norms shown in Death of a Salesman
about the respect of Biff and Happy to Willy. When they were young, the respect and adore
their father very much. As the time change, Biff and Happy found that their father as not
good as their thought, they dare to argue their father. Value is a good thing and is considered
important by the community.One of the strongest display of false values in the drama is the
idea that drives Willy in that money and material wealth is what defines success. After Biff
grown up, he realized that he now needs to find his own values in life. 3.1.1.4 Language The
change of language can be seen in the way Willy spoken. When he was young and success,
he speaks in full of spirit and optimistic. Then his language became neutral and pesimistic.
WILLY : I got as far as a little above Yonkers. I stopped for a cup of coffee. Maybe it was
the coffee. (Death of a Salesman, 1949:5) 6 3.1.2 Depiction of Cultural Change 3.1.2.1 The
change of elements of culture classified in the table below: Table 1. The Change of Elements
of Culture No. Elements of Culture Former Later 1. Tools and Equipment Life a. Productive
Tools b. Clothes c. Housing d.Tools of Transportation Washing manualy by hands The new
suit The new house The new car Using washing machine The old suit The old house The old
car 2. Livelihood System Success Salesman Bankrupt Salesman 3. System of Kinship and
Social Organization a. Norms b. Values Respect of Children to Parents Materialistic Dare to
parents Natural 4. Language Cheerfull and full of slang words Neutral 3.1.2.2 Through the
Setting Setting is an environment or surrounding in which an event or story takes place. It
may provide particular information about placement and timing. The setting of Death of a
Salesman takes place in New York and Boston. The Lomans live in Brooklyn, and most of
the play's action occurs at Willy Loman's house. House is one of the change in drama Death
of a Salesman. In the past, the Brooklyn neighborhood in which the Lomans live was nicely
removed from the bustle of New York City. There was space within the neighborhood for
expansion and for a garden. The setting symbolically displays the difference in Willy’s life
between the past to the present. The setting that represents the past is symbolic of the chance
for growth and hope. 7 3.1.2.3 Through the Character/ Characterization Arthur Miller uses
Willy, Biff and Happy Loman to represents the cultural change that happened in the drama.
In Willy’s character, Miller wants to illustrate the spirit of America dream. However, Willy
has a slip by doing an affair with a woman. Biff who was educated by Willy with the wrong
concept of America Dream, has changed to the right track by following his own principle.
Happy as the second son has the disadvantage that he was neglected by Willy. However
Happy becomes the child who Willy wants to be. He has a job where he is making a decent
amount of money, his own apartment, and car. 3.1.2.4 Through the Plot In the Death of a
Salesman contained some events which explain that the characters of the drama have conflict
which create the change, they are when Biff found Willy had an affair, Willy got fired, Willy
kicks Biff and Happy out of the house, and Willy’s death. When Biff found Willy had an
affair, it destroys Biff’s idol to an ideal father. It becomes a turning point in Biff live to
change his life. When Willy got fired, he becomes frustrated and it is the event that Willy is a
fail salesman. After got fired Willy becomes upset and finally he kicks Biff and Happy. The
last event is Willy’s suidcide in order to get insurance. By using money from the insurance
Biff and Happy can begin a new bussiness to get a better life. 3.1.2.5 Through the Style
Arthur Miller depicted the cultural change of his characters through his style which seem
simple but sometimes verbose as the classic work in general. He uses diction¸ imagery, and
accent in depicting the cultural change.Almost all the characters in Death of a Salesman
speak in a vernacular language full of colloquial and slang words. Their language reflects all
the directness, humor and pain of working-class people. 8 3.1.3 Arthur Miller’s Concern
Cultural Change The reason why Arthur Miller address cultural change in Death of a
Salesman is to reveal the culture change that happened in America since the Great Depression
until World War II. Arthur Miller wants to give allusion to the loss of work ethic and moral
values of the American people on the younger generation. Arthur Miller wrote his play Death
of a Salesman in 1949 when America had suffered from World War II. However, the play
shows that Miller interested in the influences of the past. Miller grew up during the Great
Depression. His father went out of business, and his early life was riddled with economic
problems.Great Depression was happened in 1929 and had change the culture in America.
The change happened very large and long lasting until the end of World War II. 3.2
Discussion Death of a Salesman is an America’s tragedy and it is greatest work of Arthur
Miller which successfully led him to won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize. In
the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller featuring the main character of the common man
named Willy Loman who changed his career as a salesman, but ended in failure and
frustration.The characters who experience the cultural change are Willy, Biff and Happy. All
of them experiencing the cultural change by the elements of cultural. Willy changed because
of is failure in his job as a salesman and his function as a father. It makes him frustrated and
decided to suicide. Biff changed in his values toward future and his dream. Biff no longer
concerned with the appearance and the like but is more concerned with freedom and hard
work on the farm. The other character who change is Happy. Eventhough he was abandoned
by Willy, he could proof that he could be the dream as his father always demand from Biff.
Arthur Miller wrote this drama to criticize about consumerism in that era. Consumerism
could change the society’s way of life and ambition to fulfill the 9 misinterpreted American
dream after the Great Depression. Consumerism as a product of capitalism can change the
value of America dream. 4. Conclusion Based on the analysis in the previous chapter, the
writer finds out that there are the conclusion as the answer of the problem statements.Firstly,
the drama delivers four elements of cultue, those are tools and equipment life, livelihood
system, the system of kinship and social organization, and language. The change of cultural
could happened if there is alteration in the indicators of cultural. The tools and equipment life
that change are productive tools, livelihood system, housing, and tools of
transportation.Secondly, is cultural change in Death of a Salesman. The cultural change issue
has depicted implicitly by Arthur Miller. He pictured it through the change of Indicators of
Cultural, setting, character, plot, and style.Thirdly, explaining the reason why cultural change
addressed in Death of a Salesman. The cultural change addressed in this play because it is a
social issue, which always happened in our environment. Miller wants to show the cultural
change that hapenned in America since the Great Depression until post World War II.
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