Death of a Salesman: Style 1 key example

Death of a Salesman is written in a simplistic style. The play departs from the elevated, conventional playwriting styles of the time to more faithfully capture the social status of its characters. Biff, Willy, and Happy routinely use slang and idioms to express their concerns and frustrations. Expressions such as “no kiddin’” or “whattya got, Dad?” powerfully evoke the sense of casual familiarity that defined parts of 20th-century America. The colloquialisms provide a homespun touch to the characters’ dialogue while expressing deeper class and cultural allegiances.  By inhabiting their modes of speech, the play aligns itself with the lower middle class and gives voice to their struggles. Its attentiveness to the spoken language provides a striking portrait of the American common man.