Symbolism, Personal Relationships, and the Post-World War II Era
The post World War II era is generally romanticized in a great many ways which is often the case when we look back at an era through the prism of history. However, there is also a mix of cynicism and despair that is present in a world that also sought hope and affirmation in its dark days. This is evident when examining the writings of the post WWII era that deal with the flaws and problems inherent with developing personal relationships in the aftermath of the big war and the fallout of the atomic bomb. From a clear examination of several of these works, a greater understanding of the cynicism of personal relationships can be derived.
One of the seminal works of the era was the classic Arthur Miller play DEATH OF A SALESMAN which presented a dark insight into the world at the time. While the play is somewhat localized to tell the story of Willy Loman, it is a work symbolic of the pain and alienation that was creeping into modern society at the time. Loman is a character that feels lonely, flawed, and sad that he has not achieved the greatness he has always wanted. This leads to the complete erosion of his relationships with his family and his ultimate downfall. In many ways, Loman represents the disaffected veteran trying to find meaning in the aftermath of the wars end while also attempting to fit into a new society. In many ways, he is the unchanged man in the changing society and this undermines his ability to maintain an effective life.
Such disaffection and symbolism is nothing new and had existed in theatrical productions earlier. The most cited example of this would be Tennessee Williams THE
GLASS MENAGERIE which presents similar themes of family dystopia that is found in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. While the word death refers more towards a spiritual death, the term glass menagerie also follows a symbolic tone. Namely, it reflects the ability to peer into the souls of the characters to see their dysfunctional personal relationships. This presents a clear metaphor for the many family problems existing to one degree or another at the time in human society. Such hidden dysfunctions would soon prove to be exposed as the shift to external personal problems would permeate in the culture in the 1960s.
Dwight E. Eisenhower tried to make a clean break from the era of World War II by mentioning the military-industrial complex in his farewell speech to the nation in 1961. This speech was, in essence, a warning to people to beware of the war profiteers that would spread divisions among people leading to further conflicts. While Eisenhower understood that people would always have their conflicts and their would always be aggressors in the world, he did not put forth the notion that only conflict would be the epicenter of human relationships.
Much of this culminated in the famous I Have A Dream Speech by Martin Luther King which expressed a sense of hope that was far removed from the cynicism of the aforementioned plays. With this speech, King stated he believed it was within human nature to co-exist and live together without the problems of negative personal interactions. Granted, the speech could not change the core of human interactions but it did provide the food for thought to millions to help reverse the way people traditional looked at the achievement potential of human relationships and interactions. In many ways, Kings speech was the most important in influential speeches in history as it set in motion major cultural changes in human society.
One of the seminal works of the era was the classic Arthur Miller play DEATH OF A SALESMAN which presented a dark insight into the world at the time. While the play is somewhat localized to tell the story of Willy Loman, it is a work symbolic of the pain and alienation that was creeping into modern society at the time. Loman is a character that feels lonely, flawed, and sad that he has not achieved the greatness he has always wanted. This leads to the complete erosion of his relationships with his family and his ultimate downfall. In many ways, Loman represents the disaffected veteran trying to find meaning in the aftermath of the wars end while also attempting to fit into a new society. In many ways, he is the unchanged man in the changing society and this undermines his ability to maintain an effective life.
Such disaffection and symbolism is nothing new and had existed in theatrical productions earlier. The most cited example of this would be Tennessee Williams THE
GLASS MENAGERIE which presents similar themes of family dystopia that is found in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. While the word death refers more towards a spiritual death, the term glass menagerie also follows a symbolic tone. Namely, it reflects the ability to peer into the souls of the characters to see their dysfunctional personal relationships. This presents a clear metaphor for the many family problems existing to one degree or another at the time in human society. Such hidden dysfunctions would soon prove to be exposed as the shift to external personal problems would permeate in the culture in the 1960s.
Dwight E. Eisenhower tried to make a clean break from the era of World War II by mentioning the military-industrial complex in his farewell speech to the nation in 1961. This speech was, in essence, a warning to people to beware of the war profiteers that would spread divisions among people leading to further conflicts. While Eisenhower understood that people would always have their conflicts and their would always be aggressors in the world, he did not put forth the notion that only conflict would be the epicenter of human relationships.
Much of this culminated in the famous I Have A Dream Speech by Martin Luther King which expressed a sense of hope that was far removed from the cynicism of the aforementioned plays. With this speech, King stated he believed it was within human nature to co-exist and live together without the problems of negative personal interactions. Granted, the speech could not change the core of human interactions but it did provide the food for thought to millions to help reverse the way people traditional looked at the achievement potential of human relationships and interactions. In many ways, Kings speech was the most important in influential speeches in history as it set in motion major cultural changes in human society.
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