Memory, Social Oppression and Psychological Disorder in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (1904) and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949)

Abstract

Borrowing concepts from Henri Bergson’s theory Matter and Memory (1896) and Freire Paulo’s theory of Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1981) this paper examines and discusses Anton Chekhov and Arthur Miller’s depiction of “past reemergence” and “Social oppression” in their well-known works The Cherry Orchard (1904) and Death of a Salesman (1949). Indeed, past is deeply expressed through stream of consciousness that comes back from time to time to disturb and punish the characters. Both Anton Chekhov and Arthur Miller illustrate the past reemergence and self punishment through depicting the enigma and complexity of their characters’ thoughts and inner feelings in addition, to social oppression which threatened their previous serenity this what may illustrate the deterioration of characters psychological states. By referring to some themes like: fanatic struggle and failure, betrayal and destruction, which led the characters either to compromise or commit suicide as final solution to rest in peace.