Characters in The Price by Miller

Characters with a vengeful mindset, such as cold-heart, have a negative effect on family relationships. The Price’s author uses a variety of writing techniques and themes to highlight Walter’s cold personality. Arthur Miller wrote and composed the drama and book The Price, which was released in 1968. In a broader sense, Miller tries to explain to his audience what siblings owe to each other, what the world owes to people with reasonable integrity, and what sons owe to their fathers. The drama is a fictional story about a family secret; mainly focusing on two sons who decided to take different decisions regarding their future as well as responsibilities in helping their father who suffered the disaster of the stock market during the 1930 Great Depression.

The author wanted his readers and audience of The Price to understand the personality of Walter as a character in the play. Miller brings the character of Walter as a person with a cold and unconcerned heart (Miller, 42). He has little sympathy for anyone who is closely related to him. Walter feels that he made a deliberate decision and worked hard to make ends meet despite lack of financial support from his father. Walter is suspicious of the possibility of his father hiding money in a bid to increase his sense of assurance struggles to proceed with his education to become a surgeon. He is not remorseful for his actions concerning the father who he feels did not work to see them succeed in their education.

Walter has a cold hearted towards the family members particularly when his brother comes requesting for a loan to continue with his education. He tells his brother, Victor, “You wanted a real life. And that is an expensive thing; it costs.” Walter’s statement is a complete indication that he believes in an individual’s struggle and efforts in life and therefore, he is against offering anybody financial support particularly the family members. Additionally, Miller considers Walter as an individual who is motivated by the competition to make wealth through thick and thin and does not believe in giving money willingly to his brother.

Moreover, the cold feeling that exists within Walter makes him value money and his wealth that he has amassed over the few years after completing his education. His ambitious goals motivated by selfishness become one of the best surgeons in the town. Miller also brings out Walter as a forgiving and non-judgmental person. Besides, the cold-hearted personalities of Walter make him harsh to his family members especially the father who feels did not support his education. Additionally, he develops an unfriendly attitude towards Victor and his wife, Esther who he does not respect at all.

In summary, the play The Price by Miller describes the life experience a family specifically the lives of two brothers who made decisions that affected their future life and career. Miller explicitly describes Walter as cold-hearted person. Walter becomes a surgeon after struggling to gain educational accomplishes. He has no compassion for anyone who is closely associated to him. The life experiences that Walter has gone through to become successful has made him develop a cold-hearted feeling towards his father and family members who he feels never worked to support his education.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. ”The Price.“ Saturday Evening Post, vol. 241, no. 3, 10 Feb. 1968, pp. 40-59.