‘Death of a Salesman’, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1948, is one in which the protagonist, Willy Loman is seen to be struggling against the cliché of the American dream and is undoubtedly heroic yet vulnerable throughout. From scene to scene, Miller uses a plethora of theatrical techniques to reveal the flaws in Willy’s character which are ultimately responsible for his breakdown.…
In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, women serve a variety of functions, and assume many roles. Linda, "The Woman" at the hotel in Boston, Miss Forsythe and her friend, and other women not physically present yet alluded to, influence various aspects of the play. In a previous essay, I showed the different roles Linda, "The Woman" and Miss Forsythe assumed. In my conclusion, I postulated that one unifying aspect between them is that they are all dependant on men. In this essay the aforementioned conclusion is expanded further, showing that the women in Death of a Salesman are secondary to men; specifically, they exist primarily for the male Lomans' character development. This is shown through the women's various roles as providing comfort and succor for the men, judgment for the men, a means of keeping score, and a means by which the men can reveal their natures.…
In this particular story, the protagonist - Willy Loman - is on the surface elevated no higher than a psychotic liar who often manipulates even those he loves the most. However, when looked upon through a harsher lens, the only thing that truly becomes obvious is that Willy himself is the archetype of a tragic hero. Lying to his family in friends, while in part cowardly, also questions the way in which a family could be defined as successful. Willy’s affair with another woman, while gross and unforgivable, allow others in the story to demonstrate the perseverance of love. In fact, it is throughout the entirety of Death of a Salesman that Arthur Miller uses his characters to question society, and then demonstrate their unwillingness to fall to adversity. Willy Loman, while indeed a pathetic man, falls through no weakness of his own…
Arthur Miller creates an exciting and engaging story by depicting a family dealing with a tragedy, characters with impressive depth, and an interesting plotline. Linda’s role in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller plays an important role in keeping the family together. First, Linda worries about Willy, asking him questions to dig into his mind. She has clues to her husband’s suicidal tendencies, but still supports him in his actions, even to the point of sheltering him from the real world to uphold his mental state. Finally, Linda tries to keep her family glued together, despite the effect it has on herself.…
In the play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman suffers a death of an average man. This story comprises of a whole family of unsuccessful men who use backdoors to accomplish a triumph. As the main focus of the play,Willy’s personality traits are gained through involvement with other characters.…
In conclusion, “The Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller greatly examined the famous American Dream, theme of betrayal, as well as abandonment. In trying to achieve the American Dream, Willy took his life. The Dream consumed his world until he was no more. However, within the mindset of the American Dream, it did indeed have one positive aspect. Part of the Dream is to wish that your children amount to more in life than yourself and this is what Willy tries to do in the play. Though Willy and Biff have feelings of betrayal towards each other, both intended good will upon each other. The play has proven to be riddled with many human emotions.…
Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, has a powerful father role in the lives of his two sons, Biff and Happy.Willy, a man in his mid sixties, has not only strived to become a successful salesman, but also acts the successful father role, something that was lacked in his own childhood. Willy’s own actions and mistakes in his everyday lifestyle, influence Biff to believe that he has become a failure at the age of thirty-four. Happy, the younger of the two siblings has found that he has a growing obsession with women, similar to his father’s own affair. The diminishing level of confidence the boys have towards their father has created a terrible fate for the two sons. Willy Loman being unable to realize his mistakes and correct them as well as not changing his morals has set up his sons’ for failure.…
In our today’s men and women hold equal rights, however, in times prior to the 1950’s the majority of people would agree men held favorable positions and were said to be superior over women. Unfortunately this behavior still exists in countries. Arthur Miller’s, Death of a Salesman probes into these issues and solidifies how the past plagued woman. Miller categorizes women into two buckets; housewives or whores. The play gave good reason for women to take a look at their lives and essentially helped open their eyes. Some might even say it helped start the women’s movement.…
Who does not want to live the perfect life, the American Dream? Throughout Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is in pursuit of this Dream. Willy focuses on the idealistic American dream his entire life, associating it with financial success, an excellent reputation and being well liked. He makes victims of his wife and of his sons by subjecting them to mistreatment and deprivation of a strong male role model. According to the Webster's Dictionary a victim is one who is subjected to oppression, hardship or mistreatment. Willy puts far too much pressure on his elder son Biff, not enough on his younger son Happy, and he makes a "yes-woman" out of his doting wife Linda. Willy's ideas of the American Dream outweigh the realistic trials and tribulations that need to be overcome in order to achieve the Dream.…
People of society think that being rich determines someone as great, but in reality, life is about the morals our own selves have that define us as wonderful people. In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, through the character Linda Loman, the author implies that society thinks the amount of money and personal belongings one has defines him as a person; a person does not need to be rich in order to be significant. Specifically, Willy drives countless hours and miles trying to provide money for his family, and Miller’s character, Linda reveals that “He drives seven hundred miles” working “on straight commission” for “Five weeks” trying to provide money for his family (41). Willy ensures that he does everything for the benefit of his kids,…
Throughout Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman tended to victimize virtually everyone he came in contact with. He hurt others perpetually throughout this play for a variety of different reasons. One of his key targets was his wife Linda. From verbal to finical, Willy Loman abused his wife Linda. His son Biff was also a prime target of his abuse. His abuse towards his son was subtle at times, and not so subtle others. Biff wasn't the only son to encounter abuse his brother Happy was also a target. Happy was abused not by any action, but by lack of. To further expand on the aforementioned, Happy was ignored by his father causing much detriment. A common occurrence among abusers is that their victimization seems be focused internally (family) or externally (everyone else) but rarely both. Willy Loman was an anomaly as far the previously philosophy was concerned; Willy victimized everyone he came in contact with. From his finically supportive friend, Charley, to the last person you'd expect, a child. Though, that isn't to say that Willy was in turn unharmed; he was also a victim. Those who are victimized often feel that they are justified in their diatribe against all others, no matter how untrue. His boss Howard would victimize Willy Loman, stating his lack of importance to business. Which could be perceived as a severe act against one's ego, but this wasn't the most prevalent culprit of harassment. The quintessential worst enemy of Willy was his mental illness; but more specifically his frequent delusional tangents. Throughout Arthur Miller's Masterpiece, Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman was both a victim and a victimizer as I'll soon make evident in the text below.…
Today’s society really only teaches one rule in life growing up; respect people the way you want to be respected. And in Miller’s play he shows this through the characters. In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, Linda’s speech suggests that people usually let their pride get the best of them instead of actually caring about what is needed most; the respect from family and friends. When Biff, Happy and Linda are arguing about who Willy really is as a person, Biff tells Linda, “Stop making excuses for him! He always, always wiped the floor with you. Never had an ounce of respect for you” (40). Biff tries to state that since Willy is supposedly liked so much in the business environment that he is in, he does not even care about respecting…
One of the simplest ways to stay happy is to let go of the things that make you sad. This quote relates to the protagonist Willy in Death of a Salesman was never able to let go of his past and never forget about being abandoned when he was a child. Therefore he was never able to be happy leading him to live a stressful and lonely life although he was surrounded by people who loved him. Loneliness is not being alone but it is the feeling that no one cares. Throughout his life Willy felt like nobody cared for him therefore he always tried to prove to others around him that he was well liked in order to attain their approval.…
Arthur Miller is mostly known for his connections to Marilyn Monroe, the United States’s national sexual icon through the fifties and sixties. However, while many recognize his work, they do not recognize the author behind the work. Born in Harlem, New York in 1915, Arthur Miller attended the University of Michigan before moving back to New York to write stage plays that have engaging connections with the working class. Through his many plays which have reached national recognition, his works have mostly been centered around the social and psychological dimensions of his own characters with themes of individual morality that is influenced by social pressures. Miller’s political ideologies lodged their way into his various works through themes…
In today’s world, many people seek other people that will notice them and give them the appreciation they deserve. In Arthurs Miller play, The Death of a Salesman, Miller, through Linda’s speech, suggests that people need some sort of attention to be able to function normally in society. In the play Willy is shown to have a flashback where he is having a conversation with his mistress, and she tells him, “ You didn’t make me, Willy. I picked you” Willy responds with, “You picked me?” (25). Clearly, Willy is seen to be enthusiastic of the acknowledgement he is getting from the mistress, and this is why he began an affair with his mistress since Linda wasn’t giving him enough praise. This selfish act shows that people will go to great lengths…