...Willy's Loneliness and Alienation in Death of a Salesman Willy Loman’s feelings of alienation and loneliness are direct psychological results of his interaction with society and the conditions that are found within it. Although, he does not necessarily have the ability or allow himself to have the ability to define his feelings as such, they are still very much a part of his everyday existence. This is evident in his constant bragging and attempted compensation. He does not feel that he is truly a part of society. Indeed, he is not. Miller himself seems to be saying that this is not necessarily a bad thing; this society is not that wonderful. Yet Willy still yearns to be like his brother, Ben, and the other men he sees making up the work force. He desperately wants to command respect and be a part of the group. Although usually he just goes about his business as best he can, he does at times admit his feelings: ‘Because I get so lonely—especially when business is bad and there’s nobody to talk to. I get the feeling that I’ll never sell anything again, that I won’t make a living for you, or a business, Business for the boys. There’s so much I want to make for— (Baym 2001) He wants to provide for Linda and for the boys, but he does not know how to go about this within the confines of society and still maintain his individuality. Even the things he dreams of having for himself and for his family are shallow. He will never find relief from his search...
Words: 1268 - Pages: 6
...To begin Willy’s American Dream that is developed in Death of a Salesman is one that is not the “typical” American Dream that I have seen in other plays or novels. When I think about the American Dream, I think about how hard work is the key to success. Bernard and Charley are shown to follow this version of this dream, as shown when Willy runs into Bernard when he goes to visit Charley. Charley is shown to be successful, as he has his own secretary and Bernard states that “he’s in his office with his accountant.” Additionally, Bernard is shown to be successful; he mentions to Willy that he “has a case” in Washington, which shows that he is a lawyer. Willy does not follow this version of the American Dream, which is why he mocked Bernard when...
Words: 685 - Pages: 3
...During pages 8-10 Arthur Miller uses Linda and Willy’s interactions to display Linda’s misguided attempts at restoring Willy to mental stability. Throughout the rest of the play Miller’s permissive characterisation of Linda catalyses the deterioration of Willy’s psyche and relationships. Miller presents Linda as Willy’s enabler; she is seen as not only allowing but socialising Willy into a self-destructive way of being. Miller incorporates the symbolism of the flute into the stage directions to symbolise Willy’s hamartia, a tragic flaw that leads to a character’s downfall. Although Willy Loman does not fit the criteria of the tragic hero, Arthur Miller wanted to show the fate of one of the many ordinary people who are rejected by a system which should support them. In Tragedy and the Common Man, he wrote, “I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were”. As Willy enters a “small fine melody on a flute is heard”. A flute is an artificial object; it could be interpreted that its elusive and indistinct sound represents fantasy, a product of the imagination. Furthermore, its “small” and “fine melody” hints at childlike imagery. All of these attributes relate to the character of Willy. Children strive for unattainable fantasies; Willy, as an adult, should be more rational. Miller presents Linda as being a contributor to this flaw due to her need to conceal the cracks in their relationship, covering up issues rather than confronting...
Words: 1165 - Pages: 5
...analysis of Comparison and Contrast between Charley and Willy Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally (David Frost). We often are surrounded by examples and stories about successful people doing good and pitiable ones committing crimes. People usually follow the path of a successful person because they think that they are perfect. We often neglect the truth that everyone is imperfect, and that god is not one of us. We are human beings, and liable to make mistakes. Therefore, being successful is learning from our mistakes and following our passion we desire. We as human beings are all born with a passion and we have to keep trying to achieve it. Of course, some may lack this wisdom because of their inability to understand success is not all about money and good looks. An example of this theme of success is presented in the novel Death of a Salesman. Miller clarifies this philosophical way of life through contrast and comparison between two characters. In the novel Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller demonstrates the idea of success through the Willy and Charley through the theme of foil as fathers, friends, and businessman. In the Arthur Miller’s novel, Death of a Salesman, the interaction between Willy Loman and his sons, Happy and Biff, allows Miller to demonstrate the foil comparison of the father-son relationships with the Charley’s relationship with his son. Willy and Charley’s relationships with their sons contradict...
Words: 2030 - Pages: 9
...Nicole Huber Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman is one of the most popular classics in our written literature. The play was shown all over the world in America, China, England, Germany and India. (Miller, Arthur) Arthur Miller’s first success was Death of a Salesman which was performed in Broadway in 1949. He had a rough start with his first play he ever wrote, The Man Who Had All the Luck which got cut off after being shown only four times. Arthur grew up in the east side of Manhattan until the Wall Street Crash. His family moved and he had to work three jobs to save enough money to attend the University of Michigan. Arthur won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award twice. In 1949 he was presented with the Pulitzer Prize.( Miller,...
Words: 1257 - Pages: 6
...DEATH OF A SALESMAN Study Guide for Teachers World-Class Theatre in the Heart of Vermont 703 Main Stre e t , W eston, V T 05161 www.westonplayhouse.o rg The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company The 2010 WPTC Teacher’s Workshop and the School Matinee and Touring Production is made possible in part by grants from: The Bay and Paul Foundations Mountain Room Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The Shubert Foundation The Vermont Country Store and The Orton Family Vermont Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities With additional contributions from: Black River Produce Berkshire Bank Clark’s Quality Foods Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Okemo Mountain Resort Thrifty Attic …and an ever growing family of individuals who believe in the impact that the performing arts can have on its community. This Teachers Study Guide was compiled and edited by Rena Murman. Credit and thanks to the following theatres for materials used or referenced from study guides created for Death of a Salesman: Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN; Kennedy Center, Washington, DC; Lyric Theatre, London; Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh; Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT. © 2010 Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and cultural institution. WPTC Performance Guides may be duplicated at no charge for educational purposes only. They may not be sold or used in other publications without the express written consent...
Words: 13575 - Pages: 55
... In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller’s stylistic devices convey not only bitter deception and bleak despair, but also hopeless despondency and forlorn anguish to display the realism and iniquity of the common man. As a representative form of American realism, Death of a Salesman portrays the use of language to convey a feeling of acrimony that demonstrates the relationship between the ideas of Willy Loman and the American common man. Willy Loman as the protagonist and the antagonist of his own story creates the sense of language that develops the idea of being “liked and you never will want” stating the façade of the Willy’s society (Miller 21). While communicated to the audience through a form of realism, his language functions as the crevice between the real and non-real. As development of language continues sometimes Willy Loman’s clichés “rise to the level of pure poetry” (Roudane 369). The use of language constructs poetic symbolism and closes the gap between non-realism and realism. Throughout the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain utilizes a poignant sense of diction reciprocating the slang the common man used in the Antebellum South. The language exhibits the principles of Death of a Salesman in its acrimony and pain through Loman’s statement “a man is not a piece of fruit!” (Miller 61). This sense of diction drives the main ideas and connects these ideas to those of the average man. Even throughout the play, the language morphs Death of a Salesman into the...
Words: 1893 - Pages: 8
...Reaction Paper to "The Death of a Salesman" ENG/125 October 19, 2015 Reaction Paper to "The Death of a Salesman" In Arthur Miller’s Play Death of a Salesman, the play recollects the last 24 hours of the Loman’s family life and the events leading up to the death of Willy Loman. The title of the play is symbolic to the unraveling of the picture perfect family imagine that Willy created to everyone around him. The title is also symbolic to Willy losing his career as a salesman. Arthur Miller was very clever with his themes by using flashbacks throughout the play. He used four major themes according to SparkNotes Editors. (2002). Appearance vs. reality, the individual vs. society, the individual vs. himself, and the perception of the American Dream. Willy has been a salesman all his life. He has brought his sales experience into his personal life. He was selling the idea that his marriage and family life are perfect. His sons Biff and Happy are not what Willy had imagined or made them out to be. He wanted them to be successful business men just like him; however they are not. Willy has sold his lies for so long about his happy family that he can’t even remember what the truth is or doesn’t choose to remember. Willy is a man of many mistakes and doesn’t take accountability for the mistakes that he has made and often twists the truth to make himself the victim. I think Willy is a very relatable character. He by all means is not perfect and only wants the American Dream...
Words: 777 - Pages: 4
...The Great American Disillusionment in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Conjecture clouds an American man’s pursuit of success, leading to unfortunate ends in Arthur Miller's timeless production, Death of a Salesman. A post-depression era drama, Death of a Salesman challenges its audience to analyze universal components of the American Dream. Most people consider success a collision of past effort, future goals, and an appreciation for the present. Miller's character Willy Loman is convinced attractiveness, popularity, and physical prowess is all any man needs for prosperity. In the beginning, Miller introduces Willy's flawed insight linking personal attractiveness to success. Act I opens with a conversation between Willy and his wife, Linda. While discussing their son, Biff, Willy wonders how, “a young man with such – personal attractiveness, gets lost” (Miller 1237). Proudly, Willy continues his high praise asking Linda if she remembers how they all used to follow Biff around in high school and, “When he smiled … their faces lit up” (1237). As critic, Chester E. Eisinger points out, Willy so thoroughly indoctrinates his sons with his dreams of success they, are victims of illusions” (Eisinger 101). They invent, “impossible schemes for making money,” (101). Willy’s corruption, “prevents his sons from achieving a mature manhood” (101). Willy even stoops to dishonesty and self-destruction in his efforts to appear successful. His appreciation for physical appearance extends...
Words: 1047 - Pages: 5
...Dream: Analysis of Death of a Salesman A tragedy play is a source of drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to extreme suffer or sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with lack of approval or support. Arthur Miller’s tragedy play, Death of a Salesman can be viewed as a urology of a man who was a constant dreamer, which represents his life and tragic death as he tries to fulfill his visions of having the American Dream. American tragedy explores the great myths that govern a society by examining the lives of its most ordinary citizens. Miller vividly expresses ideas throughout his play by demonstrating a changing society. Also, reading Death of a Salesman allows the play to be psychologically viewed as one man’s journey from shame and his own lack of self-confidence. Arthur Miller portrays Willy, his family, and other characters situation by the use of symbolism and themes, he accurately puts into words what every human being thinks, feels, and worries about, but often has trouble expressing. The lead character is Willy Loman, a failing door-to-door salesman coming to the end of his life but doggedly holding on to lost dreams. In the beginning of the play, we see Willy returning home to his wife Linda after almost crashing his car. Linda begins to worry about her husband and fears what may happen in the future. We soon learn why Willy is unable to continue his career as a salesman, which he has followed...
Words: 1278 - Pages: 6
...picture or feel. His intentions when writing ‘Death of a Salesman’ was to help people identify some of the social issues that were growing, in a way that eases the pain they were going through. As one of his critics states, "Miller writes ingeniously, conveying the message that ‘if the proper study of mankind is man, man’s inescapable problem is himself’ (poets 1997). Miller accurately puts into words what every person thinks, feels, or worries about, but often has trouble expressing. Arthur Miller portrays Willy’s problems with family life, the society, and himself in Death of a Salesman. Many of Arthur Miller’s plays reflect or are a product of events in his life; he believed that American society needed to be made over; and for this reason, many of his earlier plays showed sympathetic portrayals and compassionate characterizations of his characters. Death of a Salesman is a play relating to the events leading to the downfall of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is at one time wealthy, but is now approaching the end of his usefulness (poet, 1997). Miller uses symbolism to expand on the conflicts within the Loman family. Happy and Biff, Willy’s two sons, represent two sides of Willy’s ever-conflicting personality. Happy, who often receives his consolation of unsuccessfulness through women, represents Willy’s more materialistic side. Biff, who is more capable of genuine humanity, represents the kinder and more realistic Willy; he favors Biff over Happy. This plays a big...
Words: 1084 - Pages: 5
...Narcissism and the American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Narcissism och den amerikanska drömmen i Arthur Millers en handelsresandes död. Fredrik Artan Faculty of Arts and Education Subject: English Points:15.0 Supervisor: Magnus Ullén Examiner: Anna Swärdh 2014-06-18 Serial number Abstract This essay focuses on the theme of the American Dream in relation to narcissism in Miller’s Death of a salesman. The purpose is to demonstrate that a close reading of the main protagonist, Willy Loman, suggests that his notion of success in relation to the American Dream can be regarded as narcissistic. This essay will examine this by first observing how Willy´s notion of success is represented in the play, then look at how his understanding of it can be viewed from a narcissistic standpoint. The results I have found in my analysis show that there is a connection between Willy’s understanding of success and his narcissistic behavior. He displays traits such as grandiosity, arrogance, need of specialness and denial of emotions. His relationship with other characters reveals his lack of empathy, manipulation and exploitation of others as well as his need of superiority and fear of inferiority. The conclusion is that Willy and his notion of success could be considered as narcissistic. Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................1 The American...
Words: 6899 - Pages: 28
...In this book and play “The Death of a Salesman”, The main character Willy Loman, is having problems getting and holding onto a job. His whole life has always been a failure and still is proceeding as one. As this story proceeds, Willy is having some inside thoughts about life, and how things are going when it is not really happening at all, it is just all in his head. In the story “The Death of a Salesman”, I do think that the characters are very believable. They all have a personality like no one would think of. They all have very unique characteristics like: stealing, lying, going crazy, and always being miserable. I can relate to all of the characters. There are times when I think that I am in real life, but then snap out of it and come back to reality. Like Willy Loman, I also have tendencies to fail on a daily bases, and to not do my best because of what might have happened earlier in the day. Also, unlike Willy Loman, I do not go crazy, or think up some outrageous thoughts that I always believe to be real. I do fail on a daily basis on things, but as well as Willy, I do not end up failing at jobs or little interviews for small jobs. I do stay sane and get what I need done, unlike Willy Loman, he ends up not realizing things, or he forgets a lot, or he just cannot get down how to do things right. The story “The Death of a Salesman”, is a story that has many feelings and emotion, and I do think that we all could relate this story and play to all of our lives, because...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...The significance of Death of a Salesman lies within its ability to extend beyond the post-war period, and to “speak” to people today. Death of a Salesman is based upon living the “American Dream”; This gave the opportunity for men and women to have a well-paying job, own a home, the option of having two cars, marriage, children, and pets. The most important aspect of living the “American Dream” is to know that in order to achieve these things in life you must work hard to succeed. Miller made this obvious by showing both success and failure. Willy Loman and his family had great dreams, but did not work hard to make them become reality. Willy and his family expected these things to happen on their own with little effort. As Willy’s nephew Bernard pushed Biff to put effort in his schooling, Willy and Biff just blew it off as though it was nothing. Biff expected his football skills to be enough to succeed, which he later found out wasn’t true at all. Bernard became very successful and Biff was the opposite. He didn’t do anything in his life and became nobody. Willy is another example; he expected good expected good things to come in life without effort. He expected his children to become successful so they could support him, but instead they became bums. The stress of not being able to pay bills and the failure of his children was so unbearable that he became absorbed in the past. Often oblivious to what was going on around him. Willy also became suicidal, constantly crashing...
Words: 694 - Pages: 3
...“making their mark on this world”, but how public is too public in today's society? Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman is an example of how the idea of fame dictates people’s lives and affects their perception of how public is too public. Using Willy Loman, Arthur Miller shows the varying affects fame takes on people obsessed with wanting to be known. In the play Death of a Salesman the author uses Willy Loman as a character who is...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
