Death of a Salesman Analysis Essay - 2107 Words

Many works of literature have the theme of a failed American Dream, which is the basic idea that no matter what social class an individual may be, they still have an equal ability to achieve prosperity and a good life for their family; however, there has been much debate over whether or not the American dream is still obtainable in modern society. One piece of American literature that substantiates the fact that the American Dream can not be gotten is Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman which describes the tragedy of the average person in America. A number of other writers also draw the inability to capture the American Dream. John Steinbeck demonstrates in his highly acclaimed novel The Grapes of Wrath how hard economic times can†¦show more content†¦This idea is also clearly represented in modern times due to the fact that the nation is once more in a recession and every one wants the shiny new car or the huge lavish house. Miller senses this and uses Willy as an ex ample of one of the many who fail to reach the American Dream and never will. Miller also challenges society to reflect upon how it interprets success, as Abbotson points out: â€Å"Miller sees many people’s lives being poisoned by their desire to be successful. People like the Lomans are doomed to try for success but fail, with all the resulting guilt that such failure brings. Others like Ben and Howard display an ability to make money that deems them successful but at the cost of their own moral integrity.† (Abbotson, 317) By providing the story with foils such as Ben and Howard being successful, Miller sheds a bit of hope on America then proceeds to thwart that same hope with the fact that they lose their moral integrity, which is a key component of the American Dream; therefore Miller clearly displays how society will continue to deny Americans the coveted dream they aspire to attain. Literary critic Thomas Porter states: â€Å"Willy’s status in society, his family background are typical; even more of a type is Willy’s identity as a salesman. He is a product of aShow MoreRelatedDeath Of A Salesman Analysis914 Words   |  4 PagesLies of a Salesman (Movie Analysis of Death of a Salesman produced by Robert F. Colesberry) To be dysfunctional is to not operate accordly to normal in a negative way. Death of a Salesman produced by Robert F. Colesberry is a movie based on a play Death of a salesman written by Arthur Miller. The Loman family in the movie is a dysfunctional family, which is clearly show in many scenes,The mother and the father Willy and Linda Lowman. Willy a salesman in the field for over 30 years. The have kidsRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Of A Salesman 900 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Essay In Arthur Millers â€Å"Death of a salesman† we encounter an on-going feud between salesman Willy Loman and his son Biff Loman. 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Through the use of silk stockings, a rubber hose, and the flute music that drifts through the play, Miller demonstrates the power that these items have over the Loman family. One reoccurring symbolRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Death Of A Salesman 954 Words   |  4 Pages Darrian Dowden AP English IV Death of a Salesman Written Assignment Death of a Salesman Character Analysis 1.Willy Loman. Although the main protagonist of the play, Willy Loman does not come to a certain self-realization. Searching and sifting through his memories (which cannot be completely taken as the truth as he reinvents them in a way to make them out as a golden era) he fails to recognize his slanted reality he’s lived in made up of his delusions. His forged relationship withRead MoreAnalysis of the Ending of Death of a Salesman1261 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of the Ending of Death of a Salesman The play Death of a Salesman shows the final demise of Willy Loman, a sixty- year-old salesman in the America of the 1940s, who has deluded himself all his life about being a big success in the business world. It also portrays his wife Linda, who plays along nicely with his lies and tells him what he wants to hear, out of compassion. The book describes the last day of his life, but there are frequent flashbacks in which Willy relives key eventsRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Of A Salesman 1859 Words   |  8 PagesIn â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, Willy and his family live in post-war Brooklyn, where America was enjoying a state of economic prosperity. In an attempt to shield Americans from the influences of communist ideals, Americans felt that financial success supported a capitalist society. The American dream is the belief that any American citizen can achieve their dreams if they are hard working, even those who are destitute. This idea of equality is criticized by both of the texts I will be comparing. In thisRead MoreAnalysis of Biff in Death of a Salesman Essay1584 Words   |  7 PagesCamilla Tanzi Year 12 An analysis of the character of Biff. Biff Loman is portrayed as the root of Willy’s mental illness and instability. He is also the only member of his family who acknowledges his own failures in life. On the whole, Biff Loman stands out as the most intriguing and strong character in â€Å"Death of a Salesman. He is not a successful man and never will be, he is however able to admit this, even in a harsh society as the one of the 1960s America. Biff knows he is a â€Å"nothing† andRead MoreA Detailed Analysis of Death of a Salesman1199 Words   |  5 PagesLook at Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman has been accepted worldwide as one of the greatest American dramas to premier in theatre. The story behind the play is based on Miller’s interactions with his Uncle, a salesman whose efforts to obtain the â€Å"American Dream† and pass his success on to his two sons becomes his main focus. Miller’s life during the preparation of Death of a Salesman provides the spark and inspiration needed to pen a literary classic. Almost five decades later, Death of a Salesman’s