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Themes and symbols in death of a salesman
Symbolism in Death of a salesman
Analysis of death of a salesman
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"Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller is a play of a father that had no clue what success truly meant. The father, Willy, believed that in order to be successful in life he must have lots of money, materials or the highest status overall. And this distorted idea of success lead his sons Happy and Biff to their downfall, because embodied his idea. As a result, leaving only the older brother, Biff, in realization of how wrong his father was.
To begin with, Willy's strongly believed that if an individual had lots of money and a high paying job he or she was successful. Willy this idea so much to the point that both Happy and Biff caught themselves embodying it. Biff and Happy embodied this idea mostly in his early adulthood, by believing that if they united and took on the selling business together they could maybe be successful
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like their father was. The irony in that was that Willy wasn’t successful in life because he was a ''good salesman'', on the contrary, Willy became a salesman for the wrong reason (money) which on the long term only brought him depression, sadness and despair instead of happiness and success. According to Irving Jacobson whose article, "Family Dreams in Death of a Salesman" appeared in the ebook, Critical Insights: Death of a Salesman said " he has realized that it is just an illusion, and a futile dream -and accepted that reality. Biff’s personality is stronger than that of his father, just because of that realization. The acceptance of that reality comes through in this line- 'BIFF: Hap, the trouble is we weren’t brought up to grub for money. I don’t know how to do it.[4]' ". In other words, Irving points out how Biff realizes later on the story that money isn't everything, and since making money is everything then there's no actual reason to be a salesman. Therefore, Happy and Biff embodied Willies idea of money and success to the point that it affected their lifestyle and way of thinking, leaving only Biff in realization of how wrong this idea was. Another idea of success that Happy and Biff embodied from Willy was materialism, the urge to claim as many material things as they can. During Happy and Biffs childhood they observed how Willy got in dues and stole many material things just so he could feel successful. It came to the point in which he had his sons steal for him just so he can feel more empowered over things, and since Happy and Biff were growing up around that idea they started to embody it. For instance, as happy got older he was just like his dad, had all the material things he wanted, even the women, but still felt empty. And it's not until Biff asks Happy why he's not content with his life since he has all the material things he wanted, and Happy responds to Biff by saying " it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, plenty of women, and still, goddamnit, I’m lonely. "(Act 1). In other words, this shows how even though he had all the material things he ever wanted, he still didn’t feel happy and successful, because he wanted more. In addition, author Jon Dietrick whose article, “The Jungle Is Dark and Full of Diamonds”: Natural Value and the Logic of Naturalism in Death of a Salesman" appeared in the ebook Death of a Salesman stated, " The stolen or freely given object is not reduced to money, not drained of its individual and irreplaceable qualities. Seen in this light, Biff’s frequent stealing (of basketballs [18, 82], a football [20], lumber [36], and finally a pen [76]) represents an attempt to escape the alienating world of economic exchange and thus assuage his anxiety concerning reality and appearances, hard value and soft money". This critic by Dietrick is reinstating how Willy's idea of materialism has undoubtedly influenced Biff's lifestyle, and how he believes that by having a lot of valuable materials he might obtain some kind of sense of success. Therefore, Biff and Happy embodied Willy's idea of materialism to such a high degree in which it was affecting not just their belief, but also their lifestyle. Lastly, Willy's most prevalent idea throughout his whole life was that if an individual had a high status and was well liked, he or she would be successful in life.
This idea was emphasized all throughout Happy and Biff's childhood, and it impacted them in different ways. For an instance, Happy was an assistant manager in his store, but still didn’t feel like he was being successful. The reason why he didn’t felt like that was because he didn’t have the highest status in his job, and since he strongly believed in his dad idea of success, he never truly felt like he was being successful in life. Moreover, according to Louis Charles Stagg from "Death of a Salesman: Overview", "Willy's pathetic faith, 'that he is beloved of buyers and that to be loved is to be a success,' ". Stagg is simply emphasizing the fact that Willy didn't just believed it, but had faith that if a person was well-liked by others and had a high status in life then he or she would be successful. In short, Happy and Biff embodied Willy's idea of status and how it correlates with success, only leaving Biff in grasp of how misguided his dad
was In conclusion, Willy's misperception of success was so distorted that it ultimately dragged everybody down with him. Then again, the idea that having a high paying job could buy happiness, or that having lots of materials would bring success, or that having a high status would make you successful is just a pitiful idea. Success is more than money or status, and only Biff realizes in this story. Therefore, all throughout the story, Biff and Happy are caught embodying Willy's idea of success, causing them to have a distorted perspective as well, only leaving Biff of them in awe of the truth.
The play, “Death of a Salesman” written by Arthur Miller, presents Willy Loman, as a salesman, who fails to earn a living and slowly loses his mind. Willy continuously seeks the past to find out where he went wrong. During his years in life, Willy wanted his two sons, Biff and Happy to become someone they’re not; Willy wanted them to become a salesman like him. However, because of his obsession in the American Dream of easy success and wealth, he created a life full of lies for himself and his sons. In the end because of “his misconception of himself as someone capable of greatness” leads to his downfall and the end of his life (Death of a Salesman).”
In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the conflicts that formulate between Biff and Willy Loman build up to the death of Willy. Biff’s delusional perception of being liked in the world leads to a successful life which was an idea brought onto him by his father, Biff’s discovery of his father's affair, and Biff’s lack of business success all accumulate to the heavy conflicting relationship between Biff and his father, Willy. These contribute immensely to the idea that personal dreams and desire to reach success in life can negatively impact life with personal relationships, which causes people to lose sight of what is important. This ultimately leads to the Willy committing suicide from the build up of problems with his son.
We are here today under unfortunate circumstances. My father, Willy Loman took his own life several days ago. We end up asking ourselves, why did you have to leave us? He was indeed an extremely stressed man between work, and family. Father had grown to be the age of 63. He was a hard working man and had accomplished many things in his life. I remember he always did everything he could for his family and we will forever be grateful. Unfortunately he could not see his accomplishments.
He seems to believe that having an office job and earning your own money is the best way to be masculine, and he constantly enforces this view onto his sons, especially onto Biff who doesn’t actually want this kind of job at all; he would much rather work on a farm. Enforcing his beliefs onto his sons, especially Biff, like this has a detrimental effect on his relationship with them. Happy has a desk job, but still isn’t happy at all. He doesn’t know what he wants, and perhaps if he had been left to choose his own career path without this input from his father, then he would have been a lot happier. And with Biff not wanting a desk job, his job working on a farm seems like nothing to his father and means that he puts Biff down for it a lot. Willy constantly tells him things such as “You never grew up. Bernard does not whistle in the elevator, I assure you.” And manages to put Biff down a lot of the time. This makes Biff feel bad about his job, and even makes him consider getting a desk job just to make his father happy; even if it means missing out on his own happiness. The fact that Willy wants Biff to have a desk job also emphasises how uncertain he is about masculinity because before this time period most people worked on ranches and it was seen as an incredibly manly job. The way Willy treats him and pressures him affects their already damaged relationship with one another as there is always some kind
Willy gets it from all sides; primarily his conflict is with Biff but also Charley, Howard, and Bernard. He is an average man who truly believes he is better than those around him, and that his sons, especially Biff, are greater still, but people, he has very little respect for, are all more successful than he is. Biff starts out like Willy perhaps but comes to the realization that being an average man is okay. Willy never comes to that conclusion; in fact he decides he is more valuable dead than alive.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller concerns itself with the fall of a simple man perpetually in a steadfast state regarding his own failure in a success-driven society. The protagonist of the play, Willy Loman, will follow a tragic trajectory that will eventually lead to his suicide. Arthur Miller's tragic play is an accurate portrayal of the typical American myth that sustains an extreme craving for success and a belief in the illusion of the American dream, a dream attainable only by a handful of people. Having chosen a career in sales Willy Loman constantly aspires to become 'great'. Nevertheless, Willy is a poor aging salesman that considers himself to be a failure when comparing himself to his successful father and brother, but he is incapable of consciously admitting it. Consequently, Willy will measure his level of success with the level of success attained by his offspring, particularly his eldest son Biff. Their difficult relationship contribute to the play's main plot. Willy unfolds his deluded perception and recollection of the events as the audience gradually witnesses the tragic downfall of a man shadowed by a mental illness that has already began to take it's toll on his mind and personality.
Willy's belief in this statement drew him to believe that big business lacked compassion. It is because of this that he is abandoned by Biff and disowned by Happy, left babbling in a toilet. It is this flaw that allowed him to die a slow death and played the greatest role in his eventual downfall.
Willy’s death was ironic due to all the of consequences that he faced each point of his life; however, he wanted to leave money behind by his $20,000 insurance policy for his family to prove he finally made success in life. After Willy death, Biff realized his true beliefs and changes his life’s path to the right direction. Happy on other hand, followed his father’s footsteps and aimed to become successful as a businessman. I believed that Willy’s character lead himself to his failures and miseries with his wife, his two sons, and his career. What Willy pictured in his mind of himself was not completed by his wrong ambition of being successful. “We’re free and clear. We’re free…. We’re free” (Death of the Salesman, Requiem. lines 66-67). Willy’s wife and sons were not a bit disappointed or saddened by the news of their father. Willy’s death defined a symbol of a new beginning for his family. Throughout my research I discovered all Willy wanted to be was a devoted husband, a father that his sons can be proud of, and a successful salesman; however Willy was unsuccessful in not completely to fulfill his dreams so his death brought him and his family a break from the
Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a story about the dark side of the "American Dream". Willy Loman's obsession with the dream directly causes his failure in life, which, in turn, leads to his eventual suicide. The pursuit of the dream also destroys the lives of Willy's family, as well. Through the Lomans, Arthur Miller attempts to create a typical American family of the time, and, in doing so, the reader can relate to the crises that the family is faced with and realize that everyone has problems.
It is human nature for a person to desire to better understand themselves and to acquire a distinct identity. People look to what is simple and familiar when trying to gain a sense of individuality. These identifiers can be found in the jobs people perform, the relationships they share, and any other type of activity that takes place in their daily life. It is also in this search for understanding that can cause the relationships a person shares, such as with close family and friends, to be strained. Willy Loman, the leading character in the play Death of a Salesman attempts to comprehend his place in society, but at the same time he loses the one thing that is his source for identification-his family.
In the play, The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller,Willy Loman, an unsuccessful business man struggling to support his family is completely out of touch with reality throughout the plot line. Many characters throughout this play and their interactions with Willy have showed the audience his true colors and what he thinks is important in life. His constant lying and overwhelming ego certainly does not portray his life in factual terms, but rather in the false reality that he has convinced himself he lives in.
The Characters of Biff and Happy in Death of a Salesman No one has a perfect life; everyone has conflicts that they must face sooner or later. The ways in which people deal with these personal conflicts can differ as much as the people themselves. Some insist on ignoring the problem for as long as possible, while others face up to the problem immediately to get it out of the way. Biff and Happy Loman are good examples of this, although both start from the same point, they end up going in different directions with Happy still living in his world of lies and Biff, being set free by the truth. Happy Loman is Willy's youngest son and is often over shadowed by his older brother Biff and ignored
I believe that Hap and Biff were taught that they need to do anythng in their power to succeed, even if that means thievery. In this flashback scene, Willy is trying very hard to impress Ben with his life. Ben had offered Willy to take a job opportunity in Alaska, but Linda appears to inform Ben that Willy will not be able to take it. Ben becomes witty with Willy and asks him if he can reach his success. Willy backfires at Ben and brags about Biff who is a football player about to start college. Willy does not believe that it is important what you do, but being liked by people. It seems as if Willy screwed it into Biff and Hap that you have to do what you can to impress people. Whether it is having the best looking girlfriend or the best
Willy's search to find his mistakes of his life failed because, even though he found out what happened to Biff, he did not search for the right thing: his identity. Willy found out that his affair made Biff envision his father as a fake and phony, but he did not realize that a salesman was not the right job for him. When Willy died, no one came to his funeral (Act II. Scene I). This just showed that Willy was not the man he thought he was. He thought he was a great salesman with an unlimited amount of friends, but, when he died, no one was at his funeral but his family (Act II. Scene I). It showed that Willy was just a simple craftsman, who only needed attention and love from his family, and did not need fame or to be well-known ("Arthur Miller and Others," 311-314)
Willy is a salesman. Willy believes that success comes from being well liked and popular and has tried desperately to instill his notions to his two boys Happy and Biff, Willy's biggest aspirations in life. His wife Linda is extremely supportive and is Willy's only connection to reality. While raising his boys and trying to instill his "American Dream", he fails to teach them any sense of morality, leading them down to what he feels is the wrong path. At one point, he defended Biff for stealing just because he was an amazing football player.