Death Of A Salesman Identity Essay

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In the play, Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, dreams and self-identity prove to work against each other as the main character, Willy Loman, struggles to succeed in the sales industry because of his society. This both inner and outer struggle is exemplified through Willy’s contradictory ambitions, his idealization on how to become successful, and the want to create and continue the family legacy. Willy’s opposing dreams illustrate how they cause him to lose sight of who he truly is. In the beginning of the story when he is speaking to his Happy and Biff about the future he states, Willy: Don’t say? Tell you a secret boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home anymore (30). This shows how Willy believes that he will be successful in sales one day, even though it is clear that he is not really headed down that path. However, later in the story, Willy’s ambitions change when he is talking to Linda after he decides to go talk to Howard, his boss. He says, Willy: You wait kid, before it’s all over we’re gonna get a little place out in the …show more content…

The main character, Willy Loman, struggles to succeed in business because he is unaware of who he truly is. This is evidenced by multiple times through Willy’s opposing ambitions, his idealization of reaching success, and the desire to create and continue a family legacy. These inward and outward struggles arise because of the society Willy lives in, and how it causes him to lose sight of who he truly is. Willy’s struggle ultimately ends in his demise because he is conflicted on who he really is. His character is a perfect example of how a person cannot have dreams unless they know who they are, making him and his struggle relatable to many audiences who everyday feel the same pressures of

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