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Death of salesman as a modern tragedy short note
Death of salesman as a modern tragedy short note
Death of salesman as a modern tragedy short note
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“The Death of a Salesman” is filled with betrayal, especially mainstream between Biff and Willy. Willy Loman being the chief betrayer himself yet most consumed with the fright of being betrayed. His fear causes him to make frequent accusations onto Biff. Willy feels that Biff has betrayed him by not pursing the ambitions he had intended for him. As a father, Willy believes that Biff must meet the particular inherent duty with assurance. However, Biff strays from his father`s aspirations, therefore causing Willy to feel offended. Willy thinks that Biff`s betrayal is in spite of his discovery of Willy`s affair with another woman. Willy is concerned that Biff thinks that he has betrayed his wife, Linda, who is also Biff`s mother. “She's nothing
to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely”, Willy pleads to Biff, “You - you gave her Mama's stockings!” Biff snaps back at his father (Miller 89). Biff feels that Willy has betrayed him by cheated on his mother. Feelings of betrayal stem both ways in this father and son relationship.
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.
Found within the storyline, Willy implements features of a tragic hero as he shows the reversal of events in his life due to his own actions. Willy, through the downfall with his son, Biff, shows that his actions have caused a bridge between him and his son in which his son chooses to grow apart from his family. As seen at the beginning of the play, Willy represents a tragic hero as he is distressed and troubled as he comes home from another failed sales trip. Although Willy represents a tragic hero in many cases, there are also others found within Death of a Salesman that help implement the role of a profound hero. Willy’s wife, Linda, implements the heroine as she presents herself with many wise and understanding words for Willy has he faces his hardships. Throughout the story, it is seen that Linda represents herself as a put together woman for her husband but is often found distraught by her husband’s actions in which readers and audiences can empathize with
Miller’s Death of a Salesman is the tragic account of the demise of a meager salesman, Willy Loman. Willy is passively nearing the end of his career and life. His two sons, Biff and Happy show little remorse or pity for Willy, despite his obvious senility. When Biff borrows a football from his coach to practice passing, Willy encourages him: “Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!” (Miller 30). Willy erroneously praises Biff, not realizing that such affirmation could deceive Biff. Later, as Biff awaits an appointment with a prominent businessman, he feels compelled to steal his fountain pen, “I don’t know, I just—wanted to take something”(Miller 104). Such incidents set a precedent for Biff, eventually leading to his lackluster professional status. Willy once again deludes Biff as he mistakenly deters him from his studies. When Bernard reminds Biff, that in order for Biff to graduate, he must study his math, Willy initially agrees and encourages Biff to study: “You better study with him, Biff. Go ahead now”(Miller 32). When Biff confidently shows Willy his sneakers, on which he printe...
In Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, a major theme and source of conflict is the Loman family's lack of morality. This is particularly evident in the father, Willy Loman. Willy has created a world of questionable morality for himself and his family. In this world, he and his sons are men of greatness that "have what it takes" to make it in the competitive world of business. In reality, Willy’s son Biff is a drifter and a thief, his son Hap is continually seducing women with lies, while Willy does not treat his wife with respect and lies to everyone.
Willy and Jay both have betrayed someone in these two stories. Willy betrayed his wife by having an affair with another woman. According to “An overview of Death of a Salesman” by L. M. Domina, “What had happened, of course, as Willy subsequently remembers and as he has probably remembered frequently during the intervening years, was that Biff had discovered Willy in the midst of an extramarital affair. In contrast to Linda, who frequently appears with stockings that need mending, this other woman receives gifts of expensive stockings from Willy. The existence of this woman (and perhaps others like her) is one factor contributing to the financial strain of the Loman family. Biff understands this instantly, and he also understands the depth of Willy 's betrayal of Linda—and the family as a whole.” During this part of the play, Willy has a flashback about the time he had an affair and his son caught him. One thing that Biff notices right away are the stockings that Willy gives the woman. While Linda has to mend her stockings, this lady gets lavish gifts and stockings. Also, back in that time period stockings were expensive, so it is shameful that he buys a random woman a pair than his wife that he “loves”. The guilt is eating him alive and can’t deal with it anymore. Not only does he betray his wife but also his son Biff. Biff idolized his father as a child, but when he caught his father with the woman, he finally saw the truth about his hero. In this play, Biff yells “you fake! You phony little fake! You fake!” to his father thus making him feel even guiltier (Miller 194). In The Great Gatsby, betrayal is a recurring theme that happens quite often between all characters such as Daisy and Tom, and Daisy and Gatsby. Jay Gatsby ends up betraying someone that probably is not ideal. He ends up betraying himself. According to "The Et Tu Brute Complex" compulsive self betrayal by Robert Lawrence Antus,
This line, shouted by Biff at his father in Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, perfectly sums up Biff’s exasperation at his family’s lies, particularly those of the titular patriarch, Willy. Willy is falling apart because the only thing he has is his hopes and dreams. He creates these extremely specific ideas of success for him and his sons. When they do not, and can not, achieve these goals, he ignores the reality and continues to belief in his false hope. Biff is NOT going to be a football star. Willy is NOT well-liked and is NOT a good salesman. His seeds are NOT going to grow.
The Lomans are not by any means an ideal family. They are full of lust, verbally
In the play, "Death of a Salesman" the main character, Willy Loman, meets a terrible fate from the pressures of reality that he was not ready to face. The other members in his family are to blame for this because not one of them tried to help and save Willy from his pending suicide. They watch as Willy eventually becomes face-to-face with reality and is beaten and falls into despair and eventually a false image of hope in committing suicide. His wife Linda who cares so much for him, did absolutely nothing to help him, she watches as he slowly breaks down. Happy only cares about himself during the entire play and even after realizing what Willy was going through and still refuses to help. Biff completely destroys the relationship between himself and Willy, which is what Willy is most proud and happy for. Society as a
n the play, Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman has a different relationship with his sons in the beginning of the play compared to that of the flashback scene. Early on in the beginning of the play, Willy Loman’s relationship with his sons can be characterized as distant and stressed. Furthermore, Biff Loman, the youngest of the two sons, says ”Everything I say there’s a twist of mockery on his face. I can’t get near him”. This quote emphasizes the idea that Willy Loman is constantly mocking his son Biff, resulting in a very distant and strained relationship. On the contrary, during the flashback scene, Willy Loman’s relationship with his sons can be considered loving and close. In more detail, when Willy Loman returns home, Biff says to his
In Death of a Salesman, written by American playwright Arthur Miller, focuses on Biff’s relationship towards his father Willy Loman. He plays the role that drives most of Willy’s thoughts and actions, specifically his memories. Whenever Willy is not able to accept the present, he reverts to the past where Biff is usually nearby. Before Willy’s trip to Boston, Biff admired his father. He trusted and believed his philosophy that any person can be successful, provided that he is “well-liked”. Biff never questions his father even though at times it is obvious that Willy is not following the rules himself. This results in Biff growing up believing that rules do not apply to him because Willy does not follow them nor does he expect
In Death of a Salesman there is a guy, Willy Loman, who is in a heavy conflict with his son, Biff Loman. Throughout the book Willy and Biff fight and also get along at some points. Biff is upset with Willy because of something that happened in Boston, Massachusetts years ago. Willy is upset at Biff because Biff failed math and didn't want to raise his grade or go to summer school, and became a failure according to Willy. At the beginning we don’t know why Willy and Biff have such a heavy conflict but as the book goes along you get to know more and more about why the two of them are in a heavy conflict with each other. The problem between Willy and Biff was that their relationship was built on lies and Biff found out that they are.
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
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)
Before I can explain to you what the problem is you will have to sit still and give me your attention.
Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman is a complex tragic character. He is a man struggling to hold onto the little dignity he has left in a changing society. While society may have caused some of his misfortune, Willy must be held responsible for his poor judgment, disloyalty and foolish pride.