Inherent in humans is the desire to strive for accomplishment in their life course. However, the fact that “accomplishment” exists abstractly within the realm of individual perception leads to conflicting translations of what defines it. In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, the protagonist, engages in such a conflict with his son, Biff. Willy, a longtime traveling salesman, harbors lofty expectations for Biff as a young man anticipating he will become a great success in athletics. Therefore, after Biff fails to meet academic requirements for acceptance into college, Willy begins to lose himself while labeling his son a failure. In contrast, Biff travels the western United States performing manual labor and through various experiences begins to understand what purpose his life holds. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Miller utilizes conflict to establish contrasting interpretations for the meaning of accomplishment.
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Moreover, despite Willy’s ability to proficiently perform skilled trades, he never pursues menial labor as an occupation due to its lower status compared to an accomplished salesman. In Willy’s conversation with Charley, Willy’s neighbor, Charley exhibits admiration for Willy’s installation of a new ceiling in the line, “Yeah, that’s a piece of work. To put up a ceiling is a mystery to me” (Miller 27). This dialogue showcases Willy possesses above average skill in the carpentry trade. On the contrary, Biff believes this more simple style of life would be fulfilling exemplified by the dialogue, “They’ve laughed at dad for years, and you want to know why? Because we don’t belong in this nuthouse of a city! We should be mixing cement on some open plain-or carpenters” (Miller 38). Willy’s obsession with his son obtaining an “accomplished” status blinds him to the reality that even he would be happier to live a more simplistic
Moreover, despite Willy’s ability to proficiently perform skilled trades, he never pursues menial labor as an occupation due to its lower status compared to an accomplished salesman. In Willy’s conversation with Charley, Willy’s neighbor, Charley exhibits admiration for Willy’s installation of a new ceiling in the line, “Yeah, that’s a piece of work. To put up a ceiling is a mystery to me” (Miller 27). This dialogue showcases Willy possesses above average skill in the carpentry trade. On the contrary, Biff believes this more simple style of life would be fulfilling exemplified by the dialogue, “They’ve laughed at dad for years, and you want to know why? Because we don’t belong in this nuthouse of a city! We should be mixing cement on some open plain-or carpenters” (Miller 38). Willy’s obsession with his son obtaining an “accomplished” status blinds him to the reality that even he would be happier to live a more simplistic