Death Of A Salesman Willy Analysis

In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the rise in economic consumerism is a prominent theme in the text. Consumerism is shown through the display of willy’s relationship with his cars and due to willy’s exposure to Dave Singleman and Ben Loman, his economic motivation is internally conflicted; willy also has to deal with the change in the American dream. His exposure to these influences causes him to be internally conflicted with his economic identity. As one of the influential factors, his cars show a change in the world of economics. During the Death of a Salesman, we observe Willy with two different cars: his Studebaker and his Chevrolet. Through his flashbacks, his love and appreciation for his Chevrolet is shown. Later on, in his timeline, he sells the car due to his lack of sales and the rise in taxes during WWI. While the boys are preparing the car in one of his flashbacks he says, “I been wondering why you polish the car so careful. Ha! Don’t leave the hubcaps, boys. Get the chamois to the hubcaps. Happy, use newspaper on the windows” (willy, Act 1, p. 160) His excitement is one that isn’t often seen in the real time. At the time he was selling the car, most cars are worth $850 new. Willy Loman’s car, then …show more content…
By virtue of willy’s job, he is forced to have a car, one of the most expensive luxuries of the 1940’s, and is affected by the influence of capitalism. As a sign of being successful, the car fulfills the American dream. Willy is particularly self-conscious, and he cares about his public image, so he wants to appear successful. Being successful, according to the American dream is materialistic success. Yet, to motivate him further on both sides of the economic ideas, the strong male figures push him to both ends. All these factors combine to become willy’s economic identity. Sadly, that is one that is profoundly