• Home Page
  • Is Success Tangible In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

Is Success Tangible In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

Superior Essays
Show More
Is Success Tangible?
Arthur Miller’s 1949 play Death of a Salesman is a very powerful play that discusses not only the slow demise of Willy Loman, the aging salesman with two unsuccessful sons, but also highlights the different views that people can have regarding success. Willy Loman, the father of Biff Loman and brother of Ben, is a salesman who has dedicated his life to building up his reputation. His son Biff has spent much of his life trying to find a job he truly loves to do, but has been mostly unsuccessful. However, his late brother Ben made a fortune off of diamond mining in Africa, embodying the American Dream. Ben appears in Willy’s mind to give him advice throughout the play, but never tells Willy how exactly he was able to …show more content…
Miller’s message allows readers to take a look at what can happen to someone who is able to achieve the American Dream, inspiring many people to take after Ben’s ways and take initiative/look for materialistic proof when trying to achieve the American Dream. Readers can also peer into the mind of Biff, taking a look at what someone who struggled to “find himself” and could never be successful because of it ended up like. Readers also get to see what can happen to someone like Willy, whose close-mindedness and refusal to change ended up holding him back from ever becoming successful. This insight can inspire readers to open their minds and think about success in perspective, unlike what Willy and Biff did. In conclusion, Miller uses Ben, Willy, and Biff not only as means to reveal how the American Dream can be the key to success for many people, but also to highlight how being close-minded and unwilling to ever change can result in a disappointing life filled with dreams that never get the chance to

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Similarities And Differences Between Nickel And Dimed And Of Mice And Men
    • 1772 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Similarities And Differences Between Nickel And Dimed And Of Mice And Men

    Throughout the United States, people, different as they may be, have one goal and desire that is the same. For lots of those people, that goal is just to get around the challenges that one day brings upon them. For many, they will do whatever it takes to provide financially for themselves and or their family, in an attempt to build supportable and desirable lives. This concept is known as the American Dream. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s, Nickled and Dimed and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the American Dream is an ever lasting concept that is perceived differently by both of the book’s main characters.…

    • 1772 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Misrepresenting Reality In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Misrepresenting Reality In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

    When we are challenged by the dark, sombre facets of reality, we cringe, only to entangle ourselves back into the labyrinth of our trivial illusions. This idea is epitomized in the film, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller by the character of Willy Loman, who constantly denies the harsh, objective reality is blinded by his own irrational, superficial desires that he believes will take him to the highest happiness. Ostentatious and ambitious as he is, Willy uses his sons, Biff and Happy, as tools to bring him success in society by compelling them to take on ‘big’ businesses despite their disinterest. Willy Loman is portrayed to take extraordinary measures to any extent in order to quench his burning desire of becoming the ‘greatest’, ‘biggest’ man in history. His inner contempt and inability to accept his identity, forces him to take on such an ambitious and delusional character that is often so, looked down upon by his fellows.…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Self-Misadversity Through Adversity In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
    • 1061 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Self-Misadversity Through Adversity In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

    Self-Misperception through Adversity in Death of a Salesman Everyone will encounter several times of adversity through his or her life. Different people react in distinct ways to overcome the difficulties. Some people can act in a positive and brave manner to deal with difficulties. On the other hand, some individuals might blindly follow their goals despite of the hardship in reality. In the modern play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman is a character who tries to ensure his independence, but create a lot of adversity for himself and his family.…

    • 1061 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The American Dream In The Great Gatsby And Fences By August Wilson
    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The American Dream In The Great Gatsby And Fences By August Wilson

    The American Dream has inspired many people to improve their lives, by striving for money and power. It is considered a constructive idea, contributing the greatness of the United States as a nation. However, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and Fences by August Wilson paint a darker picture of this dream. Jay Gatsby died never quite achieving his image of the American Dream, Willy gave up on the American Dream and Cory hasn’t lost his hope for a bright future, and still lives to hopefully achieve the American Dream. America has a society which strives for success in every situation.…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Willy Loman Archetypes
    • 1179 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Willy Loman Archetypes

    Willy essentially believes that the notion of working hard in America will lead to a glorious and successful life, however, that is not the case and it isn't until the end where his son Biff acknowledges that the beliefs of the entire family is incorrect. “Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff— he’s…

    • 1179 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    The Theme Of Death In Arthur Miller's 'Death Of A Salesman'
    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Theme Of Death In Arthur Miller's 'Death Of A Salesman'

    Willy tells Howard that “And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. Because what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eight-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved by so many different people” (Miller 75). This led him to live unhappily and miserably. This shows his thirst for living the American dream, as he is willing to pursue any job as long as it is perceived to be more modernized and with high returns. Similarly, Willie betrays his spouse in his quest for a luxurious life.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Willy's Tragic Faults
    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Willy's Tragic Faults

    Sharna Maddison "Explore the view that, Biff's tragic faults are the result of Willy's failings" Remember to include in your answer relevant comment on Miller's dramatic methods In this essay I will explore the view that Biff's tragic faults are the result of Willy's failings. The play 'Death of a Salesman' is centred around the character of Willy Loman. Willy Loman has two sons, Biff and Happy Loman.…

    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    What Is Willy Loman's Ideal Of The American Dream
    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Is Willy Loman's Ideal Of The American Dream

    At first glance Willy Loman's ideal of the American dream is prospering in his chosen career of being a salesman in the United States. The tale goes on showing that throughout Willy's younger days he was more prosperous and self-confident which could be seen as to why throughout the play he revisits the past. One recurring person in Willy's daydreams of the past is his older brother, Ben, that he idealized till the very end. As his situation in life became worse Willy seems to over-idealize his deceased, older brother and his success as seen when he asks his brother for guidance, "Ben, am I right? Don't…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Raisin In The Sun Ethos
    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Raisin In The Sun Ethos

    His dream is to provide for himself. On the other hand, Biff’s portrayal of the American Dream as inclusive of independence is when he refuses to follow his father’s path of being a businessman. He wants to farm and work hard with his own hands. These two characters believe in the need to detach from family and gaining financial independence and…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Foils In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Foils In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

    The individuals we surround ourselves with in our life often have an influential sway on our behaviour and motivations. Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is no exception to the impact others have on our lives, however the people in Willy’s life do not influence him positively, but rather act as people for him to blame despite his faults being only his own. The people in his life, the secondary characters to his tragedy, all work to provide better depth and perception of Willy Loman as he strives to achieve the American Dream. He surrounds himself with people who are all meant to help him in being successful however their efforts are proven to be wasteful as Willy acts on his own mind. He ignores the advice of others and his…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Death Of A Salesman Materialism Analysis
    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Death Of A Salesman Materialism Analysis

    Instead of a country where individuals could be content in their work, America became a country full of people who could only find happiness through peer acceptance. This peer acceptance could only be achieved through the ownership of material goods and as a result of this, capitalistic success quickly became the only way to be viewed highly in society. Arthur Miller himself experienced this first hand while working at his father’s company at the age of 17 (Mason). Miller was inspired to write Death of a Salesman by an encounter he had with his uncle, Manny Newman, in 1947 and used this encounter as the inspiration for the character Willy Loman (Mason). Miller had a conflicted relationship with Newman, who insisted on creating the perfect capitalistic image for himself, and used that mindset to craft the tragic hero Willy Loman.…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Duality In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Duality In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

    Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” depicts an aspirant named Willy Loman whose over exaggerated, and rather impractical, goals for his future fill his mind…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Comparison Of The American Dream In Death Of A Salesman And Fences
    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Comparison Of The American Dream In Death Of A Salesman And Fences

    Willy was the type of man who believed that the American dream could be achieved through the connections he had and the people he knew. He even told his sons when they were younger, “I’ll show you all the towns… And they know me, boys, they know me up and down New England” (Wilson 981; act 1) as he wanted to prove to his sons that as long as you know the right people, you can succeed in life and achieve the American dream. Troy, however, believed the exact opposite of Willy. Cory wanted to play football, but Troy did not want him to.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Dysfunctional Family In Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller
    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Dysfunctional Family In Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller

    Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” is a story of business, family, and life, all revolving around Willy Loman. In “Death of a Salesman” Arthur Miller recreates the American economy in the play as a large obstacle for Willy Loman. The protagonist…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    How Does Death Of A Salesman Reflect The American Dream
    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Does Death Of A Salesman Reflect The American Dream

    Abstract: Arthur Miller is known for addressing serious social issues in his plays. His Death of a Salesman reflects the American society of the times in which it was written. The main character, Willy Loman is the victim of the American dream that makes him strongly believe in the possibility of attaining wild and grand success in a land of immense possibilities. Willy takes his own life in his vain pursuit of success. Death of a Salesman met with instant success when it was first staged in 1940’s, as the Americans could instantly connect with the tragedy of Willy.…

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings