Home Page
Willy's Play Makes A Joke Of The American Dream

Willy's Play Makes A Joke Of The American Dream

Decent Essays

Show More

family with the financial problems, and he hopes that Biff will respect and honor him after his funeral. According to Bloom, "if Willy has tragic stature, it is because he is exiled from himself, and so can win no victory whatsoever" (8). Willey is sure that if he is not successful in business, he is not deserved to be loved and respected by his family. Bloom states that Willey is destroyed by love and by the "inevitable ambivalences that attend family romances" (9). The true aim of the main character is to experience "a parent's love and hope" that Biff, his oldest son will be able to supersede his limited success in career (Sterling 93).
However, Harold Bloom says that Miller's play makes a joke of the "American dream" because Willy Loman

Related Documents

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

Because Willy blindly tries to pursuing his dream, he does not only create a lot of hardship for his family, but also give a lot of inappropriate education to his sons. Although Willy questions about whether “[he is] teaching them right”, Willy ensures that there is nothing wrong about being well-loved and successful. As the result, Biff and Happy both receive a lot of twisted and inappropriate education. Willy tells Biff not to pay any effort on education since Biff’s good appearance will make him “five times ahead of [Bernard]” who studies really hard in school. Willy also gives Biff the wrong idea of well-liked.…
- 1061 Words
- 4 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Biff And Willy's Relationship
- 508 Words
- 3 Pages
Biff And Willy's Relationship

Instead of waiting to talk to his father after the trip was going to be over, he went to Boston himself and told Willy about the situation. This just shows that Biff really cared for his father and felt it was necessary to let him know, because Willy plays a key role in motivating Biff to get a good mark in math. Finally, after finding out the bitter truth about what his father was doing during his trips out, he does not care much about his career as he begins to give up on the faith he had in his role model. While Linda and Willy talk to each other about Biff, Linda says “I don’t know, I think he’s still lost, Willy. I think he’s very lost” (16).…
- 508 Words
- 3 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And Willy Loman
- 671 Words
- 3 Pages
Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And Willy Loman

Willy is completely ignorant to the current academic issues that occupy Biff; and constantly puts emphasis on the importance of maintaining a good reputation, that he repetitively excuses Biff’s failure. The consistent theme of respect and reputation is present throughout the play. As the play presses on, Willy’s character is revealed more thoroughly; to the point where it is clear that popularity equals success. The irony of the whole situation is that Willy believes the opposite of reality; the natural and obvious facts that are presented. An example of Willy’s ironic judgement takes place when he brags to Happy that he is well- known, and tells him to “Go to Filene’s, go to the Hub, go to Slattery’s.…
- 671 Words
- 3 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Willy Loman Outline
- 1071 Words
- 5 Pages
Willy Loman Outline

2. Betrayal - One of Willy’s biggest obsessions throughout the play is Biff. Willy feels as if Biff has shown large amounts of betrayal. Biff promises a great deal of dedication and commitment to his father. He expected so much from…
- 1071 Words
- 5 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Examples Of Capitalism In The Great Gatsby
- 732 Words
- 3 Pages
Examples Of Capitalism In The Great Gatsby

Willy spends so much time trying to rekindle his popularity and grooming his sons to be like him that he doesn’t realize he is making himself and his family miserable. When Willy’s son Biff is sick of Willy’s attempts to get him into sales, he finally tells him he is tired of him trying to force him into a profession he has no desire of being…
- 732 Words
- 3 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Daisy's Relationship In The Great Gatsby
- 1653 Words
- 7 Pages
Daisy's Relationship In The Great Gatsby

Biff, Willy’s son, hears a woman’s voice in the background as Willy tries to make conversation with Biff at the door. Frantically trying to explain himself, Willy breaks out in anger, screaming at the woman to “get outta here” and “go back!” (119). He explains to Biff that the woman is “ nothing to [him]”, begging him to understand he was “terribly lonely” (119). Willy fails to blame himself for the affair and claims his loneliness pushes him to see another woman.…
- 1653 Words
- 7 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Great Essays
Theme Of Respect In The Great Gatsby
- 1517 Words
- 7 Pages
Theme Of Respect In The Great Gatsby

He describes his rather shiftless sons as “rugged, well liked, all-around” boys (Miller 33). And, after being fired from his job, Willy begs Biff to go “to that lunch tomorrow morning” after a disastrous meeting with Oliver (Miller 83). In reality, Biff and Happy are spoiled, indolent men with no foreseeable path to fame, glory, or success, despite Willy’s hopes. Even as he kills himself, Willy optimistically imagines Biff “with 20,000 dollars in his pocket” (Miller 100). Willy, Anse, and Gatsby’s fixation upon earning respect through the achievement of one definable task blinds the three men to reality.…
- 1517 Words
- 7 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'

Willie completely loses his mind with the desire to see his sons’ affluence. In addition, he wants his son Biff to seek an office job in a town firm, but he declines since that is not where his passion is. He prefers to undertake manual work. Furthermore, both Happy and Biff show commitment to their dreams by abandoning their father at a restaurant following his outburst. Despite the fact that Willy did not like his traveling job as a salesman, he continued to pursue it knowing that he was a rather hands-on man.…
- 1134 Words
- 5 Pages
Superior Essays

Read More
Superior Essays
Death Of A Salesman State Of Mind Analysis
- 1031 Words
- 4 Pages
Death Of A Salesman State Of Mind Analysis

This is obvious to the audience when his oldest son, Biff turns on Willy after discovering that he was having an affair while away on business. After that day, Biff kept his distance from his father. He was done with his foolishness. The icing on the cake was when Willy got fired from his job. Willy took much pride in his work.…
- 1031 Words
- 4 Pages
Superior Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Similarities Between Oedipus The King And Death Of A Salesman
- 1061 Words
- 5 Pages
Similarities Between Oedipus The King And Death Of A Salesman

his wife, Linda suggested that he ask his boss to be transferred to a closer office. Willy thinks he would be a perfect match for the transfer because he considers himself to be a successful salesman. Willy’s son, Biff is an unsuccessful 34 year old that can’t hold a steady job. This really affects Willy because he thinks he could be a rich and successful in the business world. Biff and Happy talked about how they should start their own ranch in the west, Willy suggests that they talk to one of his former employers to get a loan.…
- 1061 Words
- 5 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Willy Loman Failure
- 720 Words
- 3 Pages
Willy Loman Failure

He becomes internally conflicted between whether moving west or to continue with Willy’s dream. Biff differs from his brother and his father, due to the fact that finally confronts his failure in his life, which allows him to finally break free from his father’s entrapping dream and move onto to the symbolically free territory. Willy sees Biff as an underachiever because of this, which leads to many heated interactions between the…
- 720 Words
- 3 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
The Impact Of Willys Expectations In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
- 1174 Words
- 5 Pages
The Impact Of Willys Expectations In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

The Impact of Willy’s Expectations in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman “Blessed [are] [those] who expect nothing, as [they] will never be disappointed” (Alexander Pope). In the playwright Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman is a mercurial salesman who contemplates suicide due to the emptiness in his life. Despite his hard work, the Loman family survive with only minimum income, causing Willy to hold his sons, Biff and Happy, to unhealthy pressure that hinders their mental wellbeing. Therefore, Willy’s unrealistic expectations lead to the mental downfall of Biff and Happy, which is proven through their denial, anxiety, and dishonesty. Both sons are lead into a state of denial as Willy pressures them to be financially successful.…
- 1174 Words
- 5 Pages
Improved Essays

Read More
Superior Essays
Hamlet And Death Of A Salesman Comparison Analysis
- 1941 Words
- 8 Pages
Hamlet And Death Of A Salesman Comparison Analysis

Likewise, Biff feels that Willy has betrayed the whole family because of the other woman he has been having an affair with. Biff looks up to Willy as a father figure, while growing up his greatest influence was Willy, and he thought that Willy could do anything. His father established a good image for himself, but when Biff found out the truth, he knew that his father has betrayed the family and has lied to him. Since Biff and Willy are always getting into confrontations, Biff expresses to his mother what he really thinks of his father. “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!”(42).…
- 1941 Words
- 8 Pages
Superior Essays

Read More
Improved Essays
Biff And The American Dream Analysis
- 1188 Words
- 5 Pages
Biff And The American Dream Analysis

Throughout the play, Biff also had significant character development. Correspondingly, he is the only member of the Lomman family who dared to speak the truth and accept this truth. Willy’s belief kept him in a constant state of desire and turmoil while Biff learned to accept and be content with the way things are. In contrast, Willy’s beliefs in the “American dream” are the one the author condemns. The audience can see the negative impact his beliefs had on himself and his family.…
- 1188 Words
- 5 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