Willy initially presents Biff as being a “lazy bum” as he has rejected his father’s ideals of the American dream. However Willy instantly contradicts himself by stating “There’s one thing about Biff-he’s not lazy”. Perhaps Willy is grasping onto the little hope he has of Biff succeeding where he has failed. This is later reinforced by Willy stating “I’ll get him a job selling”. This is in a way tragic as it is apparent that Biff does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps; however Willy…
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman presents two opposing views of the American dream, one from the eyes of Willy Loman and the other from the eyes of his son, Biff Loman. Over the course of one day, Willy’s concept of success is expressed through his failures to attain it throughout his life, while Biff’s perspective is dynamic and throughout the day he comes away with a different idea entirely of what it means to be successful. Biff’s eye-opening moment comes as he recognizes the true reality…
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 common theme in the plays Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. These two plays contain similarities and differences between the characters, the interpretation of the American dream, and their relationships with each other. In these classic works of American literature, there are many aspects that can be compared and contrasted. In…
A Discussion of Three Messages from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman After viewing Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman this semester, it is clear that this story was well developed and well thought out on Miller’s part. A slew of conflicts and characters bounce around in a cauldron of conflict, resolution and sadness. The main character, Willy Loman, acted by Dustin Hofman, was a marvelous man, and provided the plot line with a slew of emotion and plot twist. This character being the father…
For Willy, his adventurer / explorer brother, Ben, and his salesman hero, Dave Singleman, are images of success, but the character of Ben is fantastical and the achievements of Dave are idealised and exaggerated. Using these as his benchmarks, Willy can never achieve the success he so desperately craves. Through a series of flashbacks in the play, where we witness Willy's persistent efforts to make the American Dream a reality for himself and his family, Miller launches a scathing attack on the…
“Death of a Salesman” written by Arthur Miller is a short story about two characters, Willy Loman and his son Biff Loman. At the beginning of the story, Willy and Linda, Willy’s wife, talk to each other about Willy finding a job close to his home city, New York, since Linda is worried about Willy’s because he had an accident. Willy feels happy when he imagines about the past the past when his son, Biff, was a quarterback with potential to make it to professional level. Willy and Biff have…
Success, Passion, and the American Dream in Death of a Salesman As protagonist Willy Loman tumbles down the stairs of despair and defeat, Arthur Miller seizes the moment and masterfully crafts his 1949 Pulitzer Prize winning play: Death of a Salesman (Charters 1428). Miller creates an environment that reflects mid-twentieth century America and establishes characters that are frighteningly realistic. The Loman family as a whole is the central source of theme in the play. Their struggles as a…
constantly shown and depicted in movies and books by having characters trying to achieve this fulfilling life. This success for most people is shown through a good paying job, a big house, and a happy and very loving family. Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman is a character who tries his whole life to reach his American Dream. The dream Willy envisions is never fulfilled while he is alive even with Biff's life starting so promising with popularity in high school and football talents good enough…
Considered one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman can be seen as praise to a man who, while trying to bring his family into grace, falls in a tragic life. As Centola (25) says, “Miller’s play tells the story of a man who, on the verge of death, wants desperately to justify his life.” Willy is a complex and fascinating man who gradually destroyed himself with false hopes and beliefs. He is a tragic man who, in his whole life, has believed that he would…