The play “Death of a Salesman” written by Arthur Miller, is about a travelling salesman named Willy Loman who struggles with his life. He has developed a lack of self worth and low self confidence, due to his obsession with living the “American Dream,” which has caused him to have too high of standards for success. Because of this, he feels unfulfilled that he has not been able to live up to the American dream and repeat the success of his older brother Ben, his father, and Dave Singleman, who all where salesmen that he idolized. His lack of success, along with his feeling of unfulfillment, him suffering from mental illness, and being unfaithful to his wife has led to suicidal thoughts and numerous attempts to end his life, yet never following through. His wife Linda, is a caring and compassionate person, loving Willy despite his lack of success and respect for her. She often defends her husband, unaware of his unfaithfulness, and constantly reminds him that she does not care that they struggle financially. Willy also has two sons, having developed a tarnished relationship with his oldest, Biff. Biff also struggles in his career. He has built a reputation for stealing ever since his youth, and he bounces around jobs, trying to find his purpose in his thirties. The two have an unhealthy relationship because Willy is very hard on his two sons, expecting success from both and therefore is very upset Biff has not done so. Happy on the other hand, has been successful. He lives in his own apartment and has a steady job, however lacks proper morals and is a womanizer. They play fits the genre of a tragedy because the story encompasses a tragic hero that wishes to achieve a goal, that encounters an obstruction that prevents him doing so due to his internal flaws. Willy was a man with so much potential to be a good worker, husband, and father. However, because of his obsession of living the “American Dream,” choosing an occupation that was more suited to his success rather than his enjoyment, and his wanting for materialistic possessions not only gave him a lack of self worth when he could not live up to his standards, his relationship with his family and friends faltered as well. Another characteristic of a tragedy is that a tragic hero may also achieve some revelation or great realization. In the end of the play, Willy realized that Biff loved and cared about him, which ended up in him deciding to end his life because he felt he was worth more dead than alive because of his family’s life insurance. The image above is a blackout poem containing an image or symbol along with key words or phrases that represents an ongoing theme in the play about success and ones self worth. Willy was unable to rid himself of the flawed idea that he along with his family had to live the “American Dream” to feel accomplished and happy in life. The image itself is a dollar symbol which is to represent an ongoing theme of success or lack of success as well as the family’s struggles with making money. The words circled are the key words or phrases that represent the story and common themes that occurred in the play.
Key words/phrases
- Suicide: The play ends with Willy ending his life because he felt he was worth more dead than alive. This was because Willy had the idea that his family could benefit from collecting life insurance after he passes away rather then having him still live.
- Life’s meaning: This phrase is a theme that arises numerous times in the play. Willy, has the idea of living the “American Dream” and because of this along with the influence of his older brother and father’s success, most likely caused him to select the wrong career. Willy constantly mentions his pride for repairs he made to the house and maybe should have instead found a job related to construction.
- Despair: Willy’s lack of success in his life coupled with his high standards of success caused him to have low self confidence and to feel unfulfilled in his life.
- Issues: Willy had many issues that ultimately led to his downfall: Obsession with the “American Dream,” high standards for success, exaggerating his success, teaching flawed thinking to children, mental illness, suicidal tendencies, tarnished relationship with son Biff, and wanting for Materialistic possesions.
- Purpose in life: Similar to Life’s meaning however, the phrases represents Biff’s journey to find his purpose.
- Irrelevant: Willy idolized Dave Singleman who was a famous salesman. He was very successful and well liked shown by many attending and mourning at his funeral. Willy wanted the repeat Singleman’s success however exaggerates his fame and is irrelevant to the public and even to those that know him.
- Doubt: Similar to despair, doubt arouse in Willy as his success did not match his standards.
- Mental illness: Willy suffered from some type of mental illness. This was shown by him blanking out numerous times during the play, speaking to himself, and seeing flashbacks or hallucinations of those who were not actually present. His mental illness may be the cause of his suicidal thoughts.
- Renovations: Does not represent a theme however is a symbol of how Willy enjoyed repairing his home and may have chosen the wrong career in life: Construction.
- Coward: Willy acted as a coward in the play. He tells his wife Linda that he will speak to Biff the next morning and instead avoids his son. Also, does not admit to suicidal tendencies when the pipe is brought up by Biff.
- Defeat: Willy feels defeated in his life. He did not live up to standards and expectations and therefore lacks happiness.
- Financial failure: Willy chose the job of a travelling salesman. Did so because of external factors like others in his family having success with that career and opportunity to make good money. Instead he is not successful.
- Approved: Throughout the play, Biff is searching approval from his father in his career and his success. Willy seeks approval from his wife Linda as well.
- Providing jobs: A friend of Willy, Charley, offers job to Willy so he could make a better living. Willy rejects this opportunity an instead tries to get a job from Howard. He feels entitled to get a job because he knew Howard’s father and named him however Howard does not do so.
- Dwelling: Willy dwells upon the fact that he did not live up to his standards and feels unfulfilled and unsuccessful meanwhile he had almost paid off his entire mortgage, has a loving wife, and has two children that care for him and still have the potential to have their own success.
- Nothing: Willy feels he is almost nothing and is worth more dead than alive.
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