Death of a Salesman Analysis

Death of a Salesman

Author: Arthur Miller

Setting: Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Boston. Late 1940’s

Plot: The final days of a failing salesman and his family.

Main Characters: Willy Loman, Linda Loman, Biff Loman, Happy Loman, Charley, Bernard, and Uncle Ben

Summary:  This is a story much about achieving happiness and the American dream. Willy Loman is a man who is disappointed in the future so he chooses to live in the past. Willy spent his whole life trying to achieve the status quo to therefore receive happiness, but he ended up dying alone. This piece is about his struggle with the realization of that fact. Although he does not face that struggle alone, his family goes through equally as much pain with him.

I liked this book a lot, and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that it was extremely vivid and emotional. Miller really throws the reader right into the struggles that the Loman family is trying to overcome. Miller wants you to sympathize with Willy, but I did quite the opposite. Any man that cant realize that happiness is based upon your own interpretation and not social standard does not deserve my pity. I believe that Miller wanted the reader to feel the conflicting emotions of sympathy and anger at Willy, which is what makes this book such a good read. There are many symbols in this book as well. Seeds represent an opportunity for Willy to prove his worth. Diamond represent material wealth. The stockings represent betrayal and the rubber hose represents suicide and giving up.

Themes:

The American Dream – that all you need for happiness is to be well liked and personally attractive.

Abandonment- Willy has no sense of commitment, stemming from his brother and father and stemming to his own sons.

Betrayal – Biff walks out and Willy’s ambitions for him and Willy sees that as horrible betrayal because he thinks Biff is the only one who had a true shot at being successful and happy.

Quotes:

“A diamond is hard and rough to the touch.”  –Compares Willy to a diamond in the ruff, and implys that his death will finally supply something concrete for his family.

“He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine . . . A salesman is got to dream, boy.” –In this quote Charley explains that Willy did just feel compelled to sell, but never realized he had any other choice in life. Which truly evokes sympathy.