...Miller’s first description portrays Brooklyn, the setting of the Loman household with a gentle flute melody playing in the background, ‘it is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon’. The house is described as being ‘small and fragile-seeming’ with ‘towering angular shapes behind it, surrounding it on all sides’. This detailed description conveys to the reader that there is a sense of claustrophobia and inferiority, suggesting that this house is out of place in the daunting city. The opening location of Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ serves as a foil to ‘Death of a Salesman’, as it outlines the beauty of the Salinas River in rural California. There are however some links between the two introductions; the Salinas River is described as ‘twinkling over the yellow sands in the moonlight’, which directly opposes the description of Brooklyn ‘an angry glow of orange’ in scene one of ‘Death of a Salesman’. Rural California seems to be a very still and peaceful place where wildlife such as rabbits, raccoons and deer are able to thrive amongst ‘sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool’. Steinbeck then describes the Gabilan Mountains surrounding the valley, ‘strong and rocky’ which relate directly back to the ominous skyscrapers looming over the Loman household. Whereas Of...
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...November 10, 2012 English P5 Death of a Salesman Essay Like Father Like Son In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, Miller reveals what happens when a dream, especially the American dream, dies, as seen through the life of Willy Loman, a pathetic, self-deluded salesman. The play follows the family through painful conflicts, significant issues such as national values, and the price of blind fate while working toward the ‘American Dream’. The major problem woven into the plot discusses how Willy, insufficiently, attempts to be able to die ‘the death of a salesman’, both wealthy and comfortable. In this play, the American character is criticized because the play emphasizes how children are a result of their parents modeling by including examples such as how Biff and Happy, the unsuccessful children, believe that lying, cheating, and stealing are tolerable because of the example Willy set for them. Furthermore, through Willy’s shallow contemptuous personality, the reader clearly sees that he finds lying, cheating and stealing acceptable. This shows not only in his actions and words, but also through his sons who imitate his values. As Happy, Biff, and Willy are conversing, Biff mentions that he practices with a new football. When Biff is asked where it came from, he simply says, “Well, I borrowed it from the locker room” (Miller 29). This statement combines both lying and stealing, because as Biff tries to cover the fact that he stole the ball. Willy does nothing...
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...The significance of Death of a Salesman lies within its ability to extend beyond the post-war period, and to “speak” to people today. Death of a Salesman is based upon living the “American Dream”; This gave the opportunity for men and women to have a well-paying job, own a home, the option of having two cars, marriage, children, and pets. The most important aspect of living the “American Dream” is to know that in order to achieve these things in life you must work hard to succeed. Miller made this obvious by showing both success and failure. Willy Loman and his family had great dreams, but did not work hard to make them become reality. Willy and his family expected these things to happen on their own with little effort. As Willy’s nephew Bernard pushed Biff to put effort in his schooling, Willy and Biff just blew it off as though it was nothing. Biff expected his football skills to be enough to succeed, which he later found out wasn’t true at all. Bernard became very successful and Biff was the opposite. He didn’t do anything in his life and became nobody. Willy is another example; he expected good expected good things to come in life without effort. He expected his children to become successful so they could support him, but instead they became bums. The stress of not being able to pay bills and the failure of his children was so unbearable that he became absorbed in the past. Often oblivious to what was going on around him. Willy also became suicidal, constantly crashing...
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...Narcissism and the American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Narcissism och den amerikanska drömmen i Arthur Millers en handelsresandes död. Fredrik Artan Faculty of Arts and Education Subject: English Points:15.0 Supervisor: Magnus Ullén Examiner: Anna Swärdh 2014-06-18 Serial number Abstract This essay focuses on the theme of the American Dream in relation to narcissism in Miller’s Death of a salesman. The purpose is to demonstrate that a close reading of the main protagonist, Willy Loman, suggests that his notion of success in relation to the American Dream can be regarded as narcissistic. This essay will examine this by first observing how Willy´s notion of success is represented in the play, then look at how his understanding of it can be viewed from a narcissistic standpoint. The results I have found in my analysis show that there is a connection between Willy’s understanding of success and his narcissistic behavior. He displays traits such as grandiosity, arrogance, need of specialness and denial of emotions. His relationship with other characters reveals his lack of empathy, manipulation and exploitation of others as well as his need of superiority and fear of inferiority. The conclusion is that Willy and his notion of success could be considered as narcissistic. Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................1 The American...
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...product of his inventive ability to control what he wants his readers to picture or feel. His intentions when writing ‘Death of a Salesman’ was to help people identify some of the social issues that were growing, in a way that eases the pain they were going through. As one of his critics states, "Miller writes ingeniously, conveying the message that ‘if the proper study of mankind is man, man’s inescapable problem is himself’ (poets 1997). Miller accurately puts into words what every person thinks, feels, or worries about, but often has trouble expressing. Arthur Miller portrays Willy’s problems with family life, the society, and himself in Death of a Salesman. Many of Arthur Miller’s plays reflect or are a product of events in his life; he believed that American society needed to be made over; and for this reason, many of his earlier plays showed sympathetic portrayals and compassionate characterizations of his characters. Death of a Salesman is a play relating to the events leading to the downfall of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is at one time wealthy, but is now approaching the end of his usefulness (poet, 1997). Miller uses symbolism to expand on the conflicts within the Loman family. Happy and Biff, Willy’s two sons, represent two sides of Willy’s ever-conflicting personality. Happy, who often receives his consolation of unsuccessfulness through women, represents Willy’s more materialistic side. Biff, who is more capable of genuine humanity, represents the kinder...
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...Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar named Desire how far they tragic in a classical sense? Both “Death of a Salesman” and “A Streetcar named Desire” have tragic elements to them. Yet many critics say that both plays deviate too far from Aristotle’s foundations of what a tragedy should be. For example neither character is in an “elevated position”, which Aristotle says is vital for a tragic hero as it gives the character a “height” to fall from. Willy and Blanche aren’t royal or particularly high class, although Blanche believes herself to be a Southern Belle and portrays that image publically there is evidence that she isn’t a Southern Belle, Willy is a working class salesman who would be consider a “common man”. Both characters are relativity common people, however in Miller’s “Tragedy and a Common man” he says that he believes “a common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were.” Miller goes on to say that the “tragic feeling is evoke in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down their life… to secure… their sense of personal dignity”. For Willy this is to be known as a salesman, He bases his goals for the American Dream, which is flawed as it forever leaves him wanting more as a person. He bases his end goal on Dave Singleman who has people from all America come to his funeral; Willy believes that he is the embodiment of the American dream. Aristotle says in his Poetics, that tragedy represents men as better...
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...2015 Living Out the Dream Some people risk everything and leave everything behind to come live the “American dream”. In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller he describes a character that has a distinctive vision of the American dream. Willy Loman struggles through life thinking that he just needs people to like him and make a lot of money to be successful. In “Death of a Traveling Salesman” by Eudora Welty R.J. Bowman is an average salesman. He is not happy with the life he lives, and dies lonely. Both these men eventually come to the conclusion that money cannot by happiness or love. It is great to be very passionate about your job, but if you do not have a family to share that with then what is the point? Willy...
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...believes that people have been 'ultimately misguided' and Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, is a moving destruction of the whole myth. The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants, most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better life. In particular, the opportunity to own one's land. But land 'ran out' and so cities developed and massive variations arose in wealth, which meant that this 'American Dream' changed from being a potential reality, into being a dream, like the name implies. Most of Miller's plays are directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because ultimately this dream wasn't going to succeed as lots of people wished. Death of a Salesman written in 1949, is a moving destruction of the whole myth. To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This lead to success, wealth and in due time - power. But this dream for everyone developed, and encouraged greed, selfish behavior, pride and rivalry between one another. Willy Loman was 'caught-up' in this American Dream. It causes business to develop in the world. Capitalism and also the profit motive and competitive instinct, makes Willy have a weakness in his personality. This weakness was caused by a combination of business pressures. Willy wants to prove himself through successes a salesman, but as he fails, his own life destroys him. 'I'm the...
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...How is the theme of Broken Dreams And Hopelessness presented In Of Mice And Men and Death Of A Salesman? By: Sara The themes of broken dreams and hopelessness are explored in the novel Of Mice and Men published in 1934 by Steinbeck, and also in the play Death of The Salesman written in 1949 by Miller. The desire to achieve the American dream which is to own land and be self-sufficient by being one's own boss is made evident in both texts as the protagonists Willy, George and Lennie aim to elevate their status and be successful. However, they face many obstacles and difficulties along the way. Miller and Steinbeck both criticize the American value of commercialism, as the dream to be successful is just a delusion; if you cannot sell or earn money to provide for your family then you are seen as weak and incapable of success. In both texts men are, therefore, marginalized and don't know where they belong. The tragic endings in both texts show the hopelessness of characters not achieving their goals and desires. The essay will explore how the writers portray the theme of hopelessness and the desire to achieve a dream that is ultimately unachievable. One of the ways Steinbeck shows how eagerly the protagonists are trying to achieve their dream is when George and Lennie find it difficult to get a job. This is shown when George tells Lennie to stay away from "bad things" like he did in "Weed". Steinbeck also reveals how Lennie acts as a barrier for George, as he prevents him from...
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...performing the dialogue and action”. Through out the works of drama, Death of a Salesman, Trifles, and A Dolls House, the plays center around 3 very different families and their everyday struggle of living with a lack of a support system. Through out the stories the audience is taken on a Journey of the struggles and emotions of feeling and being lonely. A series of conflicts cause these three characters to realize there is no support system available to them. In Trifles by Susan Gladspell, Mrs. John Wright most definitely regrets her isolation at the farm house outside of town. We begin to understand this atmosphere when Mrs. Hales reveals, “It never seemed a very cheerful place” (634) This shows the audience that she truly feels alone and that there really is no one on her farm for her to turn to for real companionship and support. Due to Mrs. Wright’s lack of support she was driven to confide and seek friendship in a small bird. She began singing to the bird and cause tension between John Wright and herself. Mr. Wright was known to neglect his wife and stop her from singing. She was driven to the point of murdering her husband because of his neglect and the ever absent support system. To show her lack of support Gladspell implements that other characters within the play even realize she needs a support system. Mrs. Hale: “I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be–for women. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live...
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...Death of a Salesman is a modern domestic tragedy by Arthur Miller, written in 1948 and first performed in 1949. In America it was regarded by John Gassner as “one of the finest dramas in the whole range of American theatre.” (1) The play is a scornful critique of the American Dream and the idillic materialistic nature of American society in the 1940’s. In the play suffering can be seen through the thoughts and opinions of the protagonist Willy Loman, we can see this in Millers use of stage directions, language and time-shifts. Suffering can also be seen in Raymond Carver’s “Short Cuts” which contains stories such as “So Much Water So Close To Home”, “Neighbours” and “They’re Not Your Husband”. Carver’s work was heavily influenced by his upbringing and focuses and blue-collar workers, like his mother and father. Although Miller’s writing style is poetic and metaphorical shown in the opening stage directions “A melody is heard, played upon a flute. It is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon.” This shows a romanticised pastoral idyll as well as a metaphorical stage setting. Carver’s style has been referred to as “minimalistic” and “cinematic” as seen in “Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?” whilst describing Marian’s aura on their honeymoon “her hair was long and hung down in front over her shoulders, and she was looking away from him, staring at something in the distance.” Graham Clarke said Carver is “the quintessential minimalist, seemingly reducing...
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...Death of a Salesman Analysis In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller crucifies the old-fashioned American Dream. Miller, while striking down the old idea that being well liked equates to being successful, shows that the American Dream of yesteryear can no longer be achieved. This idea is shown in both the last section of Act 2 and in the Requiem. Arthur Miller illustrates the condemnation of the old American Dream through Biff’s epiphany, Happy’s delusional success, and Willy’s funeral. While Biff flees Oliver’s office, he comes to a sudden realization that he’s been lying to himself his entire life and that Willy’s outdated version of the American Dream is unachievable for Biff and has caused him to fail. To reiterate this, Miller uses the “sky” (Miller, 1520) as a symbol for Biff’s possibilities. This is ironic, because Biff is running through “the middle of the [office building] and [he saw] the sky” without there being any windows mentioned. The “sky” (1520) that Biff sees isn’t the real sky, but the open-ness and the freedom that it grants. The sky also represents Biff’s chance to escape the web of lies that he has entangled himself in since high school, as its vastness is open and clear. The next way that Biff’s realization shows that the old American Dream has been demolished is that he denounces himself and his father of faking their way through life. As Biff and Willy argue, Biff admits that “[he is] not a leader of men” (1520) and that Willy is not either...
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...Building Castles in the Air: An Attempt at Living in Them Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman is a fast paced drama. In this play, he manages to bring out the elements of the American Dream. Miller illustrates the materialism shrouding the American dream. The effects of the American Dream may not be as profound in the present as they were in the time after the World War II. Today, the United States of America has the option of criticism and an in-depth self-analysis that saves people from the post-war tensions and immense contradictions. At the time of the setting of the play, there was a lot of denial, and this saw the rise of the ilk of artists and writers who fought for self-realization and created an awareness of the importance of “self.” Miller’s play, The Death of a Salesman, set in the post-war period, 1949, exemplifies the necessity to see the American as a myth because it does not have the capacity to encompass the innate human weakness such as doubt and insecurities and also economic changes. He illustrates this through his character Willy Loman who held the American dream as his unshakable tenet and his faith in it resulted in his tragic death....
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...FEBRUARY 3, 2014 COMMENTS OFF ON COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY ON HAMLET AND DEATH OF A SALESMAN Compare and Contrast Essay on Hamlet and Death of a Salesman Different characters in fictional work serve to develop the plot in different ways. this happens often, be it strengthening the protagonist, or working towards weakening and destroying the protagonist. This is no exception in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, and in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. The female characters in the two works choose to hide or deny the truth, and this does not work out well for them, or for the protagonists in the end. Linda chooses not to confront her husband, although she knows that he has plans to commit suicide. Gertrude chooses not to accept her wrongdoing by marrying Claudius, and she does not accept the consequences of her action. The female characters treat the protagonists in different ways, and this contributes to the development of the protagonists. The different personalities of the female characters in the stories enhance the characters of the protagonists in different ways. By denying reality, the female characters contribute to the downfall of the protagonists. Linda is the main character in Miller’s work. She is a loving and loyal wife to her husband. She chooses to reprimand and rebuke her sons for not caring more about their father, although she knows that her husband is not well. Linda knows of her husband’s intention to commit suicide. She reveals this to her sons when...
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...Ideal Hostess During the 1950th time period in the United States, normal working class starts to move in to suburb area to seek for better life. The popularity of suburb area causes a shift of position for women in the society at that time. Most people begin to expect women to stay at home either taking care of children or the whole household. In addition, the ideal housewife needs to be perfectly obedient to her husband and pay extraordinary attention to her children. In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller depicts a similar image of a perfect housewife, Linda Lowman: she is always supportive to every decision her husband, Willy Lowman makes and protects Willy’s illusions and pride. However, her expectations to Willy and the pressure she...
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