saraaa
28-05-2007, 02:33 AM
it is your lucky day
i had an exam in it befor a week
Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman
Death Of A Salesman - Father-son Relationships:
The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, follows the life of Willy Loman, a self-deluded salesman who lives in utter denial, always seeking the American Dream, and constantly falling grossly short of his mark. The member’s of his immediate family, Linda, his wife, and his two sons, Biff and Happy, support his role. Of these supportive figures, Biff’s character holds the most importance, as Biff lies at the center of Willy’s internal conflicts and dreams , and Biff is the only one in the play who seems to achieve any growth. Biff’s role is essential to the play because he generates the focus of Willy’s conflict for the larger part, his own conflict is strongly attributed to Willy, and finally, he is the only character who manages growth or a sense of closure in the play. Willy is forever plagued by the fact that Biff has not gone anywhere in life. Biff, who is already in his thirties, is still drifting from place to place, job to job, most recently work as a farmhand. Biff is a source of endless frustration for Willy, who always dreams of Biff being incredibly successful in the business world. When Willy has memories of Biff as a boy, he is completely obsessed with whether or not Biff is well-liked; however, he is completely oblivious to things like Biff’s having stolen a football from school, and the fact that Biff is failing his math class. Be liked and you will never want, says Willy(1363). The amount of aggravation generated by Biff’s lack of motivation and desire to be successful, makes Biff’s role extremely important. The play also spends quite a bit of time focusing on Biff’s own conflict, which is basically his father. In his youth, he shared his father’s great aspirations for himself. He was captain of the football team, and had plans for college and then a career in business afterwards. Biff was absolutely obsessed with pleasing his father, who was flawless in his eyes. All of this changed, however, when Biff found his father in a Boston hotel room with another woman. After that, Biff laid down and died like a hammer hit him. Biff had never dreamed for himself, being concerned only with fulfilling his father’s wishes. When Biff realized that Willy was not the great man that he thought he was, his dreams became nothing to him, as had his father. And so, Biff became a drifter, living only on a day to day basis. Lastly, Biff is the only character who achieves any real growth in the play. Throughout the play Linda has remained static, always steadfastly supporting Willy, and believing he is incapable of flaw. At Willy’s funeral, Happy says, I’m going to show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. It’s the only dream you can have to come out number-one man. He fought it out here, and this is where I’m going to win it for him. His father died deluding himself, and apparently Happy is going to do the same. It is only Biff who realizes [Willy] had all the wrong dreams. All, wrong…The man never knew who he was. Biff has accepted the fact that he was not meant to be a salesman and must seek another path in life. Having made these observations, it quickly becomes clear that Biff’s character is as vital to the play as is Willy’s. Without Biff there would be no play. Therefore, Biff’s role in Death of a Salesman is important because he is the focus of Willy’s attention and distress, his own conflict is based on his father, and Biff actually grows at the end of the play.
Willy Loman, A man With A Dream:
A common idea presented in literature is the issue of the freedom of the
individual in opposition to the controlling pressures of society. Willy Loman,
the main character in Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller, epitomizes this type
of person; one who looks to his peers and co-salesman as lesser individuals.
Not only was he competitive and overbearing, but Willy Loman sought after an
ideal that he could never become: the greatest salesman ever. Determined to
make money, Willy became uncontrollable and somewhat insane. Through his
dialogue and actions, Willy Loman portrays a character of insecurity,
persistence, and unknown identity.
From the very beginning of his life, Willy Loman experienced problems
with his popularity and personality. His last name is a pun on a "low man." He
is at the bottom of the business world as an unsuccessful salesman. In addition,
his theories on life and society prove to be very degrading, not to mention
influential to his mind set every day. Willy believes that being well-liked and
having a personal attractiveness, together, can bring success, money, and many
friends. Ironically, Willy does not have many friends and many people do not
like him. With a beauty unlike others, Willy thinks that doors will open and
problems will all disappear.
As a salesman, Willy developed many hindrances that caused his mind to
deteriorate. His life as a salesman was built on a dream that he witnessed as a
child. At an early age, Willy heard of a salesman, Dave Singleman, who could
make his living out of a hotel room. Singleman was very successful and when he
died, people from all over the country came to his funeral. It was this ideal
that Willy Loman sought after. All he ever wanted was fame, popularity, and a
few friends. Unfortunately, when Willy died, not a single person went to his
funeral. His life, one that was spent trying to become another person, namely
Dave Singleman, was a waste as no-one even wanted to see him buried.
In reflection of his career with the Wagner Company, many other problems
arose that forced economic difficulties on him and his family. He was
determined to live by ideals that placed him above everyone else. It was with
these lies and illusions that Willy's life began to lose its' air of reality.
He lost his identity, courage, and dignity throughout New England as a salesman.
And as he explained often, "I have friends...They know me up and down New
England." Realistically, though, Willy was not successful. He did not have
friends and people did not like him in New England.
"With his self-identity weakened and undermined, Willy lost his grasp of
things in general." (P.P Sharma, critical analysis) He spent hours on hours
dreaming of the past. Thinking of himself and his son Biff who had potential,
but did not take advantage of it. Biff was Willy's inspiration as a father. He
had the determination to become a great football player, not to mention make
something with his life and the Loman name. However, Biff flunked math and
threw all of his opportunities away. It was with these circumstances that Biff
and his father began to separate. Willy always promised his sons prosperity and
good-fortune, but he could not give that to him and when he lost Biff, his life
became an even larger failure.
In other memories and illusions, Willy often replays the moments with
his brother, Ben. Specifically, the time when Willy was offered a job in
Alaska; the job which would have made him an enormous amount of money haunts
Willy every time he tries to sell his Wagner stockings, only to have his sales
come up lame. With low sales and age, Willy decided to ask for a job in New
York. And it was at this time that his company decided to stop paying by salary,
but solely on commission. And for a man who cannot sell well, the loss of a
salary is very detrimental to his well-being. "Although Willy is aware, maybe
dimly and imperfectly, that he is not cut out for success in the world of trade
and commerce, he nevertheless nurses the dream of getting the better of
everybody else. And this leads him into an alienation from himself, obscuring
his real identity." (P. P. Sharma, critical analysis)
Willy's life would have been more satisfying had he engaged himself in
more physical work that would occupy his mind. His life was situated on a dream
for success and prosperity. When it never arrived, Willy spent a lot of time,
just brainstorming how to make his life what he wanted it to be. Putting his
family aside, Willy committed a terrible sin. In Boston, during one of his
business trips, Willy cheated on his wife. He met a woman who would be very
cheap for an evening, and as a boost of confidence, Willy spent the night with
this low-class woman. Unfortunately, his son Biff, who was surprising his
father in Boston, walked in on the two, thus causing a situation that would
forever haunt Biff. His thoughts of his father as an influential salesman in
New England were all lost. What appeared, instead, was the belief that his
father was a loser with no potential to ever support his family. It was at this
time that they their lives spread apart.
Using that situation as a downfall and the many others that occurred in
Willy Loman's life, it was not surprising when he killed himself. In search of
happiness, Willy believed that he could give his family what they wanted if he
only left the world. But, his dreams were wrong, as his family did not even
care enough to go to his funeral. He died for things that he had lived for- his
sons and illusions of prosperity. Ironically, though, his life was not worth
the happiness of his son's. And his life was definitely not worth the sacrifice
that he made for them his entire life.
Willy Loman died still unsure of his status in the business world. He
wanted success and money, but at the age of sixty-one, he realized that these
goals would never be reached. His identity was lost and his presence on earth
unknown. Willy Loman was influenced by society in that he could not overcome
the pressures of selling and making money. His life long dream was happiness,
but that never came either. The pressures of society killed a man who once had
courage and determination. But, as his life moved further, Willy Loman lost his
ability to see the world clearly. All his eyes could observe was despair and
insecurity. It was through his beliefs that he decided to end his unhappiness,
by ending his life. Willy Loman died a lost identity, but one that found
himself for a brief period of time; long enough to end his life forever.
Willy's Life Is An Illusion:
Charley says something in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman that sums
up Willy's whole life. He asks him, "When the hell are you going to grow up?"
Willy's spends his entire life in an illusion. He sees himself as a great man
that is popular and successful. Willy exhibits many childlike qualities. Many
of these qualities have an impact on Willy's family. His two sons Biff and
Happy pick up this behavior from their father. He is idealistic, stubborn, and
he has a false sense of his importance in the world.
Willy is like an impetuous youngster with high ideals and high hopes.
Children always have high hopes for their future. They all want to be
astronauts or millionaires. Willy always believes he can achieve that kind of
success. He never lets go of his wasted life. He dreams of being the man who
does all of his business out of his house and dying a rich and successful man.
Furthermore, Willy also dreams of moving to Alaska where he could work with his
hands and be a real man. Biff and Happy follow in their father's footsteps in
their lofty dreams and unrealistic goals. Biff wastes his life being a thief
and a loner; furthermore, Biff, along with happy try to conjure up a crazy idea
of putting on a sporting goods exhibition. The problem with Willy is that he
never grows up and deals with his obstacles.
Willy is also a very stubborn man. He is like a little child that wants
to do something their way even though they know that another option would be the
wiser choice. Charley practically sets a potential job into Willy's lap and he
refuses it. Willy just was fired and needed a job. He refuses one. Willy is
too stubborn to let go of his old job and take a new one. He still believes
that he is at the top of his profession. When Willy does not get his way he
acts just as a child would. He has tantrums such as when he basically
challenged Charley to a fight after he told him to grow up. Biff is also
stubborn like his father. He never gives up being a child. He steals and lies.
Biff cannot handle being ignored, so he steals a pen. Willy's childlike
stubbornness hampers him throughout his life.
Willy, like most children thinks that he is more important than he
actually is. During the whole story, he brags himself up, calling himself a
great salesman. He says that he is known everywhere. When his funeral is to
occur, Willy believed that it will be a major event. Many will come to pay
their respects to New England's greatest salesman. He is just an old broken
down man who never was good at his job. Willy is not well known. Few attend his
funeral. When one is a child, they believe that they are more important than
they really are. As people grow older they realize that they are just one of
many in the world. Willy Loman never does realize this fact. Biff and Happy
never realize it either. They continue to believe that the Lomans are an
extraordinary family above all others. After Willy dies, Happy proclaims that
he will continue his fathers quest as the great salesman. Biff believes that
the Lomans are not liked because they are rough and tough men who use their
hands. Willy goes
through his entire life believing that is a great, well known, and well-liked
salesman.
Willy Loman is a child trapped in a man's body. He never lets go of his
dreams. He does not come to grips with his failure as a salesman, father, and
husband. Willy runs away from responsibility, and he asks others for handouts
when in need. These traits have a negative impact Biff and Happy throughout
their lives. At the end of his life he lives with delusions of what his life
was and is. Willy never does grow up.
Whose to blame? The American Society or Loman.
Advancements in science throughout this century have led to tremendous
advancements in industry. Advancements in industry, however, have not
always led to advancements in living. For some, society has created mass
wealth. For most mass society has created a standard of living unparallel
throughout history. For Willy Loman, however, mass society has created
only tremendous grief and hardship, aggravated by the endless promise. For
these reasons, his tragedy is due more to societies flaws than to the flaws
in his own character.
Willy Loman was host to many flaws and deficiencies ranging form
suicidal tendencies to psychotic disorders. However, these shortcomings
did not account for his tragic end, not by themselves anyway. Society is
to blame. It was society who stripped him of his dignity, piece by piece.
It was society who stripped him of his lifestyle, and his own sons who
stripped him of hope.
The most obvious flaw in society is greed, the desire to get ahead of
the next guy. This malady is present on a national level. It is the
philosophy of business and comprises the dreams of man. Sometimes, this
can drive man to great things, sometimes it can drive a man to ruin. Willy
was driven to the latter. (Not his own greed for he was a simple man with
simple dreams, but by the greed of others.) The developers who took away
the sun and gave birth to shadows, his boss who reduced him to commission
and his sons which reduced him to a failure.
The next largest flaw in society is a lack of compassion. This could
be as a result of almost overwhelming greed, the main culprit being big
business.
"I'm always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for
the car and it's on it last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a
goddam maniac. They time those things."(Act 2, page 73, lines 16-19)
Willy's belief in this statement drew him to believe that big business
lacked compassion. It is because of this that he is abandoned by Biff and
disowned by Happy, left babbling in a toilet. It is this flaw which
allowed him to die a slow death and played the greatest role in his
eventual downfall.
The third largest flaw in society (particularly American society) is
the lack of a social safety net. A net which identifies people in trouble
and seeks to remedy their situations. A body identifies people who are a
danger to themselves and others and treats or sedates them. Couple this
with a pension plan and medical care, and Willy Loman might not have met
his premature end. He would have had no reason thanklessly for a company,
in a capacity that was "killing" him. Instead, he could have received
psychiatric help and recovered from his condition.
It was the direct result of the flaws in society which led Willy to
his undoing. It was the greed that was ever-pervasive around him that led
to his unhappiness. It was the lack of compassion from society which
allowed his unhappiness to flourish and which eventually consumed him. In
the end, it was the lack of a social safety net which failed to save him.
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