The Death of a Salesman
A Critical Analysis of The Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller's The Death of a Salesman serves as a relevant example of moderntragedy. Tragedy, as expressed by Miller, can be experienced by the common man. Themental processes between all human beings are the same; thus, all mankind canappreciate tragic action. When evaluated using Miller's own criteria from "Tragedy andthe Common Man", it can be said that this play reaches tragic stature and Willy Loman is As defined by Miller, tragedy is "the consequence of a man's total compulsion toevaluate himself justly" and this feeling of tragedy is experienced when one lays downhis life for the sake of personal dignity. As expressed through Willy, The Death of aSalesman depicts an individual trying to sustain his "rightful" position in society. As shown in Act II in the conversation between Howard and Willy, Willy atte
And you tell me he has no character? The man who never worked a day but for your benefit? (Act II)Through Linda's speech, the reader gathers that in his wife's eyes Willy is a man of highposition, a man with character and a man of greatness. It is through these actionsof trying to secure personal dignity that The Death of a Salesman reaches tragic stature. In Willy's desperate attempt, one sees a man trying to maintain his position in society. He dwells on thefact that he gave his life to this company, and fails to realize that "corporateAmerica" does not care. It is easy for the reader to grasp the fact that Willy hasdifficulty relating the past with the present, fantasy with reality. Willy's inability to perceive reality is significant to TheDeath of a Salesman because it allows the reader to understand the "AmericanDream" its most optimistic interpretation (Willy) as well as its less flatteringlight (Biff). There were promises made across this desk! You mustn't tell me you've got people to see-I put thirty-four years into this firm, Howard, and now I cant' pay my insurance! You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away-a man is not a piece of fruit!In this, Miller portrays Willy as a determined fighter towards that which demeanshim, in this case Howard. In Act II, Linda has a conversation with Biff and Happy and explains to them theimportance of respecting their father. And what goes through a man's mind, driving seven hundred miles home without having earned a cent? Why shouldn't he talk to himself? Why? When he has to go to Charley and borrow fifty dollars a week and pretend to me that it's his pay.
Common topics in this essay:
Willy Willy,
Death Salesman,
Linda He's,
II Linda's,
Willy Loman,
American Dream,
Tragedy Common,
Willy Linda's,
Biff Happy,
death salesman,
Act II,
act ii,
seven hundred miles,
hundred miles,
seven hundred,
personal dignity,
position society,
reaches tragic,
tragic stature,
eyes willy,
reaches tragic stature,
|
Acceptance Essays
