A Critical Analysis of The Death of a Salesman
             Arthur Miller's The Death of a Salesman serves as a relevant example of modern
             tragedy. Tragedy, as expressed by Miller, can be experienced by the common man. The
             mental processes between all human beings are the same; thus, all mankind can
             appreciate tragic action. When evaluated using Miller's own criteria from "Tragedy and
             the 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 to
             evaluate himself justly" and this feeling of tragedy is experienced when one lays down
             his life for the sake of personal dignity. As expressed through Willy, The Death of a
             Salesman depicts an individual trying to sustain his "rightful" position in society.
             As shown in Act II in the conversation between Howard and Willy, Willy attempts to
             bargain his life, per his weekly wages, continually decreasing the offer that he will accept.
             In Willy's desperate attempt, one sees a man trying to maintain his position in society. He
             refuses to allow Howard to take his dignity from him; regardless of how many times
             Howard demeans him and belittles him, he still remains a man--he still remains trying.
             Willy reaches into the depths of himself, struggling to find something that will make
             Howard see him as the dignified human being that he is.
             Willy : ..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
             In this, Miller portrays Willy as a determined fighter towards that which demeans
             him, in this case Howard. It is easy for the reader to grasp the fact that Willy has
             difficulty relating the past with the present, fantasy with reality.
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