Ordinary Man in Death Of A Salesman Essay Example
Ordinary Man in Death Of A Salesman Essay Example

Ordinary Man in Death Of A Salesman Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 7 (1864 words)
  • Published: October 23, 2017
View Entire Sample
Text preview

In Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman," the character Willy Loman is examined as both a "worthless commodity in a capitalist society" and an "ordinary man." By analyzing the play, one can gain insight into Miller's intended message through Willy's portrayal. In 1949, Miller introduced Willy Loman as someone consumed by the pursuit of the American Dream. However, he ultimately failed to achieve this dream and struggled to accept reality. As time passed, Willy's mental health declined, leading to frequent flashbacks of happier moments when he experienced success and contentment. Alongside his wife Linda, Willy had two sons named Biff and Happy who possessed contrasting personalities. While Happy embraced his father's unsuccessful ambitions and achieved some level of success, Biff defied his father's expectations and chose a different path. Arthur Miller was born in 1

...

915 during the American Depression, a time when many prosperous businesses went bankrupt and the nation faced economic crisis.

Arthur Miller's most famous work, Death of a Salesman, is heavily influenced by his personal experiences. The play serves as a reflection of Miller's own journey. During his youth, Miller's family faced financial struggles and lived in poverty. The family relied solely on his father's women's clothes shop for income, but it ultimately went bankrupt after the Wall Street Crash. Interestingly, Miller himself had a similar opportunity to one depicted in the play - he was offered his dream job as a scriptwriter for 21st Century Fox in 1938. However, like Willy rejecting Charley's job offer in Death of a Salesman, Miller declined this enticing proposition.

Miller briefly worked as a Salesman, which is the central theme of the play. On August 5

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

1940, he married Mary Slattery, who was also a Salesman's daughter, and they had two children, Jane and Robert. Robert went on to pursue a successful career as a director, producer, and writer while Jane's profession remains unknown.

This parallels the play where only one of Willy's sons achieved fame and was able to pursue his aspirations. During his marriage to Mary, Miller had a romantic involvement with Marilyn Monroe. This further emphasizes the play's connection as Willy also had an affair with another woman.

Arthur Miller, an influential and celebrated figure in American Literature and cinema for over six decades, has been honored with the Pulitzer Prize and the Critics Award for his works, including Death of a Salesman. It is evident that many of Miller's ideas for this play have originated from his personal life experiences. These experiences include his involvement with Marilyn Monroe, his marriage to the daughter of a Salesman, and his role as a father to two children.

Throughout Death of a Salesman, Miller consistently explores the concept of the American Dream. Willy, in particular, firmly believes that everyone should embrace this ideal and strives to impart these values onto his children. The American Dream symbolizes the belief that hard work and dedication can enable any individual residing in America to accomplish their ambitions and fulfill their aspirations.

In the late 1940s America, during the dominant era of World War II, Death of a Salesman depicts a time when the war provided job opportunities for millions of unemployed individuals and helped alleviate the Great Depression. With men serving in the war, women gained independence as they took on the jobs left vacant by men.

Following

World War II, American ideals shifted. The perception of the ideal family farm transformed, and the end of the war brought the granting of voting rights to black Americans. Moreover, a greater number of men had finished their college education. By 1949, an astonishing 8,120,000 Americans still found themselves unemployed.

During the 1940s, the United States had a national debt of around $43 billion. At that time, society in America was solely focused on acquiring wealth and social status, with the belief that achieving the American Dream was the only means to fulfill these aspirations. Within this context, a play examines two aspects of its main character named Willy. Firstly, it portrays him as being regarded as a "worthless commodity in a capitalist society," where he realizes that his value is greater after death rather than during his lifetime. Secondly, Willy is depicted as an ordinary individual who yearns for something more just like anyone else and is not flawless. This essay aims to analyze both interpretations of Willy Loman and determine which one Arthur Miller intended to convey.

One factor demonstrating Willy's ordinariness is his loving and supportive family. Through lines such as "What, darling?" and "Just try to relax, dear," it becomes evident that Linda will always stand by Willy no matter what challenges they encounter. Despite facing difficulties including job loss, a car accident, and mental illness, Linda remains faithful and guides him through every obstacle.

Willy is often perceived as the primary breadwinner for the Loman family. His job as a salesman is responsible for the entire family's income. Meanwhile, Linda is the devoted homemaker who takes care of the children, and Biff and

Happy are struggling young adults trying to fend for themselves. The Loman household embodies typical family dynamics and traditional gender roles. Additionally, we can view Willy as an ordinary man because he has financial obligations such as household bills and car expenses. "A hundred and eight, sixty-eight. Because we're a little short again" illustrates Willy's relatability to most people who also need to take on extra work to meet their financial needs.

Another way in which Willy can be viewed as an ordinary man is through his strong work ethic as a salesman. He expresses his exhaustion with the words, "I'm tired to the death." This quote indicates that Willy has been continuously working and suggests that his mental health issues are a result of sleep deprivation. However, in Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, Willy is also depicted as a "worthless commodity in a capitalist society." His affair with 'The Woman' serves as a significant argument for his insignificance in this society. It is evident that 'The Woman' is cold and lacks emotional connection; she is clearly in the relationship solely for her own benefit, stringing Willy along. While Linda has to sew her own stockings due to financial constraints, Willy purchases stockings for 'The Woman' who doesn't even need them. "Just mending my stockings."

Throughout this scene, the laughter of 'The Woman' can be heard faintly as she shows her complete lack of empathy and selfish nature. Her refusal to leave the expensive Boston hotel and her request for more stockings, despite already having plenty, demonstrate her self-centeredness. Willy's constant indulgence of her desires and fear of saying no to her reveal his ignorance

and weakness. Comparing Willy to his successful older brother Ben or his neighbor Charley further underscores his worthlessness.

Both of these characters, when compared to Willy, have achieved very little. From Willy's perspective, Ben represents success in every aspect - he serves as Willy's role model and possesses all the qualities that Willy lacks: wealth, daringness, and self-assurance. As Ben himself states, "When I was seventeen I ventured into the wilderness, and when I was twenty-one I emerged. And believe me, I was wealthy." However, this statement suggests that Ben did not actively strive for his riches and accomplishments. The term "wilderness" is significant as it implies that the world is a harsh and competitive place where one must be ready to face challenges. In addition to this, Ben disproves the idea of the American Dream; despite putting in minimal effort, he has achieved much more than Willy who constantly pushes himself too hard.

Charley serves as a tangible reminder of Ben's success and prosperity. This is evident when Willy accidentally refers to Charley as Ben. Charley holds Willy in high regard and genuinely wants to help him by offering him a job, asking, "You want a job?" However, Willy becomes irritated and rejects Charley's offer. I believe he does this because he cannot face the grim reality that he will never achieve the same level of popularity and wealth as Charley. Additionally, Willy's mental health problems contribute to his portrayal as an insignificant entity. Throughout Death of a Salesman, Willy frequently experiences flashbacks, with the most impactful one being when he envisions his deceased brother, Ben, saying, "This is your Uncle Ben, a great man! Tell

my boys, Ben!" This illustrates Willy's severe mental health struggles and also reveals his admiration for Ben. Willy's consistent fixation on the past indicates his reluctance to mature and move forward in life.

One of the reasons Willy kills himself at the end of the play is to join his brother. Missing out on the opportunity to make his fortune in Alaska with Ben is one of Willy's biggest regrets, which motivates his decision. Additionally, Willy is portrayed as a "worthless commodity in a capitalist society" due to his higher value in death than in life (Act 2, Pages 96-97). This fact serves as my strongest argument, as during this part of the play, Willy contemplates suicide to provide his sons with a sum of twenty thousand dollars.

The text illustrates the complete reliance of America on capitalism, with individuals being valued solely based on their monetary worth. This suggests that in capitalist societies like America, people are reduced to mere commodities. The fact that Willy would go as far as taking his own life for material wealth renders him a worthless commodity. In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is depicted as both an ordinary man and a disposable asset. Throughout various scenes in the play, Willy is portrayed as a gentle and caring family man who goes to great lengths to support his loved ones; despite the constant struggles he faces in trying to achieve success, he remains determined.

Life unfolds in a way where individuals must establish themselves, as Willy attempted to do. However, he is often seen as a "worthless commodity" within the play. In comparison to other men, Willy

appears as a failure, particularly when compared to characters like Ben and Charley who effortlessly succeed in life. Despite evidence disproving the American Dream, Willy revolves his entire existence around it and blindly follows its ideals. In contrast to hardworking individuals like Ben, who achieved great wealth without much effort, Willy's foolishness shines through and evokes sympathy from the audience. His affair with "The Woman" further exemplifies his lack of value and reveals his absence of genuine love for Linda while highlighting his ignorance. Although my argument may make a stronger case for Willy Loman being a "worthless commodity," I don't believe Miller intended to depict him solely in that light or as an "ordinary man." Instead, I think Miller aimed to portray him as someone who falls somewhere between these two interpretations.

While he may consider suicide to provide for his family, his drive originates from the belief that it ultimately helps them. The notion of an "ordinary man" is a matter of personal perspective, complicating attempts to label anyone as such.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New