Death of a Salesman: The Loman's Misguided American Values
Rick Welch Professor Frantz Writing Seminar December 2, 2002 Death of a Salesman: The Loman's Misguided American Values Arthur Miller's The Death of a Salesman explores the Lomans' values. The entire family values a misconceived notion of the American dream. The American dream is something that we all chase after, yet we have different concepts of it. Willy Loman's vision of this dream is a rather distorted one; he and his family never really obtain the dream. They never actually have all the stability, success, security, and love that they expect they will, and are constantly worrying about finances. After hearing his bills, Willy exclaims: "A hundred and twenty dollars! My God, if business don't pick up I don't know what I'm gonna do!" (Miller 1933). This constant worrying about money also eliminates the chance for having a happy, communicating family, because it inhibits all of Willy's time. Willy Loman is a part of our capitalist society; he measures success by material wealth and popularity. One author writes, "Miller dramatizes the limited nature of Willie's values of material success and continual optimism" (Magill 1). Wealth and success are all the things that he values; he believes that they are the American dream. Willy teaches these values to his sons, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it -- because personality always wins the day" (Miller
The Card game scene is an important dramatic scene in "Death of a Salesman." What is Miller trying to convey to the audience through the scene and which dramatic devices and structures does he use to achieve this?
The Card game scene is an important dramatic scene in "Death of a Salesman." What is Miller trying to convey to the audience through the scene and which dramatic devices and structures does he use to achieve this? "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller was written in 1949 and portrays, Willy Loman, a failing salesman in the last few days of his life. He is very caught up in the "American Dream" with the opportunity of success for everyone who wants it, and is driven mad by the fact that whatever he does, he cannot be successful forcing him into a breakdown and eventually suicide. During the last few days of his life, of which we are allowed a glimpse, Willy has many flashbacks of key parts in his life which help to explain his breakdown to the audience. I think Arthur Miller used this play as an attack on capitalism showing how it does not benefit everyone. Here is a man who poured everything he had into making a success of himself, only to be beaten by the system. The card game scene is a key scene in the play as it really brings out the madness of Willy. It starts off with Willy downstairs in the kitchen with Happy who has come down to see what the matter is when in walks Charley who is wondering what all the noise is about. Charley is presented as the dramatic opposite of Willy; he is successful, has plenty of money and is well liked. He pities Willy and is happy to help
Consider the importance of time in "Death of a Salesman"
Consider the importance of time in "Death of a Salesman" In this essay, I hope to analyse Millars use of time and how he represents it in the play "Death of a Salesman." The first thing to realise when looking at this play is how Millar conveys the thought that everything you do in the past has a consequence in the future. The way Millar does this is to squash 10 years of the Loman family's life into the space of 24 hours using flashbacks and memories. In this essay I will be looking more closely at how he does this and what effect it has on the story. In the play, we see the Lomans as a family who have been left in the past and therefore not succeeded in the present. This is shown by the changing scenery and people around them. The Loman's house used to be an average suburb house surrounded by others like it, when we see it in the present though; it is dwarfed by the new tower blocks which suffocate. Willies friends also advance in life where he fails to, Howard for instance has become head of the company whilst Willy has stayed in the same job for years, and he could even be seen as going backwards by the way that he is only paid with commission nowadays. Biff as well has also failed to make anything substantial while the "boffin" Bernard has become a high flyer in the business world. The whole of the Loman's world has become stagnated with things going from bad to worse
After the fact Salem witch trials.
Cynthia Obiozor Dr. Cole History 1311 September 16, 2003 After the Fact Salem Witch Trials To this day the exact cause of the Salem Witch Trials in uncertain. There is much speculation and mystery when it comes to discussing the Salem Witch Trials. People were accused, convicted, and executed all in the name of Witchcraft. After reading the timeline and searching on the internet I believe that the Salem Witchcraft Trials occurred because of the depth of Salem Puritans' belief in witchcraft and the Devil. The Salem Witch Trials began in January 1962 when a nine year old named Elizabeth Parris and an eleven year old named Abigail Williams started behaving strange, going into "trance-like states and mysterious spells," and within a short time other Salem girls began to act in a similar fashion. In this day and age if something like this were to occur a physical and mental examination would take place. The knowledge and technology we have now was not available in 1692 so of course something had to be causing the sickness. Because nothing like that have ever been seen before and because doctors were not able to find any symptoms or causes of the behavior, physicians concluded that the girls were under the influence of Satan. Now days a diagnosis of this sort is not feasible. In a way the people of Salem were obsessed with the Devil they blamed the Devil for a lot of
The Crucible. Write about the character of Judge Danforth, and the use of his judicial powers in Salem.
The Crucible. Write about the character of Judge Danforth, and the use of his judicial powers in Salem. Judge Danforth is a prominent character in the play, and one of main persecutors of those accused of witchcraft. He seems a hard man, and one not willing to change his views. He is the main judge we see in the play, and is in charge of hearing all evidence against people, and judging them. The simple fact that he does not let any one of those accused off the charges (unless they confess) creates the impression that he is a hard man, with very little sympathy or any kinder human traits. However, during the play, there are times when he seems to be gentler with some people. The first mention of Danforth is in Act three. Miller includes notes about many of the characters in the stage directions, and those of Danforth give an instant impression about him. 'Danforth is a grave man in his sixties, of some humour and sophistication, that does not, however interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and his cause.' He brings religion into his arguments a lot, mainly criticising those who do not attend church regularly. He seems to have more respect for those who are what he thinks of as 'good Christians.' Danforth: 'You are in all respects a gospel Christian?' Procter: 'I am, sir' Danforth: 'Such a Christian that will not come to church but once a month?' Danforth:
A Discussion of Symbols in "A Death of Salesman".
A Discussion of Symbols in "A Death of Salesman" Seeds: Reference in the play: (To Stanley) Willy: Tell me - is there a seed store in the neighborhood? Discussion: The seeds embody Willy's ambition to be both a good father and a "well-liked" salesman. Willy's nocturnal futile attempt to grow vegetables clearly demonstrates his failure in achieving the American Dream. Another perspective is to see seeds as the pure embodiment of Biff. Willy makes a hard attempt to raise and nurture Biff but despite all his desperate tries, Biff turns out to be a lazy bum. In the same way, Willy tries to grow vegetables but he fails. The other important fact about this symbol is that huge towering shapes behind Willy's house constrict the garden in which vegetables will grow. Because of the limiting space of the garden, nothing substantial can grow. This can be interpreted that the competition, the clemency lacking quality of the American Dream (represented by the towering buildings) ultimately leads to Willy's downfall (the futile seeds). This is a crucial point in understanding and evaluating the play because the American Dream that Willy thought as infallible, in the end proves to be fallible by leading Willy to his downfall. Linda's And Woman's Stockings Reference in the play: (To Willy) Biff: You - you gave her mama's stockings![His tears break through and he rises to go]
Eddie brings about his own downfall. Discuss this statement with close reference to the beginning of act 2 (43-50) - "A View From The Bridge".
Eddie brings about his own downfall. Discuss this statement with close reference to the beginning of act 2 (43-50) "A View From The Bridge" is set in the late 1940's in Down Town, New York. It is about Eddie Carbone, who is an Italian longshoreman who falls in love with his wife's niece, Catherine. He lives in an apartment with Beatrice (his wife) and Catherine. However, when Beatrice's cousins, Marco and Rodolfo, seek refuge as illegal immigrants from Sicily he kindly offers to shelter them. He regrets doing so because Catherine rapidly attracts to Rodolfo. In the beginning of the play Eddie plays a noble character as he accepts to take in Marco and Rodolfo. However at the end of the play, Eddie has become a tragic hero as he makes an error of judgement in thinking he had a right to stop Catherine from marrying Rodolfo. Arthur Miller intended the play to be a modern version of a Greek tragedy in which a central character is led by fate towards a destiny that cannot be escaped. In the end of act 1 Marco and Rodolfo had just settled into the apartment and Eddie has his suspicions of Rodolfo. In act 2 we were expecting Eddie to be more suspicious of Rodolfo and begin to change because of it. Eddie's character and character changes dramatically throughout the play as he begins to be a noble character and ends up as a tragic hero. At the beginning of the play, Eddie agrees to
Discuss the view given of the American way of life in 'Death of a Salesman.
Death of a Salesman. Discuss the view given of the American way of life in 'Death of a Salesman. Context. Millers' most famous work deals with the painful conflicts within one family but also relates to American national values. It examines the blind faith of the American dream, a post war tragedy. Miller in 'Death of a Salesman' accuses America of selling a falsehood to the public in the post war economy built around a capitalist materialistic doctrine superseding the original American dream of the country's founders. America, post World War two, faced profound tensions domestically in what became known as 'The Cold War'. The propagation of the myths of a peaceful homogenous America was counter manded by a constant anxiety of the Red Menace of communism and bitter racial conflicts. Most post-war Americans could not join in the affluent dream that the American economy was now making a reality for the conservative rich. However the pursuit of this materialistic dream meant a radical change in the mindset of the American public as they became embroiled in a race for conformity within the material world of keeping up with the trappings of neighbours and peer groups. The accessories of affluence in the form of material possessions such as appliances, cars and television drove the American economy. At the same time the post war generation of writers and artists, influenced by
Willy Lowman is the main character in death of a salesman by Arthur miller and it follows the last twenty four hours of his life. Through out the play we see Willy's decent into mental instability because he becomes very distressed by his sons biff and ha
Willy Lowman is the main character in death of a salesman by Arthur miller and it follows the last twenty four hours of his life. Through out the play we see Willy's decent into mental instability because he becomes very distressed by his sons biff and happy but mainly biff because he would life nothing more than for them to succeed which he believes is a sure thing in such a society in American this is one of the major themes in this play the American dream and Willy's addition of it is that you can be successful if you are 'well liked' as he likes to often repeat to his sons biff and happy. Willie Lowman is a character that most anyone can identify with. He has two sides to his life; On one side he creates an image of being successful, well liked, and bold. On the other side he feels old, unsuccessful, defeated and disliked. He maintains the successful image to comfort his wife and friends. This veil of success becomes thinner and thinner until he lingers between fantasy and reality of the cruel world, often changing back and forth in the course of a conversation. The core of Willie^s slow painful demise into nothingness is based upon his beliefs. Willie thinks that success is not what you know, but who he knows and how well he is liked. These beliefs he instills in his sons, who find themselves adrift and meaningless just like their father. In addition Willie
In this essay I am going to try to show Miller's view on success and how he uses Willy Lowman to show it.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN In this essay I am going to try to show Miller's view on success and how he uses Willy Lowman to show it. The American dream is all that an average man could wish for, a house, money and family, although can seem easy enough it has corruption and faults in its path. Not as many people as would be believed succeed in the capitalist environment which the dream inhabits. Not everyone is going to succeed and not everybody is going to be equally paid, it is not possible. In a society where everyone is competing, when someone dies, when someone gets fired there is no-one for them to turn to for support for their families and there is always someone to fill his/her place. If capitalism makes it possible for a person to be who they want to be then why is the middle class only a select few? The American dream is supposed to represent hope and opportunity for people to create a better life for themselves and their families. But now, more work means more material goods such as bigger cars, houses and toys. Capitalism is defined as "a social system" based on the recognition of individual rights including property rights in which all property is privately owned. Under capitalism the state is separated from economic production and trade, just like the system of political freedom. Socialism is defined as "best of all human societies is one based on