Success in Death Of A Salesman Essay - 1391 Words

Death of a Salesman DEATH OF A SALESMAN: THE QUEST FOR SUCCESS What is the American Dream? How does one define success? Many people hold different views on how to obtain true happiness. One common view is the accomplishment of something yearned. A majority of individuals desire love, compassion, and a family. On the other hand, there are those concerned with self-image, material items, and the fact that money can indeed buy true happiness. In Arthur Millers play DEATH OF A SALESMAN [published by Ted Buchholz (1993)]--the story of a sixty-three year old man named Willy Loman striving to achieve the American Dream and his family who suffer as a cause--contains many examples of trying to achieve material success. Willys†¦show more content†¦(1258) Willy believes education is not important for his sons future. Although Biff is failing his math course and Bernard is passing Willy still accepts the fact that his son will achieve success. Being handsome, popular, and excellent in sports adds to this belief. Willy does not realize that an individual must work hard to accomplish success. He also feels he is higher in status than Bernards father Charley because Charley is not-liked. Hes liked, but hes not-well liked. (1257) Even though he feels this way he is also jealous of Charleys business success. Willy felt too proud to even accept a paying job from Charley after his boss, Howard Wagner, fired him. The audience can see Willys definition of success defined in the conversation he holds with Charley in Act II: Charley: Howard fired you? Willy: Imagine that? I named him. I named him Howard Charley: Willy, whenre you gonna realize that them things dont mean anything?... Willy: ...I always felt that if a man was impressive, and well liked, that nothing- Charley: Why must everybody like you? Who like J.P. Mogan? Was he impressive?... (1293) Willy thinks being well-liked will grant him instant success and will open the doors to whatever he wants. He needs to accept changes within his business. Howard Wagner show no interest about Willys status of popularity. Willy must put effort and work into his career to obtain what he wants in life. Willys meaning of success isShow MoreRelatedSuccess and Death of a Salesman Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the play, I would like to mention four characters that were important in my mind; Willy Loman, Linda, Biff, and Happy. Willy is the main character who is an older salesperson who is lost in false hopes and illusions, a man who dreams of an easy success and wealth, but throughout his life, never achieves much. I felt sorry for him because he thinks he is doing the right thing in life, working and teaching his sons to be successful but everything he does leaves him hopeless. Like Biff, his son saidRead More Failure in a Success Oriented Society in Death of a Salesman192 3 Words   |  8 PagesFailure in a Success Oriented Society in Death of a Salesman    In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the playwright focuses on the theme of failure in a success oriented society. Willy Lowman, a failed salesman, is the central character. Willy’s downfall is caused by his belief in the propaganda of a society that only has room for winners. The significance of this theme, still very relevant today, is heightened by Millers skilful use of a range of key techniques, including settingRead More The Link between Sports and Success in Death of a Salesman and Fences1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe Link between Sports and Success in Death of a Salesmannbsp; and Fences Sports have become one of the most dominant elements in society. Today sports are an integral part of lifestyle, entertainment and leisure. Sports have become an outlet for success and prestige. The recurring emphasis on sports appears in both Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and August Wilson’s Fences. While Death of a Salesman portrays sports as a means to popularity and subsequent success, Fences portrays sports negativelyRead More Dreams and Success in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay1748 Words   |  7 PagesDreams and Success in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman  Ã‚        Ã‚  In Arthur Millers play, Death of a Salesman, Miller probes the dream of Willy Lowman while making a statement about the dreams of American society. This essay will explore how each character of the play contributes to Willys dream, success, and failure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Willy is the aging salesman whose imagination is much larger than his sales ability. 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At this important part Willy’s presence of his older son Biff has returned home for a visit, and Willy’s old desire for his son to be a traditional success in life is renewed. But the tensions between the two people Willy and Biff are also renewed. The â€Å"AmericanRead More The American Dream Conspiracy in Death of a Salesman Essay1728 Words   |  7 PagesArthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman tells the story of the failure of a salesman, Willy Loman. Although not all Americans are salesmen, most of us share Willy’s dream of success. We are all partners in the American Dream and parties to the conspiracy of silence surrounding the fact that failures must outnumber successes.(Samantaray, 2014) Miller amalgamates the archetypal tragic hero with the mundane American citizen. The result is the anti-hero, Willy Loman. He is a simple salesman who constantlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Millers Death Of Salesman 1611 Words   |  7 PagesResearch paper on death of salesman Arthur Miller created stories that express the deepest meanings of struggle. Miller is the most prominent twentieth-century American playwrights. He based his works on his own life, and his observations of the American scene. Arthur Asher Miller was born 17 October 1915 in Manhattan, New York city. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. His parents had a prosperous clothing company. Unfortunately when the stock market crashed, because his familyRead MoreA Tragic Fate Caused by a Society Filled with Realism Essay1068 Words   |  5 Pagesetc. Death of a salesman is Arthur Millers most famous and notable play. It is a modern tragedy, the hero, Willy Loman is not grand and noble, but a common man, however, he is a symbol for Americans in the postwar period of growing wealth and affluence. Theatrical commentators generally hold that this play not only has high artistic value, but also has profound social significance. The American Great Depression in 1930s is the background of this play; the story is about a common salesman who committedRead MoreThe Jagged Edges of a Shattered American Dream in Death of a Salesman1377 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican dream meant a promise of freedom and opportunity, offering the chance of riches even to those who start with nothing. This is something that Arthur Miller conveys in his play Death of a Salesman. Before the Depression, an optimistic America offered the alluring promise of success and riches. Willy Loman, Millers main character suffers from his disenchantment with the American dream, for it fails him and his son. In some ways, Willy and his older son Biff seem trapped