Introduction
The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a multifaceted examination of the American Dream and the disillusionment that arises from it. Death of a Salesman effectively highlights the various aspects of a capitalist society, including its prioritization of success and wealth over happiness and human dignity. Instead of attacking the American Dream, it criticizes the distortion of reality that arises from its pursuit.
The play highlights the tragic story of Willy Loman, a struggling salesman haunted by his past and disillusioned by his pursuit of the American Dream and wealth. Through the story of Willy Loman, the play sheds light on the destructive consequences that can arise when one pursues the American Dream. Analyzing the various characters, themes, and literary techniques that Miller employs in the play provides insight into the impact of the pursuit of the American Dream on both individuals and society.
Character Analysis
Willy Loman
Willy Loman is the protagonist in the play Death of a Salesman and significantly contributes to the play’s analysis of the consequences of pursuing the American dream. The play portrays him as an aging salesman who is desperate to achieve success and validation from a capitalist society that primarily values material wealth. Death of a Salesman further portrays Willy as an individual who is over-reliant on appearances and with deep beliefs that one can attain success and wealth through charisma and charm.
In particular, the trait is evident in Willy’s conversation with his son, Biff, where he states, “Be liked, and you will never want” (Miller 21). Although Willy attempts to present himself as a confident individual, he is plagued by internal conflicts, such as memories of his brother Ben, who achieved great success and wealth. The character’s internal conflict results in his inability to accept his failures. Consequently, his interaction with family members and the rest of society reveals his desperation for validation in a capitalist society, which contributes to a deterioration of his mental state and eventual downfall.
Linda Loman
Linda Loman is depicted as a loyal and supportive wife to Willy Loman. Her role in the play is crucial to the author’s exploration of the consequences of pursuing the American Dream, as the play centers on the family unit. The play portrays Linda as being devoted to Willy, despite his delusions and failures in pursuing the American Dream. She serves a critical role as the pillar of strength to the Loman household, offering her husband support and comfort.
In addition, the play captures Linda as a resilient wife who is loyal to his husband despite the challenges the family faces. The characteristics of Linda are particularly evident after Willy’s death when she states, “Forgive me, dear, I can’t cry” (Miller 104). The statement by Linda highlights her resilience in the face of her husband’s death and shows her loyalty to her husband as she remains loyal in seeking his guidance in his absence. However, Linda’s unquestioning optimism and unwavering faith in his husband’s capability to attain the American dream blinded her to the destructive consequences that arise from its pursuit.
Biff Loman
Biff Loman is Willy’s eldest son, and he undergoes significant character development in the play as circumstances force him to change his perspective and worldview. The play initially portrays him as a promising individual with great potential, as he is successful in various aspects of his life. Biff is a star athlete in high school and manages to attend college on a scholarship. In the early stages of the play, Biff subscribes to his father’s worldview and the American dream of wealth and success. However, his strained relationship with Willy and increased pressure to conform to societal expectations result in his disillusionment with the pursuit of the American Dream.
Biff’s disillusion with the American dream is particularly evident when he confronts Willy, stating that “I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you. You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can” (Miller 98). The quote highlights Biff’s rejection of his father’s ideals and goal to pursue the American dream as he finally chooses to chart his path through life
Themes
The American Dream
The American Dream is the central theme in the play Death of a Salesman, as it critiques the American Dream and highlights the consequences of its pursuit for an individual and society. In essence, it illustrates the American dream as being full of false promises of happiness once success is attained, which ultimately results in despair for those who pursue it. Moreover, the characters in the play pursue the American dream in unique ways. However, each character eventually gets disillusioned and experiences the negative consequences of pursuing the American dream.
Miller’s play particularly focuses on the flaws of the American dream and the consequences that arise. The theme is evident when Ben, in one of Willy’s hallucinations, states that “The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy” (Miller 99). More specifically, the quote highlights the various pitfalls of the American dream that are rarely acknowledged by those who encourage its pursuit. The consequences of pursuing the American dream are evident in Willy’s life as his pursuit results in his mental breakdown, which causes him to die by suicide. Therefore, through the use of Willy’s story, the play portrays the American Dream as a futile and destructive endeavor that ultimately leads to a loss of self-worth.
Identity and Self-Worth
Miller’s play explores the theme of identity and self-worth as the characters in the play lose their sense of identity and self-worth in pursuit of the American Dream. The social expectation to attain the American dream impacts the character’s self-perception and sense of identity as they struggle to find validation in a society that values material wealth over personal fulfillment. For instance, the characters have a fragile sense of identity and self-worth as they are yet to achieve the American dream and thus constantly struggle to define themselves and their place in society.
The impact of pursuing the American dream on their self-perception is evident as Willy develops a distorted view of reality and becomes unable to accept his failures. Similarly, Biff’s sense of self-worth is distorted as he struggles to conform to Willy’s expectations (Miller 21). Therefore, the play highlights how people can lose their identity and self-esteem while pursuing the American Dream, as their values become increasingly tied to achieving this ideal. Consequently, Death of a Salesman suggests that the search for identity and a sense of self-worth is a complex process that requires individuals to reject social pressure and develop a commitment to personal values.
Literary Devices
Flashback
Flashback is one of the critical literary devices used in Death of a Salesman to explore the pitfalls of pursuing the American Dream. The literary device is particularly evident in the play’s nonlinear structure and is used to explore the characters’ past experiences and memories (Miller 34). Therefore, flashbacks serve to provide context, enabling the audience to develop a deeper understanding of the characters’ different motivations and struggles. Additionally, the flashbacks serve to contrast the past with the present, revealing how the characters’ perspectives and attitudes change over time. Most importantly, flashbacks are used in the play to reveal the impact of the past on the present while exploring the play’s themes.
Symbolism
Another crucial literary technique employed in Death of a Salesman is symbolism, which reinforces the play’s central themes. There are various instances of symbolism in the play, an example being the American dream (Miller 20). The American dream symbolizes the false promise that happiness is attained after achieving success and acquiring material wealth. Similarly, another example of symbolism is the reference to society as a jungle, which highlights its competitive, dangerous, and cutthroat nature (Miller 53). Typically, the symbolism enhances the play’s message, enabling the audience to understand and experience the character’s emotions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Death of a Salesman is an insightful analysis of the American dream and the pitfalls that arise in its pursuit as a source of validation in a capitalist society. The play critiques the capitalist society’s emphasis on attaining material wealth as a means to happiness, while neglecting human dignity and personal values. Death of a Salesman highlights how individuals in a capitalistic society can tie their self-worth and sense of identity to material worth, thus resulting in negative consequences to their lives.
The play’s exploration of the lives of Willy, Biff, and Linda depicts the pitfalls individuals encounter in the pursuit of material wealth and how it results in a distorted sense of reality. Consequently, the play, in its nuanced examination of the flaws of the American Dream, encourages individuals to prioritize human dignity and their values. The complex analysis of the American dream addresses the day-to-day pressures individuals face to conform to society and prioritize material wealth, thus impacting their sense of identity and self-worth in the absence of success.
Work Cited
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Heinemann, 1994.