105 Death of a Salesman Essay Topics & Examples

Death of a Salesman is Arthur Miller’s multiple award-winning stage play that explores such ideas as American Dream and family. Our writers have prepared a list of topics and tips on writing the Death of a Salesman thesis statement, essay, or literary analysis.

Essay writing can be a daunting task for all students. We’ve prepared a list of common students’ mistakes they make while writing essays with their solutions:

1. Poor Death of a Salesman essay introduction.

Stop, if you want to start your paper with a phrase like “In this my essay…” This clause sounds boring and overused. Instead of it, give your readers a hook. Something that will make them want to read your essay to the end.

Use quotes, a surprising fact about the book or author, or even provide one of your Death of a Salesman essay questions.

2. Weak thesis statement.

If your thesis statement is incomplete or unfocused, think about revising it. When you’re composing it, make sure that your Death of a Salesman essay thesis provides your readers with key idea of a paper.

Check if it’s eye-catching and clear. If you’re struggling with topic ideas, check our sample essays.

3. Deviation from the key paper topic.

Among the most common mistakes that make most of students is turning aside from the main idea you stated in the thesis. For example, in the introduction, you stated that your paper is going to discuss the American dream in Miller’s plot. But body paragraphs are about betrayal. To avoid this error, stay focused on the key issue.

4. Unrelated transition sentences.

The transition sentences are aimed to connect your arguments and paragraphs. Use only related sentences in your paper. This will help you to keep the flow of your essay.

5. Lack of supporting examples and quotes.

The use of examples and quotes supports your point of view on the main essay idea. In other words, using examples illustrates your writing and gives more weight to arguments. So make a list of your Death of a Salesman essay quotes when you will be reading the book.

6. Excessive use of complex sentences.

Actually, there’s nothing wrong in complex sentences. However, if your essay completely consists of them, your readers will hardly understand the topic. Therefore, try to use simple sentences in your paper.

7. Too specifiс vocabulary.

The use of advanced vocabulary is not a good idea, unless you’re writing on complex technical topic. Think of your readers when you write a paper: will they understand this word or is it better to replace it with a synonym? You should be able to explain complex things in simple words.

8. Grammar and spelling mistakes.

Did you know that some professors may lower your marks due to grammar and spelling errors? Here are the four most common student errors:

• Spelling mistakes. Sometimes students use incorrect homophones in a sentences. For example, “its” instead of “it’s”, “right” instead of “rite”, etc. So always do a spellcheck on a revision stage.
• The absence of a comma before a coordinating conjunction. It is acceptable not to use a comma if your clauses are short and closely related. In other cases, you should put it before a coordinating conjunction in order to avoid run-on sentences.
• Missing subject. In academic writing, you should avoid sentences that are missing a verb or a subject.
• Wordiness. As we’ve already mentioned above, complex and wordy sentences often make your writing unclear. Think if you can replace the long phrase with one or two words.

If you’re still not sure how to complete your Death of a Salesman essay, check our free essay samples below!

🏆 Best Death of a Salesman Essay Topics & Examples

1. Willy Loman as a Tragic Hero: Character Analysis Essay
   There is a statement that Willy Loman is a tragic hero according to Arthur Miller’s definition of what a tragic hero is in his famous essay Tragedy and the Common Man.
2. Symbolism in the “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
   Death of a Salesman has a good share of symbols, which the playwright uses to communicate the themes of his great work creatively.
3. Denial and Illusion in the “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
   We realize that Biff estrangement from his father is as a result of Biff discovering Willie with a hooker in Boston.
4. Willy Loman, a Poor Role Model to His Two Sons Biff and Happy
   The main theme in the play is sustained in the play with the sons of Willy attaining their personality from their father.
5. Symbolism in Death of a Salesman
   The play is based on both Miller’s personal experiences and the theatrical traditions in which he was instructed in.”Death of a salesman” revolves around the Loman family with Willy Loman, the father, who also works […]
6. Arthur Miller: Relationships in the “Death of a Salesman”
   It is a satirical play that highlights the life of Willy Loman, the main character, a traveling salesman who has worked for Wagner Company for thirty-four years and ends up a failure because it is […]
7. Indirect Characterization and Self-Contradiction in Miller’s Death of a Salesman
   The self-contradiction implicit in this line demonstrates Miller’s masterful use of indirect characterization to divulge Willy Loman’s delusion, and ensuing nervous breakdown and suicide, over the course of the play.
8. Modernism in “Death of a Salesman” Play by Miller
   In addition to that, it is possible to observe the reality of modernism in Miller’s work when focusing on the influence of technology and progress on a workplace.
9. “A Doll’s House” and “Death of a Salesman” Comparison
   The main conflict of the play is thoroughly intergenerational and lies in Willy’s inability to accept the decision of his older son Biff, as the latter is willing to leave town to go to farmland […]
10. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
    He trained his sons on his approach to life and hoped they would follow and achieve his dream of success. Willy’s life was a disappointment as he had the wrong ambitions and failed to teach […]
11. The Narrative of the “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
    However, one of the major concerns of the play is the American system and capitalism, or rather the back side of it. Thus, the plot of the play helps the author to convey his idea […]
12. Death of a Salesman Conflicts and Themes
    It is a significant confusion that Willy has thought that for one to be successful, he has to be well-liked by people.
13. Marxist Criticism in “Death of a Salesman” by Miller
    Marxist criticism helps to get insight into the relationships between individuals and social groups and to understand the historical, social, economic, and political context of the environment of the story and its influence on a […]
14. Miller’s Death of a Salesman vs. Wilson’s Fences
    The two characters, Willy Lowman and Troy Maxon, can get a lot of challenges and fences in their quest to achieve the American Dream. One common idea in the two plays, Fences and the Death […]
15. Difference Between Tragedy and Pathos in Death of a Salesman
    Willy Loman is believed to be a tragic hero, since he fails to achieve his purpose and encounters numerous barriers in his way to self-realization and happiness. Willy Loman cannot be a tragic hero, since […]
16. “Of Mice and Men” and “Death of a Salesman” Compared
    In relation to this concept is the fact that Lennie and George’s dreams inspire the duo to be mutually cooperative and loving as is evident through Gorge’s action of covering up for Lennie’s deficiencies when […]
17. “Death of a Salesman” by A. Miller and “The Glass Menagerie” by T. Williams: Elements of Drama Action
    That is why it is interesting to compare the details of the two stories, and the peculiarities of both dramas’ actions.
18. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller – Review
    The purpose of this paper is to describe the type of sales the main character was occupied with, to analyze social and economic peculiarities of the described period of time and to find out why […]
19. Comparison: Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire
    In the Death of a Salesman, Willy, the protagonist, is lost in the illusion that the American dream is only achievable via superficial qualities of likeability and attractiveness.
20. Miller’s Death of a Salesman: ‘Revolution’ in the Dramaturgy
    It appears that there were two major prerequisites, which caused the first production of Miller’s Death of as Salesman to end up being instantaneously referred to as nothing short of a revolutionary theatrical event – […]

✅ Most Interesting Death of a Salesman Topics to Write about

1. Exploration of Art Theater: Comparing and Contrasting “Oedipus Rex” and “Death of a Salesman”
   Proposals to the queen and the execution of the king are two coincidences in “Oedipus Rex”. On the other hand, as Cohen notes, “the death of Willy is a tragedy while the failure of his […]
2. Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and “Incident at Vichy” Plays
   The most laconic in the depiction and criticism of the society of his time was Arthur Miller, who presented the world with two significant works: “Death of a Salesman” and “Incident at Vichy”.
3. “The Lesson” by T.C. Bambara and “Death of a Salesman” by A. Miller: Separation From Reality
   While the main theme of Death of a Salesman is the inhumanity of progress, and the main theme in The Lesson is the inequality of American culture, the minor theme of living separated from other […]
4. The Play ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller
   From this it can be argued that, the Negroes present still reminds them about their past and hence their past affects their present in America.
5. The Play “Death of a Salesman”
   The last scene will take place on the lowest level, the garden, which will be transformed into a graveyard by the rising of gravestones and the projection of a mausoleum in the background of the […]
6. Main Theme of “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
   The purpose of this paper is to find out what Willy believed to be the key to successful selling and to identify whether Willy fits the typical profile of a successful salesman as presented in […]
7. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller Literary Analysis
   Written immediately after the First World War, in 1915, Miller uses artistic skills to call for a reformation in the social lives of the Americans.
8. American Dream in Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
   The play Death of a salesman is indeed an anatomy of the American dream especially because the plot of the story revolves around some of the basic material gains that individuals in the American society […]
9. “Death of a Salesman” by Volker Schlöndorff
   As critics go on debating whether the play should be a tragedy or not, a moving social documentary, a confirmation of the spirit of Americans, or a conveyance of the salesman’s life, people in the […]
10. “Death of a Salesman” a Book by Arthur Miller
    Loman believes that Biff has wasted time and money, and is throwing his life away. To defend himself, Biff lies to his father that he has a potential business meeting the very next day.
11. The Most Tragic Death in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
    Moreover, he always perceived his brother Ben to be a great example of the achievement of the American Dream, and wished that his sons had a life similar to his.
12. The Play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
    Willy Loman’s dishonesty and his lack of morality have contributed to his state of dissatisfaction with life, and his eventual suicide is a result of disappointments in his actions: the affair with the Boston woman, […]
13. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller: A Dramaturgic Masterpiece
    After all, it is not only that the themes and motifs, contained in the play, are utterly humanistic, but also the specifics of how Miller conceived it to be staged suggest that Death of a […]
14. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller and Durkheim’s Theory
    It appears that the suicide of the main character of the play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller can be described within the framework suggested by Durkheim.
15. “Death of a Salesman” by Steven Erickson
    In addition, Ben’s key music is indicative of him being the figure that Willy adored as a source of his hope in life.
16. Response Paper: “Do I Have a Good Dream?”
    The aspects and basics used by the author to explain the concept of dreams through Willy and his family is what actually happens in the modern society. It can be used to educate people and […]
17. “Death of a Salesman”: Little Person’s Heroism?
    One of the central themes in this play is the life of little people and “the tension between little people and big issues”.
18. Hardships, Family Relationships, Insanity and Death in Two Renowned Dramas Fences by Wilson and Death of a Salesman by Miller
    Unfortunately, this led one of them to insanity and the other one to alienate himself from the rest of the family.
19. Characters in The Glass Menagerie and Death of a Salesman
    For example, one of the main characters in Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is identified as a “mentally and emotionally confused” person; the male character of The Glass Menagerie is under a threat of […]
20. Tragedy in the Works of Arthur Miller and Flannery O’Connor
    In this regard, the death of the protagonist also causes readers a sense of despair because the main character was not transformed prior to his death.

🎓 Good Research Topics about Death of a Salesman

1. Willy Loman as the Portrayal of an Average American in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
2. A Craving for Success in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
3. The Pursuit of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”
4. Arthur Miller’s Message in “Death of a Salesman”
5. Willy Loman as a Tragic Hero in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
6. A Description of the Story of a Traveling Salesman in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
7. Willy Loman’s Lonely Character in “Death of a Salesman”
8. The Symbolism of a Car Crash in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
9. The Significance of Women in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
10. The Vulnerability of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
11. Victimization in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
12. Time and Attitude in “The Iceman Cometh,” “Waiting for Godot,” and “Death of a Salesman”
13. Work and Happiness in “Death of a Salesman” and “Remains of the Day”
14. The Two Willy Lomans in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
15. A Comparison of the Portrayal of Masculinity in American Culture to Femininity in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
16. Tragedy and American Dram in “Death of a Salesman”
17. The Portrayal of a Man’s Struggle in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
18. Unethical Dreams in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”

👍 Creative Death of a Salesman Essay Topics

1. Tragic Heroes Bring Suffering Upon Themselves: “Death of a Salesman”
2. Willy Loman’s Illusions and Delusions in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
3. Willie Loman’s Corrupted View of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”
4. The Tragic Hero Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
5. Willy’s Wrong Dreams in “Death of a Salesman”
6. The Importance of Symbolism in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
7. Willie Loman’s Tragic Misinterpretation of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”
8. The Female Characters as the Tragic Victims in “Death of a Salesman”
9. Willy’s Struggle for Identity in “Death of a Salesman”
10. The Myth of the American Family as Discredited in “Death of a Salesman” and an “American Beauty”
11. Tragedy of a Common Man in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
12. The Function of Sound and Music in “Death of a Salesman”
13. The Marxist Theory of Consumerism in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
14. Willy’s Obsession With the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”
15. When Dreams Become Nightmares in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
16. The Relationship Between Willy Loman and His Sons in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
17. Willy’s Despair in the Final Scenes in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
18. The Theme of Success in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
19. Understanding the Importance of the Role of Dreams in “Death of a Salesman”
20. A Fantasy of a Pathetic Life in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller

❓ Death of a Salesman Essay Questions

1. What Are the Main Themes in “Death of a Salesman”?
2. What Does the Character of Happy Loman Bring to Understanding and Enjoyment of “Death of a Salesman”?
3. When Dreams Become Nightmares in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”?
4. What Biff Learns in “Death of a Salesman”?
5. Who Is the Killer of Willy Loma in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”?
6. Why Has Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Remained Relevant for Over Fifty Years?
7. Is Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” a Tragedy?
8. What Is Success and the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”?
9. How Does Miller Present the Relationship Between Willy and Linda at the Beginning of “Death of a Salesman”?
10. How Biff Shows Irresponsibility in the “Death of a Salesman”?
11. How Change Kills Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller?
12. Is “Death of a Salesman” a Love Story?
13. How Does Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Reflect Society at the Time?
14. How Does Arthur Miller Deals With the Theme of the American Dream Through “Death of a Salesman”?
15. What Does the Flute Symbolize in “Death of a Salesman”?
16. How Does “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller Position Us to See the American Dream?
17. How Far Does Linda Make Us Feel Sympathy Towards Linda in “Death of a Salesman”?
18. What Is the Main Point of “Death of a Salesman”?
19. How Do the Male Characters in “Death of a Salesman” Conform to Their Society’s Concept of Masculinity?
20. How Are Women Portrayed in “Death of a Salesman”?
21. What Is the Moral Lesson of the Story “Death of a Salesman”?
22. How Does Miller Use the Father-Son Relationships to Question the Values of 1940’s America in “Death of a Salesman”?
23. What Does the Woman Symbolize in “Death of a Salesman”?
24. What Does Spring Symbolize in “Death of a Salesman”?
25. What Does the Character of Happy Loman Bring to Understanding and Enjoyment of “Death of a Salesman”?
26. Are the Lomans All They Appear to Be in “Death of a Salesman”?
27. Can Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Be Regarded a Tragic Play?