Evan Hord
Professor Flood
English 102
3 May 2012
Character Analysis: Willy Loman Throughout the play “Death of a Salesman”, written by Arthur Miller, we are able to learn about each of the characters and really connect with them. The main character, Willy Loman, was quite interesting when looking at his logic and figuring out why he acts the way he does. Willy convinces himself and others that he is a salesman when in reality he is actually unemployed barely getting by. The readers get to see through Willy’s perspective and when analyzing him see his intellectual, emotional, social, and philosophical sides of him. Willy is known more for his “street-smarts” rather than for his common sense. He is amazing when it comes to getting people to like him but on the other hand is not so good at getting a job. Willy believes that the only way you can succeed in the occupational world is if you are well liked. He preaches that it doesn’t matter if you have the qualifications for the job or if you are even smart, it just matters if people like you or not and he really pushes that idea on his two sons, Biff and Happy. His intellect doesn’t really compare to the other characters in the play. Biff comes to realize that his way of thinking is not right and will not get you anywhere in life, while on the other side Happy believes his father is completely correct and lives his life just as Willy does. I feel as if Willy is not smart enough to thrive in the world he lives in. It is almost as if Willy made up his own world and when he comes to terms with reality he kills himself because he doesn’t not want to be seen as a failure. Throughout the story I think Willy learned that his logic is considerably flawed but cannot come to terms with it which ultimately led to his demise. Another side of Willy that we see is his emotional side. I think Willy feels like he is not good enough most of the time, but lies because he really wants to be a good role model for his sons. I also think that he does feel like he is doing the right. Throughout the story Willy’s feelings about how what he is doing is the right thing worsens and he becomes delusional and does not want to come to terms with reality. Unfortunately when faces with challenges in the story Willy deals with them with lies and scams to cover up the failure and disappointment he has towards himself and the life he leads. The next side of Willy that we get to see is his social side, which I think is his strongest. Willy gets along with just about everyone in the story and
Death Of A Salesman Willy Loman rides on the views of illusion and doesn’t open his eyes to his present reality. His failure is the failure of American myth of success. According to this myth being “well liked” was what one needed for being successful. Another assumption examined by the play is that petty crimes like adultery and stealing are evidence of high spirit. Another assumption examined by Willy was that being an athlete brings glory and privilege, but being studious leads nowhere…
Elements that make a play Successful Death of a Salesman is arguably one of the most successful playwrights to date. Miller won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Play as well as many other awards (Wikipedia). The play was written in 1949, in postwar time economy, demonstrating the hardships and struggles of a middle class family. What makes this play so successful is Millers use of dramatic element such as plot and characterization, as well as dramatic action and tone, which…
Death of a Salesman Why come to America? What does America really have to offer, one may ask? What sets America aside, and makes it different from other nations around the world? The “American Dream” simply answers all of these questions. In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman, a man hopelessly chasing the “American Dream”, is unsuccessful in his journey to “paradise.” The “American Dream” is the belief that through hard work, patience, and courage, one can achieve success and…
opportunity to go to a play with my Intro to Art class. This play was called Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller has written a lot of plays that have been very popular. So I was very intrigued to see some of his work. However, the title did not make me very excited to see it. It sounds very depressing, and in fact, it was depressing. I had mixed emotions about this play while watching it. Death of a Salesman was a very interesting play that did not keep me on the edge of my seat…
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. The main character Willy Loman is a 60-year old unstable salesman who bases his life on the idea of the American dream. Willy suffers from self-delusion and is obsessed with the desire to succeed. In the play Death of a Salesman Willy Loman is considered the static protagonist. In the play Willy Loman is the static protagonist. The plot of the play focuses on Willy not being aware of the difference between reality and…
Drama Review –Theme and Conflict in Death Danyelle Westphal Rasmussen College Author Note This paper is being submitted on August 10, 2014 for Vicki Phillips, G330 American Literature. The story “Death of a Salesman” was written by Arthur Asher Miller in 1949. Arthur Miller was an American playwright, essayist and prominent figure in twentieth-century. He was born in Harlem, New York City on October 17, 1915 and died in Roxbury, Connecticut on February 10, 2005. He was married three times…
Joseph Grippo Comprehensive English 12 – Death of a Salesman “Problem Essay” Mr. Mouzon 5 January 2, 2015 “And I was fine… I opened the windshield and let the warm air breathe over me. And then all of a sudden I’m going off the road!”- Willy Loman (pg 14) This doesn’t quite sound like the words of a man who is perfectly stable in life. Normally if you are fine just a moment ago and then the next thing that happens is you zoning out and driving off the road, this means that your mind is having…
Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman illustrates the culture of entitlement. Miller shows us a man who fails in his own life and whose children fail also in their own lives. At a time when Willy should be retiring, he falls lower and lower on the ladder of success. First losing his salary and then losing his job. Willy’s idea of American dream and entitlement is completely contrary to reality. Willy believes that happiness will be fed to him because of his personality…
prosperous, America was in better economic condition than any other country in the world, but this didn’t mean all Americans were home free. Especially working-class Americans still clinging to the hope of the infamous American dream. Both Death of A Salesman, and Fences major themes revolve around the demise of the American patriarch of a single family, including fathers who commit adultery and illustrate their characters' attempts to make the elusive American dream a reality, specifically the fictional…
How is the American Dream portrayed within the play? The 'Death of a Salesman' was written in 1949 by a playwright named Arthur Miller, who was showing what could be called the antithesis of the American Dream. The general description of the play's theme would be, an individual man involved in business laboring to become successful in a world which to him has become mystifying and unfriendly. Even in the name of the play the idea is vague, because of the use of 'a' instead of 'the', but throughout…
