StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is today recognized as one of the seminal texts of the 20th century. Through the struggle of Willy Loman and his family the play investigates the nature of the American Dream. While traditional critical investigations have considered Miller’s character exploration of Willy Loman and his sons, another prominent character is Willy’s wife Linda…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.1% of users find it useful
Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller"

Download file to see previous pages

While the narrative initially centers on Willy Loman’s accident, Linda is positioned merely as a sounding board for Loman’s despair. In terms of multi-dimensional perspective in this opening act Linda only offers, “I don’t know. I think he’s still lost, Willy. I think he’s very lost” (Miller, pg. 10), in response to a conversation about their son Biff. Outside of this statement Linda is largely characterized in these early scenes as a characteristic 1950s housewife. Still her relationship with Willy Loman in this context is one of great help and support.

One considers that in this scene she encourages Loman to ask his boss for a raise. She also commiserates with him regarding his day. Ultimately here it’s clear that she helps more than hinders Loman. As the text advances one comes to recognize a multi-dimensional element to Linda’s character. While Linda remains firmly entrenched in mid-20th century social and cultural mores it’s clear that simply considering that Miller used Linda as a stereotypical long-suffering wife is too simplistic an understanding.

Although in large-part Linda functions as a sounding board for Willy Loman’s dreams and despondency in these dialogues one comes to understand that Linda is the emotional center of the play. While Loman is often subject to dreaming and unrealistic idealism, Linda functions as an important counterpoint. One such example of this multi-dimensional aspect of Linda’s personality occurs during one of Willy’s dream flashbacks he returns home and informs Linda that he made $1,200 in sales. Linda calculates the commission and determines it is $200.

Loman then reveals that in actuality he did much less in sales. Willy has a moment of recognition of his reality and turns to despondency; in this instance Linda tells him that he is successful enough. It is this calming presence and functional approach to the challenges of the American experience that demonstrates Linda’s multi-dimensionality. As the text advances, Linda’s characterization becomes increasingly complex. In large part as Willy begins to deteriorate Linda comes to assume greater responsibility in the family.

This greater responsibility is both a strong help to Loman, as well as an element of her complex character. One considers that after Willy becomes mentally unbalanced Linda presents strong support and insight into his condition. She states, “I don’t say he’s a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper… But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He’s not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog” (Miller, pg. 32). In this situation Linda demonstrates a strong recognition of the social and cultural milieu, as well as functions as a moral center to the play.

As the play concludes one comes to recognize that Linda is not simply a multi-dimensional character but is perhaps the most complex character in the play. Throughout the text Willy Loman, Biff, and Happy have struggled to find a semblance of meaning and happiness as they embrace dysfunctional or overly idealistic perspectives on existence. Rather than succumbing to this idealism Linda assumes a starkly realist approach that emerges in the requiem. Talking to Willy she

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1436345-death-of-a-salesman
(Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1436345-death-of-a-salesman.
“Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1436345-death-of-a-salesman.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller

Take Home Mid-term Exam

Name Subject Date Question 1 The poem “Harlem”.... For all the people without exceptions, the life is based on definite plans and prospects, we all want our life to meet our expectations.... It is not possible to live without a dream.... Sometimes the dream of an individual becomes the common dream for many people, this usually happen when the people appear in one and the same situation and have common interests....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Arthur Millers Play Death of a Salesman

Although there is an unbelievably high number of individual themes with which to examine in arthur miller's play “Death of a Salesman”, one would be remiss if they did not consider the strong autobiographical overtones that pervade the work… arthur miller's Play “Death of a Salesman” as an Analysis of Abandonment and Loss Although there is an unbelievably high number of individual themes with which to examine in arthur miller's play “Death of a Salesman”, one would be remiss if they did not consider the strong autobiographical overtones that pervade the work; especially those that pertain to loss and/or abandonment....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Readings on Arthur Miller: death of salesman.... - arthur miller"(1)In unequivocal words this is an admission that when man pursues his pretentions the same will fail since the conditions of life will not allow and cannot accommodate the same.... arthur miller: A Biography.... "arthur miller: The Author Reflects on Death of a Salesman.... THE death of A SALESMAN "Whoever is writing in the United s is using the American Dream as an ironical pole of his story....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

The composition of Death of a salesman by arthur miller's enlightened the tale of a man's confronting disappointment in the success-driven civilization of America and illustrates the tragic course which ultimately leads to his bereavement.... This book report analyzes the composition "Death of a Salesman" by arthur miller's which enlightens the tale of a man's confronting disappointment in the success-driven civilization of America and illustrates the tragic course which ultimately leads to his bereavement....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review

Arthur Miller's The Death Of A Salesman

The staging of arthur miller's classic play Death of a Salesman at the Odyssey Theater successfully depicted a haunting and tragic tale of a man who failed to achieve his American Dream.... As arthur miller transformed the manner which contemporary plays were constructed - involving exquisite scenes and shifts in time - as when Willy's past intermingle with the present in almost harmonious beauty, this innovation cannot be emulated easily in its most fluid form....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Death of a Salesman by Authur Miller

(arthur miller, Death of a Salesman, Act 2).... In the essay “Death of a salesman by Authur Miller” the author analyzes Willy's power for self-hallucination, boasting himself as the assistant buyer at his store.... Willy continuously badgers Biff with regards to his salesman principles and attitude then, Biff starts to get unconfident and feels like he gains a figure of a loser....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

This report discusses the play Death of a Salesman' by arthur miller presents the theme of disillusionment and depression, the struggle to cope with urbanization.... hellip;  Willy Loman's character as portrayed by miller captures the trauma of one who cannot compromise and change with the new trend of a mechanized and modernized world and hence suffers from perpetual neurosis.... And by God I was rich" (miller 48).... He would boast about his being a successful salesman in his youth and tried to take refuge in an imaginative past....
4 Pages (1000 words) Book Report/Review

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

The researcher of this paper aims to analyze realism and postmodernism movements through the Death of a salesman by arthur miller.... Death of a salesman by arthur miller offers a clear depiction of its time society's enthusiasm meant to attain their aspirations.... hellip; This paper explores Death of a salesman by arthur miller in the context of realism and postmodernism.... Realism and Postmodernism: Death of a salesman by arthur miller Death of a salesman by arthur miller offers a clear depiction of its time society's enthusiasm meant to attain their aspirations (Sterling 93)....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us