Essay, Research Paper
Tragedy and the Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman revolves around a tragic and misunderstood hero who eventually takes his own life for the betterment of his family, especially his eldest son. Written by Arthur Miller, the play centers on Willy Loman who is a salesman, a father of two sons Biff and Happy, and husband to a wonderful wife, Linda. Throughout the story, Willy proves through his actions that he is indeed a tragic hero in Arthur Miller?s eyes. To Arthur Miller, a tragic hero can be a common person who is ready to lay down his life to secure their sense of personal dignity. Tragedy is also the consequence of a person?s total compulsion to evaluate himself ?justly?. Lastly, tragedy should not be considered pessimistic, the possibility of victory is there, and usually good things come out of bad things as in the case of this play.
?I believe that common people are as apt subjects for tragedy in its highest sense as monarchs are? (Tragedy and the? 1). In the essay Tragedy and the Common Man, Arthur Miller believes that tragedy can happen to the common man, or in this case, Willy Loman. Arthur Miller isn?t the only person to perceive Willy Loman as an average Joe. At the end of the play, where Biff breaks down and cries, he goes to his dad and says, ?Pop! I?m a dime a dozen, and so are you! 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 like all the rest of them! I?m one dollar an hour, Willy!? (Death of a Salesman 132). This statement shows that Biff also considers Willy a typical guy.
Throughout the story, the reader sees Willy questioning his already deceased brother Ben, and in one case, he even questions Bernard about what he did wrong. During his brief meeting with Bernard, Willy asks, ?What-what?s the secret? How-how did you? Why didn?t he ever catch on?? (Death of a Salesman 92). The secret in this case is the secret to success, and here, he?s asking Bernard why Biff never succeeded in anything he did over the age of seventeen. Basically, he did do something wrong, by sleeping with the secretary in Boston, and having Biff find out, it showed Biff that his entire life was a lie. Of course Willy denies this and that?s why the reader sees him questioning himself even though the answer is right in front of him.
In the case of Willy Loman, his tragedy should not be considered pessimistic. Through his tragedy, he finally sees that Biff loves him despite his affair and lies. Willy realizes this during the huge fight he has with Biff at the end of the play, ?Isn?t that remarkable? Biff-likes me! (Death of a Salesman 133). During the play, Willy believes Biff is not succeeding in life because he wants to spite Willy. However this is not the case, Biff is not succeeding because of the way he was brought up, ?I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody! That?s whose fault it is! (Death of a Salesman 131). From this remark, it takes all the blame off Willy?s shoulders, it wasn?t out of spite that Biff didn?t succeed, it was just the way Biff?s personality worked. Throughout the play, Willy tries to secure his sense of personal dignity by laying down his life in committing suicide. Although he tries to take his life by getting into a ?car accident? and inhaling carbon monoxide, he doesn?t succeed until his last attempt. In his last attempt, it occurs after having the huge fight with Biff and realizing that Biff loves him. Because of that, Willy believes that Biff is an outstanding boy, ?Yes outstanding, with twenty thousand behind him? (Death of a Salesman 133). In order to secure his own dignity, he feels that by ending his life, he can leave something behind for Biff, in this case, it?s the twenty thousand from the insurance company. But sadly enough, the insurance company had already realized his plan after checking up on his past two attempts, and because of this, Biff and the rest of the family never acquires the money.
Studying Willy?s actions throughout the story, one can see that Willy is a tragic hero in Arthur Miller?s eyes. Willy?s actions fit all the criteria of a tragic hero. From him being a common man, to his readiness to lay down his life, his entire life from start to finish has been the perfect embodiment of a tragic hero. In the last paragraph in the play, Linda says, ?I can?t cry. I don?t know what it is, but I can?t cry. I don?t understand it? (Death of a Salesman 139). Perhaps the reason why Linda can?t cry is because she knows that no matter what happened at the end, Willy was finally happy when he was about to kill himself. In the last line when Linda goes, ?We?re free and clear? she is indeed also speaking for Willy. By killing himself, Willy was finally free from the horrible life he was living and left the world thinking he finally did something positive for Biff (Death of a Salesman 139).
Другие работы по теме:
Death Of A Sales Man Essay Research
Paper Death of a Salesman Some nights you see a star in the sky or just have that feeling that what you wish will come true and all your wildest dreams will become reality. For Willy Loman that was everyday. He would always make his dreams seem like reality and thought that what he was saying was right and everybody around him was wrong.
True West And Death Of A Salesman
Compared Essay, Research Paper Death of a Salesman and True West can be compared in terms of their visions of the American dream. Both of these plays focus on characters that spend their lives pursuing this dream and fail at happiness as a result.
Comparing
“The Glass Meangerie”, “Death Of A Salesman” And “A Raisin In The Sun” Essay, Research Paper In the stories, ?The Glass Menagerie?, ?Death of A Salesman?, and ?Raisin in the Sun?, there are many things in common. The most common thing in all of them I felt was how all the families all had ?American? problems. In ?The Glass Menagerie?, the ?American? problem was a family dealing with an ill member.
AudenS Musee Des Beaux Arts And Dylans
?Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night? Essay, Research Paper Both Auden’s “Musee des Beaux Arts” and Dylans “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” can be seen as having a theme of tragedy. Both concern the topic of death, although each has a different message. Auden is one side of the spectrum saying that death and suffering are natural parts of the life cycle, while Thomas wants to fight death because there is still much to be done.
The American Dream Concept In The Death
Of A Salesman Compared To The Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper The American Dream is a theme that many books attempt to touch on, yet few are truly able to examine or explain it. Both Arthur Miller s play, Death of a Salesman and F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel The Great Gatsby are prime examples of these types of talented stories.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN AMERICAN DREAM Essay
, Research Paper There is no doubt, that in society, everyone has a role. A man?s role, for instance, is to provide for his family by going to work and bringing home money. The American dream brainwashes society and fools it into thinking it is easy to be successful and happy in life. In the play ?Death of a Salesman? by Arthur Miller, Willie Lowman builds himself up to the point where he is the cause of his own downfall.
A Salesmans Death Essay Research Paper An
A Salesmans Death Essay, Research Paper An Analysis of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman When people accept an ideal to live by it can be a glorious and noble thing unless they become so obsessed with the ideal that it becomes a yolk and they are unable to realize their dream. This is especially true for Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman.
Analysis Of The Ending Of
“Death Of A Salesman” Essay, Research Paper Analysis of the Ending of “Death of a Salesman” The play “Death of a Salesman” shows the final demise of Willy Loman, a sixty-
The Great Gatsby Comparitve Essay Research Paper
Question: To fully understand a text it is important to study it alongside another. Discuss Both texts The Great Gatsby by F.S.Fitzgerald and Arthur Miller s Death of a Salesman explore and conjure up the ideals of the American Dream. Through this process, both authors reveal themes such as love and corruption.
Is Death Of A Salseman A Tragedy
Essay, Research Paper Willy Loman is often described as a Tragic Hero. To What Extent is “Death of a Salesman” a Tragedy? Critics have hotly debated the question of whether Willy Loman is a tragic hero or whether Death of a Salesman is a tragedy. Dramatic tragedy was invented and defined by the Greeks. Aristotle said a play has to have four elements to qualify as a tragedy: 1) noble or impressive characters; 2) the main character’s discovery or recognition of a truth or fault in himself ; 3) poetic language; and 4) the ability to arouse and then soothe the audience’s pity and fear.
Willy As Tragic Hero In Death Of
A Salesman Essay, Research Paper Willy Loman is indeed a pathetic and tragic hero of Death of a Salesman. His problems stem from his own delusions, the American Dream turning sour, and misunderstanding his job and family. All of this tells the story of everyday people in American society. His environment is changing faster than his beliefs which is why he is in the dilemma that he is in now.
Death Of A Salesman And The Great
Gatsby Essay, Research Paper Living Life for the Wrong Reasons Existentialists believe that in order to have a meaningful life one must pursue realistic dreams. Willy Loman from the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, tries to succeed in life by getting people to like him. Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, lives his whole life trying to earn the love of one woman.
Willys Death Essay Research Paper Death of
Willys Death Essay, Research Paper Death of a Salesman Willy Lomans tragedy is due more to his own flawed character than to societies flaws. Advancements in science throughout this century have led to tremendous advancements in industry. Advancements in industry, however, have not always led to advancements in living.
Death Of A Traveling Salesman Essay Research
Paper Death Of A Traveling Salesman In the short story, Death Of A Traveling Salesman, R. J. Bowman is a successful salesman with the intention to get home after being sick and in the hospital. He faces many obstacles along the way. Even though R. J. Bowman knows that there is something missing in his life he has no desire to try and bring it into his life.
Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Of A Family
Or A City? Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy of A Family or A City? Is Romeo and Juliet’s death a tragedy of two families or a tragedy of a city? In the following quote, W. H. Auden says, “The tragedy of Romeo and
Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Love Story Or
Both? Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy, Love Story or Both? Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, is the tale of two lovers who take their lives for each other when their love is hindered by their feuding parents.
Similarities Beetween Willy And Biff In DeATHof
A Salesman Essay, Research Paper Similarities Between Willy and Biff in Death of a Salesman by john moster Arthur Miller?s Death of a Salesman is the tragic story of Willy Loman who?s life is a continuous torture. He feels as if he had failed in achieving anything for himself or his family. One of his dreams was to become a successful salesman, but instead, he supports his family with the loans he receives from his friend because his job earns him nothing.
The Death Of A Salesman How Biff
Shows Irresponsibility Essay, Research Paper The Death of A Salesman: How Biff Shows Irresponsibility Have you ever felt as if you do not know what to do with your life?
A Comparison Of Tragedy In English Works
Essay, Research Paper A Comparison of Tragedy in English Works For a story to be a tragedy it has to follow the principles set by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, or those of Arthur Miller who is a twentieth
Respect In Death Of Salesman Essay
, Research Paper In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the main character, Willy Loman, has conflicts with respect and infidelity throughout the story. He has a problem with respect, especially respecting his wife, Linda. Willy shows through flashbacks of The Woman and everyday life that he has no respect for Linda.
Tragedy And The Common Man Essay Research
Paper In Arthur Miller?s 1949 essay, “Tragedy and the Common Man,” Miller began by saying, “In this age few tragedies are written.” This particular essay was published in the New York Times, was also the preface that was prepared for “Death of a Salesman” in 1949. Before Miller?s “Death of a Salesman,” there was only one type of tragedy?that which fit Aristotle?s definition.
Tragedy And The Common Man Willy Loman
– Not A Tragic Hero Essay, Research Paper In Arthur Miller?s essay about ?Tragedy and the Common Man,? he argues that the common man is as appropriate a subject for tragedy as the very highly placed kings and noble men. Mankind keeps tragedy above all forms because they are given the same mental abilities as the nobles.
Falseness In Death Of A Salesman Essay
, Research Paper Death of a Salesman by Kyle Pearce All throughout Arthur Miller s play Death of a Salesman, tension and falseness has been displayed by each of the characters but near the end of Act 1, it has become more evident than ever. The family, awoken by Willy in the middle of the night, gathered in the kitchen for their first confrontation.
Death Of A Salesman Willy
Essay, Research Paper Death of a Salesman – Willy Charley says something in Arthur Miller s Death of a Salesman that sums up Willy s whole life. He asks him, “When the hell are you going to grow up?” Willy s spends his entire life in an illusion. He sees himself as a great man that is popular and successful. Willy exhibits many childlike qualities.
Death Of A Salesman And Biff Essay
, Research Paper The Importance of Biff?s Role in ?Death of a Salesman? The play ?Death of a Salesman?, by Arthur Miller, follows the life of Willy Loman, a
Death Of A Salesman Willy Loman Essay
, Research Paper Death of a Salesman: Willy Loman Willy Loman is responsible for his own downfall. Willy finds his own hero and tries to become the hero in his own existence. Willy tries to become a
Death Of A Salesman Vs Hamlet
Essay, Research Paper Death Of A Salesman Vs. Hamlet Willy Loman and Hamlet, two characters so alike, though different. Both are perfect examples of tragedy in literature, though for separate reasons and by distinct
Tragedy Death Of A Salesman Essay Research
Paper The optimistic outlook of tragedy Many people who read tragedies believe that they offer a pessimistic outlook on life. Arthur Miller?s novel, Death of a Salesman, expresses the message that to achieve the American dream you have to follow your heart. Those who have read ?Tragedy and The Common Man?, an essay by Arthur Miller, realize that tragedy offers more to its readers then a sad ending; it offers optimism and encouragement for the future.
The Moder Tragedy Death Of A Salesman
Essay, Research Paper A Modern Tragedy A form of drama in which a person of superior intelligence and character is overcome by the very obstacles he/she is struggling to remove defines a tragedy as most people know it. However, tragedy can reflect another aspect of life: the tragedies of the common people.
Death Of A Salesman Essay Research Paper
Analysis of ?Death of a Salesman? The tragedy of a family The play ?Death of a Salesman? was written by Arthur Miller in 1949. He was born on October 17, 1915 in New York City. Most of Miller?s works emphasizes the common man struggling through the misconceptions and false illusions that modern society imposes.