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Conscious Awareness In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

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Conscious Awareness in Death of a Salesman Conscious awareness is an important part of life and without it, an individual can go crazy. It is also an aspect of some works of literature. In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the author uses the theme of loss of identity and conscious awareness to develop a story about an underachieved salesman as he slowly loses his mind. The main character, Willy Loman, is a traveling salesman that is unhappy with his life. Willy is married to Linda, and they have two grown sons, Biff and Happy. Willy often argues with Biff about how unsuccessful Biff’s life is. The brothers, Biff and Happy, discuss moving out west and buying a ranch, but their father disapproves. Willy tries to convince his boss to give …show more content…

The play is built of confrontations, memories, and dreams. The theme of loss of identify appears as Willy tries to live his life through his son, Biff. Biff was a popular, football star in high school, who Willy had high hopes for. Willy expected Biff to be successful, but Biff turns out to be an unsuccessful, average man like his father. This is why they argue so much; they lead very similar lives. When Willy confuses reality with the past, he is dreaming of what could have been. For example, Willy often hears his mistress laugh and talk when he is having a conversation with his wife. He relives Biff’s football games on occasions because he was proud of his son at that point in time- not in the present. Willy also thinks of his brother, Ben. Ben became a wealthy man, and Willy regrets not going to Alaska with his brother and becoming rich. The play ends with Willy’s family at Willy’s funeral. His wife makes the remark that the family is now “free” (Miller 86). Her mentality comes from the years the struggled financially, the times he would talk to himself, and the constant arguing that took place in their family home due to Willy. At complete loss of identity, Willy dies a confused man. Miller’s theme of loss of conscious awareness conveys Willy’s unhealthy mental state from no satisfaction in

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