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Death Of A Salesman Identity Essay

1614 Words7 Pages

Quest for Identity and the American Dream in Death of a Salesman If you have read the play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, you know that it is based on the turmoil within an average American family and about the main character Willy trying to reach for the “American Dream”. Unlike other happy endings this one ends in a tragedy as Willy commits suicide. In Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”, the theme(s) of ‘Quest for Identity’ and the ‘American Dream’ are represented through the montage of memories, dreams, and conflicts experienced by Willy Loman, revealing the author’s message of a broken down American dream. After thirty-five years working as a traveling salesman, Willy Loman feels defeated by his lack of success and difficult family life. He recently starts having flashbacks of old memories and dreams and wondering off at times, which causes him to get into trouble in certain situations. For example in the beginning he says, I was driving along,...And then all of a sudden I’m goin’ off the road!. I’m telling you I absolutely forgot I was driving….So I went on again-and five …show more content…

The seeds represented Willy’s sense of worth as a salesman and as a father, and also his sense of failure with Biff. Willy not being able to grow vegetables signifies his shame about not being able to provide for his family when he passes. Diamonds represented what Willy craved, which was wealth and material goods. As Ben discovered them and it made him a fortune it symbolized Willy’s failure as a salesman. Another symbol that was very important in the play was the rubber hose that reminds us of Willy’s attempt at suicide. Lastly, Linda’s and “The Woman’s” stockings symbolize betrayal and sexual exclusivity. Willy has a strange obsession with his wife’s stockings and the condition they are in, so new stockings are important for his pride to show that he is financially successful and being able to provide for his

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