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Death Of A Salesman Theme Analysis

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The play Death of a salesman is set in late 1940s in America. This play’s main theme is ‘American Dream’ which Willy is trying hopelessly to grasp believing that if he is well liked and personally attractive he will succeed in business in American society. This le but it also has several different themes such as betrayal, abandon, reality and delusion. These themes appear every time Willy drifts back to the past throughout the play. Willy Loman, a 60-year-old salesman with two sons, lives in his dream believing that his sons would be successful like him and is certain that a good salesman has to have a well liked personality just like Willy himself. In the play Willy tends to drift back to the past when his family was happy and could dream of future together. Biff, Willy’s oldest son, used to be a star football player when he was in high school and wins scholarship from several universities. It seemed like Biff …show more content…

When Biff was in high school, Biff and Willy loved each other, and Biff trusted Willy and Willy believed in Biff that he will one day be well liked in the business world and become successful. However, when Willy’s secret affair was uncovered Biff lost his faith towards Willy and gave up everything he could achieve. However, Willy does not stop believing that Biff will be a well liked man and this causes Willy and Biff to have conflict in what they want to be. When the problem reaches its climax Willy kills himself in return of insurance money to the family. Biff blames Will’s dream instead of him for his death. This proves that both of them loved each other no matter how different their dreams were. In my opinion these kind relationship between father and son represents sacrificial. Even though love between father and son sounds romantic, it is sad to hear that one of them has to sacrifice to make another better, when nothing has really become

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“The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (33). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses foil characters to elucidate Willy’s flaws that ultimately prevent him and his family from succeeding. The contrast between Charley and Willy and Bernard and Biff serves to highlight how Willy’s obsession with achieving his version of the American Dream impacts both his life and his children’s. His poor values are passed on to his children producing even more failures. ¬¬¬¬Both Charley and Willy work as salesmen, however Charley represents what Willy desired to become – successful.

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While Linda enabled him, Willy could not help himself too keep ruining the good opportunities he had and turning them into some factious reality. At Willy`s funeral Biff comes to the realization that his father had all the wrong dreams and visions of success. Willy`s only dream was the fake “American Dream” that people believe will happen overnight. Willy`s failed attempts and happiness bonded into one and played a part into him creating this false reality and persona that he was the best salesman and that he was well loved by everyone around him.

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