How Does Arthur Miller Use Images In Death Of A Salesman

A playwright’s skill is measured by his or her command in using images and actions in their work. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller captures the audience’s attention by invoking images and actions that enhance the response to the play. He defines each character by his or her actions and uses images as a way of enhancing results of these actions. As a costume designer, my designs should reflect the actions and images Miller uses. The designs need to reflect the time period, but also who these characters are. The title Death of a Salesman already creates an image in the audience’s mind. When an audience member reads the title they imagine a salesman, but also what kind. A viewer could imagine an amicable man or sleazy character, but more importantly his death. What does the death of this salesman hold? Why should the viewer care? More importantly, whom has he touched? For Willy, being “well liked” is important because if he is favored in the public eye than he must be successful. Willy inflates the egos of his children and offers no repercussions, but insists that they will be successful as long as they are “well liked”. By the end of the play, Miller shows that Willy is a true salesman, both in his personal and professional life. He may have not been

Sometimes people succeed and at other times they fail. Willy made Biff’s childhood special because he convinced Biff could do no wrong and that he was perfect. The pitch Willy created failed because Biff catches him cheating. Biff chooses to give up on his life because Willy’s image as a successful and perfect father becomes false. Willy’s guilt is brought up multiple times through the repeated imagery of the stockings. His desire for success is symbolized by the imagery invoked by his brother surviving the “jungle”. Everything in the play connects back to Willy, his failures, and the he involves while aiming for the American