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Research Paper On Death Of A Salesman

2584 Words11 Pages

Emma Thatcher
Reed
ENG102_BH2_SP23
7 May 2023
Dreams Don't Build a Happy Family
Is the American Dream as prosperous and achievable as it's made out to be? Arthur Miller was a successful and well-known writer in the 1900s. So well known that he caught the attention of Marilyn Monroe and was married to her for a few years. One of Arthur Miller's most famous pieces is "Death of a Salesman." In this play, readers watch a family of four fall apart because of a delusional and unrealistic father and two unsuccessful sons. Throughout the story, Willy struggles to afford food and household necessities. As readers read about Willy's struggles, they learn that he is suicidal and is disappointed in himself and his sons. Readers then discover that Willy cheated on his wife, and his son Biff who had a strong future ahead of him found out. This destroyed all of Biff's views of his father, causing him not to graduate high school, and it ruined his future career. Ultimately, all these things build up for Willy, and getting fired is one of his last straws. After an argument with Biff, Willy kills himself, hoping to …show more content…

Miller uses the stockings and seeds to symbolize Willy's failures and desperate attempts to do something right or prosperous for his family. In addition to symbolism, Miller uses irony; Miller writes about the ironic American Dream and how it led Willy to an impoverished and unfulfilling life; not only that, but it allowed him to use Biff as his scapegoat, and it turned him spiteful. Finally, Miller uses flashbacks, which solidify all the questions readers have throughout the story. Readers now know that Biff caught his father cheating, making him so distraught to the point that he couldn't graduate high school. The American dream was only achievable to a few, and the reality of that hit some families harder than

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