death of a salesman betrayal essay

Death of a Salesman

Introduction to death of a salesman.

Death of a Salesman a play having “two acts and a requiem” is the masterpiece of Arthur Miller written in 1948 and produced in 1949. The popularity and success of the play demonstrate the strength of its story . The play was adapted for various tableaus, films, and course books across the globe, securing a Pulitzer Prize for Miller. The story of the play revolves around an unfortunate middle-class man who ruins his life, chasing the idea of the American Dream. This unattainable hunt costs him dearly; he seems stuck between fantasy and reality with a resultant loss of his own life. In one of his interviews, Miller mentions that the inspiration for the play is seeing his father struggle during the Depression.

Summary of Death of a Salesman

The play features Willy Lowman, living in New York City with his wife, Linda. Although Willy has worked as a salesman for almost thirty years, yet he has not achieved the real level of success that would allow him to stop tiring himself and afford the household expenditures that swallow his diminishing wages. He constantly compares himself to another salesman, Dave Singleton, who led a successful career and when he died, many people came to bid him farewell.

The play begins when Willy comes home exhausted from a failed trip with his mind full of tensions and worries. He seems sick of daily travels, while Linda, consoles him and suggests that he should ask his boss, Howard Wagner, to get a placement that demands less travel. Willy consents to request his boss the next day. Then, Linda and Willy start talking about their sons Biff and Happy, who are out for a date and are expected to be home soon. Also, she reminds him not to be critical or judgmental toward Biff, but Willy expresses his resentment over Biff’s lazy approach toward life.

Alone in the kitchen, Willy plunges back in time and remembers old times when his sons were young and idealized their father as an upright man. His flashbacks make the readers familiar with his philosophy of success that has derived him to his current unsuccessful state. Compared with his successful neighbor, Charley and his son, Bernard, Willy’s family is more determined and full of the natural charisma required for success. Willy always thought that his son’s rising high school football achievements would offer him university scholarships and make him a successful man. Yet the same neighbor once offered him a job but he refused despite the fact that he used to borrow money from him to cover household expenses and his son Bernard who was kind of a nerd in school, is now a successful lawyer.

Once again Willy drives back in time when he thinks about his brother Ben, who left home at seventeen and made quite a fortune in Alaska and Africa . Willy and Ben’s father abandoned them and Willy compares himself with his successful brother and regrets it. This comparison adds more to his miserable state, making him think that he is not capable of achieving success in life. Disturbed by Willy’s present state, Linda discusses his deteriorating mental state with his sons. She tells them about his failed suicide attempts as well. The boys get chagrined at themselves that they could not bring comfort to their father; Biff immediately decides to join his brother’s sports goods business and he’d go and talk to his old acquaintance for business funding. This idea pleases Willy, who, in turn, gives some incoherent and conflicting advice to his sons.

The next day, Willy goes to his boss, Howard Wagner, to request him for placement close to home. Howard not only refuses his plea but also suspends him from the job. Humiliated and disheartened, Willy turns toward Charley to borrow some money, and this time he encounters Charley’s son, Bernard. Like his father, Bernard has also achieved a respectful status in society, while his own sons are still striving to get settled in life. Stumbling between reality and illusions about success, he heads toward Frank’s Chop House where his sons are waiting for him for dinner.

Soon, Willy arrives and confesses that has been fired but hopes to have some good news from Biff. Biff tells Willy that the meeting with Bill Oliver was a failed attempt. Biff and Willy lock their horn in a disturbing argument that throws Willy backs into the past when young Bernard informs Linda that Biff has failed in a Math test and sets his trip to Boston to meet Willy to resolve this issue since it would be affecting his career. Biff discovers his illegitimate affair, which became Biff’s disillusionment with his father and the values that he taught all his life. After the argument, Biff and Happy leave with two call girls abandoning their father in the restaurant. Once, Willy comes back to his senses asks the waitress the way to a seed shop. Once home, Willy’s disconnection from reality continues as he plants seeds in the middle of the night , hoping to grow a garden. In his distress, he has an imaginary dialogue with his deceased brother who reminds him about a life insurance policy worth $20,000. Willy plans on getting in a car crash so he could at least leave them that money and show how much he cared for his children and wife. Also, how ‘well-liked’ by his friends at the grand funeral.

Back in reality, Willy has a final confrontation with Biff who announces leaving his family for good. After the announcement, Biff goes to his room and cries. Aggrieved by his son’s miserable state, Willy finally decides to commit suicide; he leaves the house and intentionally kills himself in a car accident. Only his family and Charley attend his funeral, sharing their thoughts about his struggling life and tragic end. The play ends with the contrasting opinions of Biff and Happy about their father’s unsuccessful life. Happy decides to stay back and fulfill his father’s ‘American dream’ of becoming successful while Biff plans to leave Brooklyn forever. Linda was confused with the irony of how the house mortgage was finally paid off with no one to live in it.

Characters in Death of a Salesman

• Willy Loman : Willy Loman, the main protagonist of the play, is a simple family man and Linda’s husband. He also has a brother, Ben, and two young sons, Happy and Biff. As an aging salesman working in various parts of Europe, he seems to be an ambitious man, full of sales philosophy and hopes for a bright future for his son. In fact, he chases the American dream and aspires to enjoy the bliss of life with his family. Unfortunately, his hard work and lowly income not only weakens his determination but also leads him to suffer from anxiety and stress. His mediocre career, estranged relationship with his son Biff and some past mistakes steal the remaining joy of his life. His constant failures and suffering make him stand at the place where he begins to hallucinate. Unfortunately, his sons never understand the intensity of this pain despite Linda’s efforts to make them understand the traumatic state of their father. These worries force the old man to commit suicide.
• Linda Lowman: Willy’s wife and mother of Happy and Biff, Linda is a loving lady as she always shares the worries of her husband, making him believe that one day he will taste the fruits of his untiring efforts. Although she supports him in his dreams of prosperity and success, she knows that it is impossible for him to live a life full of wonders. Despite Willy’s disturbed mental state, she stands by him and even rebukes his son for not living up to his father’s expectations.
• Biff Loman: The older son of Linda and Willy Loman, Biff is a good and promising athlete and bright student but he never graduates from school. His life is moving at a smooth pace until he discovers his father’s extramarital relationship and becomes mentally upset. Willy wishes him to become a successful businessman, but he flees to the west, following his instinct to become a business tycoon. Despite trying his luck several times, Biff fails to win the admiration of his father. In the end, he admits that he has been chasing the shadow and wishes to lead a normal life.
• Happy Loman: The younger son of the Loman family, Happy works as a manager in a store and seems to be a contented person. However, his father thinks that he has not made the right choice in life. He is shown as a really happy person in life with a single flaw that he is a womanizer. Despite his claim that he does not want girls, he fails to avoid them.
• Charley : As a successful businessman living in Willy’s neighborhood, Charley helps Willy often with money for paying bills. Once he offers him a job that Willy refuses, claiming he shares distant views about success in life. Although Willy considers his children more practical and successful, he seems jealous of his social status.
• Bernard: The intelligent and successful son of Charley, Bernard is a sober young man with a lot of potentials. Unlike his father, he has achieved success and status in society by becoming a successful lawyer. However, Willy’s jealousy toward their success never lets him praise his success.
• Ben Loman: Willy’s late brother, Ben proves a constant reminder to the family due to his role of leaving his family years ago to try his fortune elsewhere. His travels to Africa and Alaska and his story of becoming a millionaire reverberates throughout the play. Although he is talked about like a dead person in the play, his success and prosperous life become a model for Willy to follow. He gets obsessed with his brother’s success that he forgets to accept the bitter reality of his own life.
• Howard Wagner: Willy’s boss, Howard is shown as a stout and stern kind of person. As a pragmatic manager, he knows how to apply his principles, and caring only for his own interests, and not the problems of his employees. In fact, he is the epitome of a capitalistic owner, who refuses to understand Willy’s plight and when Willy tries to argue, he instantly sacks him.
• The Woman: The Anonymous woman appears less in the play, yet plays a significant role in the storyline. She lives in Boston and works in a company. Unfortunately, the lady becomes the reason for contention between Biff and his father.

Themes in Death of a Salesman

• American Dream; American dream stands as the most significant theme of the play as every member of the Loman family yearns for a better life. Willy and his sons try to chase this dream but get nothing except failure and dissatisfaction. However, some of the characters have shown it as an achievable model, as Howard Wagner, who has inherited this alluring dream from his father, while Loman’s neighbors have achieved this dream, showing how to lead a prosperous life. Willy is the only person who longs to have this bliss. Despite working hard, he fails to bring any improvement in the standard of his life. Biff, his son also faces continuous failures, while Happy is also not living up to his father’s expectations. Disheartened by the failures of his sons and his own tiring life, Will tries to see his dream through his brother’s success but gets nothing.
• Modernity: During the 1950s, modernism started to alter the structure of society, making noteworthy changes in various professions. People started depending on modern gadgets, spending a fortune, and still vying to have another gadget just hitting the market. Creating a false idea of the American dream, modernity eventually creeps in the Loman’s life as they see their sons succeeding in the world like their neighbor but faces only mental torture when they see them failing. Howard keeps on working on his radio, making it clear that technological development has replaced manpower.
• Opportunity: Although everyone strives to succeed, yet material luck finds those who seek better opportunities. Howard has been tolerating Willy because his father appointed him. Otherwise, he knows Willy does not deserve the job anymore. So, when Willy asks for some changes in his job, he fires him without having any compassion. Willy does not understand the reason for this sudden decision; instead of equipping himself with a better professional attitude , Willy gets more frustrated. Howard, on the other hand, gets an opportunity to find a new potential salesman. In the same way, Willy’s son, Happy, finds an opportunity to have a good job, while Biff wanders to seek one.
• Family: The theme of family emerges through the Lomans, who never accept the changing shift of time, an attitude that costs them dearly. Willy constantly tries to materialize his dreams yet ends up with a failure. After his failed attempts, he fixes his attention to his sons, thinking they may fulfill his dreams of the ideal life through their careers. Unfortunately, both of them fail him; Biff is directionless, while Happy does not run after dreams. In contrast to Willy’s failed family, Charley and his son have resounding success with money and career, making their family achieve the American dream.
• Ideal Personality: The concept of ideal or well-liked personality is another major theme Miller discusses in the play. Willy constantly advises his sons that they must be well-liked. To him, well-liked persons are the demands of industry and market as he has seen it during his career as a salesman. It also transpires to them that an ideal personality wins success as they see it in Charley’s son as well as in Howard, the boss of Willy.
• Hallucination: Hallucination also stands as another important theme of the play. Willy Loman’s series of failures and constant sufferings drag him to a place where he cuts himself from the biting reality and begins to hallucinate. His hallucination features his successful brother, Ben, who has used his talents to make a fortune. Although Ben is dead, he appears in the form of hallucinations, a state that drags Willy toward disappointment and further mental torture.
• Pride: The play projects this theme through the character of Willy Loman. He is an extremely proud man even though he does not have any reason to be proud as his sons have failed him and he is fired from the job. Despite struggling financially, he constantly praises his ideas of success in business and the little accomplishments of his sons. His pride never lets him consider the real success and efforts of his neighbor, Charley, his neighbor, who helps him overcome his financial difficulties.
• Betrayal: Although betrayal is a minor theme of the play, it casts a gloomy shadow on various characters as Willy betrays his wife Linda by having an extramarital affair. Similarly, Biff constantly dodges his father’s dreams and tries to figure out his own ways of living. Linda thinks that Biff is betraying his father by not fulfilling Willy’s desires.
• Reality versus Illusion : Reality against illusion is another major theme as Willy constantly dreams to be a successful businessman, and in case, if he fails to win glory, his sons will carry the flag to win success for him. Unfortunately, his desires for amassing wealth are only illusions that do not turn into reality despite his struggle. To his surprise, his sons also go against his dreams.

Writing Style of Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman shows Miller’s style of writing simple and direct dialogues and presenting down-to-earth real characters. He has used sharp irony and satire to show the poisonous impacts of the American dream upon the middle class. The writer has juxtaposed realism with fantasy at various points in the text to comment on the hollow and unrealistic approach of the people toward the false standards of society. The success of this writing lies in the skillful use of other literary elements, complex characterization , and simple sentence structure though diction at times becomes highly complex, showing the mental state of the Loman family.

Literary Devices in Death of a Salesman

• Action: The main action of the play comprises the struggle of Willy Lowman, a salesman by profession. The rising action occurs when Willy is fired from the job, while the falling action occurs when Willy blames himself for the troubles his family is going through.
• Allegory : Death of a Salesman shows the use of allegory by presenting the main idea of how the person’s nonadoptive nature creates trouble for himself and the people who belong to him.
• Anaphora : The play shows the use of anaphora at different places as give in the below examples, i. Maybe I oughta get stuck into something. Maybe that’s my trouble. I’m like a boy. I’m not married, I’m not in business, I just—I’m like a boy. Are you content, Hap? You’re a success, aren’t you? Are you content? (Act-I) ii. Willy: Where is he? I’ll whip him, I’ll whip him! Linda: And he’d better give back that football, Willy, it’s not nice. Willy: Biff! Where is he? Why is he taking everything? (Act-I) iii. Willy: No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything. Biff: I am , Dad, I’ll find something else, you understand? (Act-II) These examples show the repetitious use of the phrases “you’re no good”, “only think”, “I’ll whip him”, and “I’m like a boy.”
• Allusion : The play shows the use of various allusions as given in the examples below, i. Biff: But you look at your friend….Happy: Yeah, but when he walks into the store the waves part in front of him… I want to walk into the store the way he walks in. (Act-I) ii. Willi: Like a young god, Hercules- something like that. And the sun, the sun all around him. Remember how he waved to me? Right up from the field, with the representatives of three colleges stand by? And the buyers I brought and the cheers when he came out, Loman, Loman, Loman. God Almighty, he’ll be great yet. (Act-I) iii. Willy: That’s why I thank Almighty God you are built like Adonises.” (Act-I) The first example alludes to Moses and the remaining two to Greek gods.
• Conflict : There are two types of conflicts in the play, Death of a Salesman. The first one is the external conflict that is going on between Willy Loman and the competitive world around him as well as his own family. Another is the internal conflict of Willy, his fight with the heavy odds of life, and about the troubles of his life how they are going to be resolved.
• Climax : The climax of the play, Death of a Salesman, occurs when Willy confronts his distressed son, Biff, for the last time.
• Characters: Death of a Salesman presents both static as well as dynamic characters . Willy’s sons Biff, and Happy are dynamic characters as they change their attitude toward life as well as their father. However, the rest of the characters do not see any change in their behavior as they are static characters like Willy Loman, Linda, Charlie, and Bernard.
• Irony : The play shows situational irony in the following examples, i. That’s just what I mean. Bernard can get the best marks in school, y’understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y’understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That’s why I thank Almighty God you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want. (Act-I) ii. CHARLEY (an arm on Bernard’s shoulder) : How do you like this kid? Gonna argue a case in front of the Supreme Court. The irony is clear in the first example through the mention of Adonises and in the second through the mention of the Supreme Court.
• Metaphor : Death of a Salesman shows good use of various metaphors besides the extended metaphors of good versus evil such as, i. I am a dime a dozen, and so are you. (Act-II) ii. The world is an oyster, but you don’t crack it open on a mattress. (Act-I) These examples show that characters and the world have been compared to different things to make them feel prominent.
• Mood : The Play, Death of a Salesman, shows a melancholic, though it becomes tragic, ironic, and highly satiric at times. Sometimes, it also becomes gloomy when Willy is trapped in the troubles of life
• Motif : Most essential motifs of Death of a Salesman are mythic figures, the American West, and the African jungle.
• Protagonist : Willy Loman is the protagonist of the play. The text starts with his discontent with his life and ends with his tragic death.
• Rhetorical Questions : The play shows the use of rhetorical questions at various places such as, i. CHARLEY: Without pay? What kind of a job is a job without pay? (Act-II) ii. WILLY: What’s the matter with you? I’ve got a job. (Act-II) iii. CHARLEY: Why must everybody like you? Who liked J. P. Morgan? Was he impressive? These examples show the use of rhetorical questions asked by Charley and Willy but they do not need answers. They are self-explanatory.
• Theme : A theme is a central idea that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The play, Death of a Salesman, shows the clash between dream and reality, the idea of the American dream and betrayal.
• Setting : The setting of the play is Willy Loman’s house, his yard, and other places he visits in Boston and New York.
• Tone : The tone of the text is somber, serious, melancholic, and tragic.
• Simile : The play shows the use of similes at various places such as, WILLY: Sure. Certain men just don’t get started till later in life. Like Thomas Edison; I think. Or B. F. Goodrich. (Act-I) ii. He’s not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. (Act-I) iii. Like a young god. Hercules — something like that. (Act-I) These use of “like” in these examples show as things have been compared such as men with Thomas Edison, then Willy with an old dog, and then a person with Hercules.
• Symbols : Death of a Salesman presents various symbols such as seeds and diamond symbolize Willy’s hope and the American dream and the rubber horse symbolizes false hopes.

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105 Death of a Salesman Essay Topics & Examples

Death of a Salesman is Arthur Miller’s multiple award-winning stage play that explores such ideas as American Dream and family. Our writers have prepared a list of topics and tips on writing the Death of a Salesman thesis statement, essay, or literary analysis.

Arthur Miller

• Literature Notes
• Major Themes in Death of a Salesman
• Play Summary
• About Death of a Salesman
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Act I: Scene 1
• Act I: Scene 2
• Act I: Scene 3
• Act I: Scene 4
• Act I: Scene 5
• Act I: Scene 6
• Act I: Scene 7
• Act I: Scene 8
• Act I: Scene 9
• Act I: Scene 10
• Act I: Scene 11
• Act I: Scene 12
• Act II: Scene 1
• Act II: Scene 2
• Act II: Scene 3
• Act II: Scene 4
• Act II: Scene 5
• Act II: Scene 6
• Act II: Scene 7
• Act II: Scene 8
• Act II: Scene 9
• Act II: Scene 10
• Act II: Scene 11
• Act II: Scene 12
• Act II: Scene 13
• Act II: Scene 14
• Act II: Requiem
• Character Analysis
• Willy Loman
• Linda Loman
• Happy Loman
• Character Map
• Arthur Miller Biography
• Critical Essays
• Miller's Manipulation of Time and Space
• Full Glossary for Death of a Salesman
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Critical Essays Major Themes in Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman addresses loss of identity and a man's inability to accept change within himself and society. The play is a montage of memories, dreams, confrontations, and arguments, all of which make up the last 24 hours of Willy Loman's life. The three major themes within the play are denial, contradiction, and order versus disorder.

Each member of the Loman family is living in denial or perpetuating a cycle of denial for others. Willy Loman is incapable of accepting the fact that he is a mediocre salesman. Instead Willy strives for his version of the American dream — success and notoriety — even if he is forced to deny reality in order to achieve it. Instead of acknowledging that he is not a well-known success, Willy retreats into the past and chooses to relive past memories and events in which he is perceived as successful.

For example, Willy's favorite memory is of Biff's last football game because Biff vows to make a touchdown just for him. In this scene in the past, Willy can hardly wait to tell the story to his buyers. He considers himself famous as a result of his son's pride in him. Willy's sons, Biff and Happy, adopt Willy's habit of denying or manipulating reality and practice it all of their lives, much to their detriment. It is only at the end of the play that Biff admits he has been a "phony" too, just like Willy. Linda is the only character that recognizes the Loman family lives in denial; however, she goes along with Willy's fantasies in order to preserve his fragile mental state.

The second major theme of the play is contradiction. Throughout the play, Willy's behavior is riddled with inconsistencies. In fact, the only thing consistent about Willy is his inconsistency. From the very beginning of Act I, Scene 1, Willy reveals this tendency. He labels Biff a "lazy bum" but then contradicts himself two lines later when he states, "And such a hard worker. There's one thing about Biff — he's not lazy." Willy's contradictions often confuse audiences at the beginning of the play; however, they soon become a trademark of his character. Willy's inconsistent behavior is the result of his inability to accept reality and his tendency to manipulate or re-create the past in an attempt to escape the present. For example, Willy cannot resign himself to the fact that Biff no longer respects him because of Willy's affair. Rather than admit that their relationship is irreconcilable, Willy retreats to a previous time when Biff admired and respected him. As the play continues, Willy disassociates himself more and more from the present as his problems become too numerous to deal with.

The third major theme of the play, which is order versus disorder, results from Willy's retreats into the past. Each time Willy loses himself in the past, he does so in order to deny the present, especially if the present is too difficult to accept. As the play progresses, Willy spends more and more time in the past as a means of reestablishing order in his life. The more fragmented and disastrous reality becomes, the more necessary it is for Willy to create an alternative reality, even if it requires him to live solely in the past. This is demonstrated immediately after Willy is fired. Ben appears, and Willy confides "nothing's working out. I don't know what to do." Ben quickly shifts the conversation to Alaska and offers Willy a job. Linda appears and convinces Willy that he should stay in sales, just like Dave Singleman. Willy's confidence quickly resurfaces, and he is confident that he has made the right decision by turning down Ben's offer; he is certain he will be a success like Singleman. Thus, Willy's memory has distracted him from the reality of losing his job.

Denial, contradiction, and the quest for order versus disorder comprise the three major themes of Death of a Salesman . All three themes work together to create a dreamlike atmosphere in which the audience watches a man's identity and mental stability slip away. The play continues to affect audiences because it allows them to hold a mirror up to themselves. Willy's self-deprecation, sense of failure, and overwhelming regret are emotions that an audience can relate to because everyone has experienced them at one time or another. Individuals continue to react to Death of a Salesman because Willy's situation is not unique: He made a mistake — a mistake that irrevocably changed his relationship with the people he loves most — and when all of his attempts to eradicate his mistake fail, he makes one grand attempt to correct the mistake. Willy vehemently denies Biff's claim that they are both common, ordinary people, but ironically, it is the universality of the play which makes it so enduring. Biff's statement, "I'm a dime a dozen, and so are you" is true after all.

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• Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman

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Betrayal in “Death of a Salesman”

Play writer, Arthur Miller, in his play “Death of a Salesman” tells about the life of a salesman named Willy Loman, whose life is filled with betrayal. Miller’s purpose is to portray a man’s life in which his sons, the pride and joys of his life, betray him at his darkest hour. Miller depicts the treachery and inner evil of the two boys and their father. He emphasizes the effects that inner family betrayal can have on not only the ones committing the betrayal, but also other people who must witness it. The text opens to a man named Willy coming home depressed.

Willy would best be described as the main character of the story. He has lived an average life as a salesman with two kids and a loving wife. What is learned about Willy from the get go is that he has a passion for success. He has pushed his boys to be their very best their whole life, especially his eldest son, Biff Loman. He treasures those times when life was full of hope and happiness. He treasures it so much that he often flashes back to moments in the past when he is struggling or is caught in a moment of chaos.

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His flashes back and forth to past and present are what create the conflict inside of Willy. That conflict and chaos is always caused by betrayal. Both Happy and Biff betrayed Willy’s confidence. Biff especially betrayed his father when he refused to make anything of himself. He flat out told his father that he was a worthless human being and that all his father’s hopes and dreams were wasted on a loser. This broke Willy’s heart completely. Happy also betrayed his father in a less direct way. Happy simply never cared for his father at all.

When he was young he gave up hope of getting any attention from his father so he returned the feeling and gave up. Biff feels slightly betrayed by Happy as well for not caring about his father. Biff’s feelings are shown in the quote “Yeah but he doesn’t mean anything to you. You could help him — I can’t! Don’t you understand what I’m talking about? He’s going to kill himself, don’t you know that? ” (Miller 115). Willy was also betrayed by Howard, his boss. He had worked at the company as a salesman for years so he had built up a strong confidence that he would lways be welcomed and have a job at the firm. His hopes are dashed when Howard not only denies his request to stop traveling, but fires him completely. The big turning point in the text is the reason as to why Biff became such a failure. The flashbacks constantly build up to Biff’s shining moment. The reader is often left to wonder why such a successful football star never grew into a great man? The reason why is made clear in a flashback to Biff’s senior year, right after his big game.

Biff realizes that his huge plans have failed because he flunked a class. He goes all the way to Boston to inform his father that he has failed him, but still thinks that his father can help. At this point Biff admires his father and still has confidence that he can succeed. Everything changes when Biff arrives at his father’s hotel room because he catches him cheating on his wife with another woman. Biff feels completely betrayed in the way that the one person he has always looked up to is so good for nothing that he would stoop to cheating on his own wife.

Any hope for success that Biff had for the future is broken along with his heart. From then on Biff blames his father for making him such a loser, not only due to his affair but also due to his impossible expectations. Biff finally expresses his frustrations in the quote “And I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody! That’s whose fault it is! ” (Miller 131) Willy and his sons are not the only ones who are affected by each other’s betrayal.

Linda Loman, Willy’s wife is also deeply betrayed. Linda was most betrayed by her husband when he cheated on her, although it is not made clear if she ever found out about that betrayal. She is also betrayed by both of her sons. She expected them to look after and care for their father. She feels betrayed when both sons basically turn their backs on Willy and destroy all his hopes. The largest betrayal of all is at the very end of the text. Willy betrays everyone who ever cared about him by purposely crashing his car and therefore ending his own life.

Being a father and being a salesman were the two things he lived for. When both of those things were taken away from him, he had nothing left so he decided to just stop living altogether. Linda feels most betrayed by Willy’s act of suicide because she really cared for him and can’t believe that he would just leave her all alone like that, especially when they had finally paid off the house and things were starting to come together a bit. Her frustration is expressed in the quote “I can’t understand it. At this time especially.

First time in thirty-five years we were just about free and clear. He only needed a little salary. He was even finished with the dentist. ” (Miller 137) Betrayal is a delicate thing that can set off all sorts of conflict within a family or even a whole society. In “The Death of a Salesman” the slippery slope of betrayal is witnessed first hand within the Loman family. Willy and his sons display their inner evil through their acts of betrayal which break apart their family; break apart their family even to the extent of death.

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Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman

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Comparison Between Death of a Salesman and Fences

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Plot Overview As a flute melody plays, Willy Loman returns to his home in Brooklyn one night, exhausted from a failed sales trip. His wife, Linda, tries to persuade him to ask his boss, Howard Wagner, to let him work in New York so that he won't have to travel. Willy says that he will

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Essays on Death of a Salesman

What makes a good death of a salesman essay topic.

When it comes to writing an essay on Arthur Miller's iconic play, Death of a Salesman , choosing the right topic is essential. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and allow for in-depth analysis. Here are some recommendations on how to brainstorm and choose a compelling essay topic:

• Consider the themes: Death of a Salesman explores various themes such as the American Dream, disillusionment, and the nature of success. When brainstorming essay topics, consider how these themes can be explored in depth.
• Character analysis: The play features complex characters such as Willy Loman and his son Biff. Choosing an essay topic that delves into the characters' motivations, conflicts, and development can lead to a rich and insightful analysis.
• Symbolism and imagery: Death of a Salesman is rich in symbolism and imagery. Look for essay topics that explore the significance of symbols such as the Loman house, the seeds, and the flute, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the play.
• Social and cultural context: Consider how the play reflects the social and cultural context of its time, and how these themes are still relevant today. Essay topics that explore the play's cultural impact and relevance can make for a compelling analysis.

Best Death of a Salesman Essay Topics

When it comes to choosing the best Death of a Salesman essay topics, it's important to think outside the box and choose topics that stand out. Here are 20 creative and thought-provoking essay topics to consider:

• The Illusion of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Hero: Willy Loman's Downfall
• The Role of Gender in Death of a Salesman
• The American Dream: Success or Failure in Death of a Salesman
• The Loman Family Dynamics: A Dysfunctional Portrait
• The Symbolism of the Loman House in Death of a Salesman
• The Disillusionment of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Flaw: Willy Loman's Fatal Mistakes
• The Portrayal of Friendship and Betrayal in Death of a Salesman
• The Relevance of Death of a Salesman in Today's Society
• The Disintegration of Willy Loman's Mental State
• The Significance of the Flute in Death of a Salesman
• The Role of Women in Death of a Salesman
• The Conflict Between Reality and Illusion in Death of a Salesman
• The Representation of Success and Failure in Death of a Salesman
• The Impact of Capitalism on the Characters in Death of a Salesman
• The Role of the American Dream in Shaping the Characters' Lives
• The Influence of Society on Willy Loman's Mental Health
• The Betrayal of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Nature of Willy Loman's Fate

Death of a Salesman Essay Topics Prompts

Looking for some creative prompts to kickstart your essay writing process? Here are 5 engaging prompts to inspire your Death of a Salesman essay:

• Imagine you are Willy Loman's therapist. Write a journal entry reflecting on his mental state and the factors contributing to his disillusionment.
• Choose a minor character in Death of a Salesman and analyze their significance in the play. How do they contribute to the overall themes and narrative?
• If you were to rewrite the ending of Death of a Salesman , how would you envision a different fate for Willy Loman and his family? What changes would you make to the characters' arcs?
• Explore the significance of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman and its portrayal as both a driving force and a destructive illusion. How does the play challenge traditional notions of success and happiness?
• Take on the perspective of Biff Loman and write a letter to his father, Willy, expressing his feelings of resentment, love, and the complexity of their relationship.

Choosing a compelling Death of a Salesman essay topic requires careful consideration of the play's themes, characters, and cultural context. By brainstorming thought-provoking topics and prompts, you can embark on a compelling and insightful analysis of Arthur Miller's timeless masterpiece.

Death of a Salesman Conflict Analysis

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The Illusion of The American Dream in Death of a Salesman

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Death of a Salesman - The Change of The American Dream

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The Changes of Willy Loman’s Character in Death of a Salesman

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February 10, 1949

Arthur Miller

Willy Loman, Linda Loman, Biff Loman, Happy Loman, Ben Loman, Bernard, Charley, The Woman, Howard

Mythic figures, the American West, Alaska, the African jungle,Seed, diamonds, Linda’s and The Woman’s stockings, the rubber hose

The American Dream, the anatomy of truth, and infidelity.

“Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!” “I’m gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. It’s the only dream you can have - to come out number-one man. He fought it out here, and this is where I’m gonna win it for him.” “And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?” “You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away — a man is not a piece of fruit!”

The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949 and ran for 742 performances. The play has been adapted for cinema ten times. The play Death of a Salesman won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play.

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Reality vs. Illusions: Death of a Salesman Analysis Essay

Introduction, main objectives of comparing, works cited.

Death of a Salesman takes place in 1949, four years after World War II has ended. America is enjoying a postwar economic boom, but the war has caused a shake-up in American society, changing the way people view business, leisure, themselves, and others, making the American way of life very different from what was projected as the “American Dream” by the Founding Fathers of the country. The overall situation may seem a bit far-fetched to present-day Americans, but it must be remembered that those times were tempered by three main disadvantages – racism, communism and the formation of status groups.

The Lomans live in Brooklyn, a busy suburb of New York City. Miller creates contrasting characters of Willy and his wife Linda in order to depict and demonstrate different social and personal values typical of those times. In spite of the fact that Willy and Linda live together for many years, they have different worldviews and values.

In relation to the novel’s primary theme (reality versus illusion) Willy turns out to be an illusionist. He totally believes in the American Dream, and when he finds constant disparity between it and his status in life, he becomes disoriented and starts increasingly taking comfort in imaginary situations that are favorable to him and his family. The imaginary situations comprise his achievement of the American Dream {he imagines he is ‘well liked’ and successful, while his sons do well at school, and particularly Biff, his eldest son, is a respected high school footballer}. He even resorts to drawing up comparisons with mythological Greek figures, likening Biff to Adonis and Happy to Hercules, fondly believing that his sons have the same level of perfect attractiveness and power as the fabled Greek mythological heroes. In contrast to Willy, Linda is a realist and materialist. She is a practical woman who accepts their family situation as it stands. She tries her best to help her husband with his work problems, such as suggesting he asks his boss Howard Wagner for a New York based job that would not involve lengthy sales trips that tended to exhaust him. While dreams, illusions, and self-deceptions feed the action of this play, Linda, in contrast, seems very much planted in reality with her concerns over house payments, mending, insurance premiums, and her husband’s care.

Willy is depicted as a cold man who values money and personal success more than family happiness and family relations. He is so immersed in disillusionment, that he cannot recognize the warm love his family offers him. This is in large part due to his guilt at having betrayed his wife by indulging in an adulterous affair with “The Woman.” Linda is a loving and sympathetic woman, warm hearted, kind and the fulcrum that keeps the family together in spite of their problems.

Willy is intolerant towards his family members. This is most probably due to him inheriting his father’s genes, as Ben recounts to Willy how their father was a “very wild-hearted man” who would “toss the whole family in the wagon” (Miller 35) and drive right across the country. Willy is particularly intolerant towards Biff, whom he criticizes throughout the play for not developing a good life. A major cause of his criticism of Biff is his own sneaking guilt that Biff dropped out of summer school in disgust after finding his father ensconced in a Boston hotel room with “The Woman” in a position of sexual infidelity and betrayal. Willy is also not too tolerant of his second son Happy, whom he considers too lowly employed. Here too Willy feels guilt that Happy’s womanizing ways {he uses the services of prostitutes like Miss Forsythe}, which have interfered with his work concentration and climbing up the job ladder, is a direct result of his father’s genes, as Willy himself is an adulterer, shamelessly betraying his loving wife by his ongoing affair with “The Woman.” On the other hand, Linda is patient and tolerant towards all her family members, in particular towards her husband. She does everything possible to support her husband, encouraging him by saying better times are around the corner: “It’s changing, Willy, I can feel it changing!” (Miller 45). Linda Loman’s central importance seems to be as a voice of protest and outrage against what is happening to her husband. Linda is a positive representation, and sometimes an ideal, of the nurturing wife and mother.

Willy and Linda have different family and parental duties. Linda is a housewife whose duty is to look after children and her husband. While a mother raises the children, they also need a father’s input. So little do many men understand their role as a father and so little do they take that role seriously that many a father has experienced some difficulty in thinking of himself as such, except in the narrow technical sense. Instead, with the best of intentions, such fathers often think of their children as pals, buddies, and friends. As a father, Willy does not have an active part in upbringing, choosing instead to pay more attention to his work and personal ambitions. Miller does not give a picture of an ideal, romantic father figure who acts as his children’s friend, model, and provider. In contrast to this, Willy is a portrayal of ambitious father who cares about social recognition and personal image knowing nothing about his sons. While Willy sees his son as a hero, loved and admired by everyone because of his athletic prowess, and unquestionably destined to succeed because of this, the play suggests another reality, in which, in sports as well as the rest of American life, “business is definitely business” (Miller 28) and Biff the discarded athlete will wind up on the ash-heap, just like his father the discarded salesman, as soon as he fails to make the grade. Death of a Salesman underlines with deep irony the faith in athletics as a means to a better life that Willy articulates: “Without a penny to his name, three great universities are begging for him, and from there the sky’s the limit, because it’s not what you do, Ben. It’s who you know and the smile on your face!” (Miller 49). In contrast, Linda is aware of the problems faced by her sons but can do nothing to change their false values and unachievable dreams. As Willy says, “Today, it’s all cut and dried, and there’s no chance for bringing friendship to bear–or personality” (Miler 47). Willy misses the respect, comradeship, and gratitude that had been a vital part of the business relationships. Willy acts as the family provider, while Linda takes a subservient back seat, and Hap and Biff struggle to make it big.

The main similarity between the characters is that they do nothing to change their family life and false hopes and values. When Willy is terminated from his job, he does not do the logical thing and search industriously for another, possibly better paying job; he prefers to wallow in self-pity, even going to the extent of borrowing $ 100 from Charley in order to pay his life insurance premium. Similarly, Linda could well have taken up employment to supplement the family income. Even given the fact that she was most probably illerate, she could very well have found a job as a seamstress or as a factory hand drawing a low emolument, at least until her husband got another job. Yet despite Linda’s clear sight she allows her family’s dreams to flourish; she even encourages them. It is possible to blame Linda for collaborating in Willy’s unrealistic fantasies and for remaining passive as her family is being destroyed around her. The character of Linda in the daydream scenes, viewed through Willy’s remorseful idealization of her, is quite different from the Linda in the scenes of the present, who is protecting her young when she defends Willy from the boys. The death of Willy at the end of the play is a dramatic act which shows that dreams ruin family happiness and life of all family members. “I’ve always made a point of not wasting my life, and everytime I come back here I know that all I’ve done is to waste my life” (Miller 23). In contrast, Linda is alive but she is unable to live without support of her husband. When Willy provides the $ 20,000 insurance money as a result of his suicide, Linda is both aggrieved and a little relieved. She is angry because her husband chose take such a devastating step to end his life {due to which she could not initially cry at his funeral eulogy}, but then realization set in and she realizes that he has relieved them from chronic debt, inability to sustain themselves and acquire better possessions to live a higher standard of life – this realization makes her ultimately break down in tears, whispering brokenly that they are now ‘free’.

In sum, Miller depicts two different types of people: Linda the realist, a housewife and a keeper of home values, and Willy the illusionist, a salesman who believes in false values and importance of social recognition and success as epitomized in the American Dream, but fails to achieve them. This contrast allows Miller to depict a typical American family and criticize the basic elements of the American Dream showing that people like the Lomans believe in dreams and ideals created by the society and unable to evaluate and predict possible consequences of their actions or inactions. Arthur Miller does well to portray the stark reality in American during those days, and it is highly fitting that he was rewarded by the Pulitzer Prize for Death of a Salesman.

Miller, A. Death of a Salesman : 50th Anniversary Edition, Penguin Books; 50th Anni edition, 1999.

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Death of a Salesman Essay | Essay

Death of a Salesman - Betrayal

The falsity of the American Dream is a dominant theme in Arthur Miller's play; and Willy Loman represents the primary target of this dream. Willy Loman, the protagonist, and main character in this play is an insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman. Like most middle-class working men, he struggles to provide financial security for...

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Death of a Salesman Essay Topics & Samples

As a Pulitzer Prize winner, Death of a Salesman deserves some attention, which is most likely the reason why you were asked to write an essay about it. Even though Arthur Miller wrote it in the middle of the twentieth century, the play is still relevant.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

This Custom-Writing.org article aims to help you if you have questions or are looking for a decent Death of a Salesman essay topic or have to choose between many variants.

• The first section of it contains a list of ideas that might help you write a great essay.
• The second one contains Death of a Salesman essay samples that you are welcome to use for inspiration.
• 💡 Essay Topics
• ✒️ Essay Samples

💡 Death of a Salesman: Essay Topics

Miller addresses various themes, such as the American dream and betrayal, incorporated into family life. To write a killer essay on Death of a Salesman , you should first study all aspects of the play. So you don’t forget to read through our analysis of the main characters and themes !

Now you are all set up to pick a topic from the list below.

• Analyze the main symbols of the play. There are multiple hidden symbols that Miller uses to represent one idea or another. The interpretation depends on you. There are no wrong answers. However, to set a direction, we recommend looking at such a symbol as the stockings. It is quite an obvious hint on the theme of betrayal.
• How is Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman as a father? Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman , is far from being the employee of the month. But as a father, he is also supposed to be a role model to his two sons. However, we can see that Biff and Happy have developed their personalities according to their dad’s behavior.
• Can Willy Loman be considered a hero? Loman tries to solve the problems which are too big for him. He cannot possibly overcome capitalism and becomes its victim. Analyze Willy’s last act and see whether it can be genuinely regarded as a good deed or it is a desperate attempt to get rid of a problem.
• Discuss the theme of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman . Is it Willy’s fault that he failed his family? Think about how our ambitions shape the course of our lives and write an essay reflecting on it in relation to the play. Discuss the fate of the salesman as the embodiment of the American dream.
• How reasonable was Willy’s despair in the final scenes? Look through all the details you can find about the Loman family and analyze their social and financial state. Try to write an objective opinion on whether Willy’s suicide was the only option for them. What might have caused him to exaggerate the problems they were having?
• Discuss the statement “Be liked, and you will never want” from Death of a Salesman . This prompt is related to Willy’s life philosophy, which he passes on to his sons. Are there any reasons to claim that it doesn’t work? Why? Maybe reflect on the same idea circulating in modern society.
• What is the meaning of Arthur Miller’s play? We suggest you answer the question, “What is the main message of Death of a Salesman ?” Rereading our analysis of the main themes and characters should give you some ideas! However, remember to focus on ONE idea and present persuasive arguments.
• Analyze Willy Loman’s career choice. What do you think about Willy’s decision to go into the sales business? Was it the right choice? Find the evidence in the play? Think about how different his life and life of his family could be if he had chosen a different occupation, which fits his natural abilities.
• Illusions and realistic dreams as Willy Loman’s coping mechanism. Look at Death of a Salesman as a tragedy and the story about the main character’s inner fight. Write about how he retreats into the memories to escape real-life problems. Does it have anything to do with his failure to understand his ambitions?
• Discuss the reason for Willy’s rejection of Charley’s job offer . Loman keeps turning down his friend’s job offer, and it seems to be annoying him more and more every time. But what is the reason? He might have been more well-off if he accepted it. Is it about his pride or social values?

✒️ Death of a Salesman: Essay Samples

Below you’ll find a collection of Death of a Salesman essay examples. You are welcome to use them for inspiration!

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This Custom-Writing.org article explains the key themes in Death of a Salesman. The American dream, family, betrayal and abandonment are the core issues represented in the play by Arthur Miller. 🗽 Death of a Salesman: American Dream One of the main themes in Death of a Salesman is the American...

Like any other literary work, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman contains various stylistic devices to discuss, symbols to interpret, and motifs to find. That is what this article written by Custom-Writing.org experts is about! This analysis can answer any question you might have about the play, including: What do...

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Greene Escalates Threat Against Johnson, Making the Case for His Ouster

In a letter to Republicans, the far-right lawmaker from Georgia said the speaker had presided over a “complete and total surrender” to Democrats and President Biden, and must change course or be unseated.

By Annie Karni

Reporting from Washington

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday escalated her threat to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, distributing a scathing letter that made the case for his removal and took Republicans to task for tolerating his leadership.

In a five-page memo sent to her colleagues on Tuesday morning, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, Ms. Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia, assailed Mr. Johnson with a point-by-point takedown of his record as speaker. She accused him of fecklessly advancing President Biden’s agenda and wasting opportunities to advance G.O.P. priorities.

Ms. Greene warned her colleagues that they risked falling out of touch with their voters if they continued to accept what she called “a complete and total surrender” by Republicans under Mr. Johnson.

The letter left little doubt that Ms. Greene, who filed a resolution last month calling for Mr. Johnson’s removal but said it was merely “a warning,” intends to follow through on her threat to call a vote on unseating him.

“If these actions by the leader of our conference continue, then we are not a Republican Party — we are a uniparty that is hellbent on remaining on the path of self-inflicted destruction,” she wrote. “I will neither support nor take part in any of that, and neither will the people we represent.”

Her intensified threat came at a tricky time for Mr. Johnson, who has said he will soon bring up an emergency national security spending package that includes aid to Ukraine, something that has enraged the far right. He is also planning to hold a set of tough votes this week on legislation to renew a warrantless surveillance program that many in his party oppose.

In the letter, Ms. Greene ticked through the many instances since Mr. Johnson took the gavel five months ago when he has negotiated with Democrats on major legislation — including multiple federal spending bills to prevent the government from shutting down and the annual defense bill to ensure American troops receive a pay raise — and cut deals she called a betrayal of Republican values. His actions have “angered our Republican base so much and given them very little reason to vote for a Republican House majority,” she wrote.

And she condemned members of her party, adding, “If we win the House this fall, it will only be because President Trump is on the ballot, not because we have earned it.”

Much of her criticism stemmed from Mr. Johnson’s decision last month to push through a $1.2 trillion bipartisan government spending bill — one that passed with a majority of Republicans voting against it — that prompted Ms. Greene to file the resolution calling for Mr. Johnson’s removal.

She said at the time that the move was “more of a warning than a pink slip,” raising questions about whether she planned to demand a snap vote to oust Mr. Johnson or was simply seeking the outsize attention that came with threatening to. The House then left Washington for a two-week recess.

Mr. Johnson hoped the break would help cool tensions that threatened his hold on the job. In interviews, he referred to Ms. Greene as a friend. He said that he shared her frustrations about spending legislation and that they had been texting and planned to meet when they returned to Washington.

Now the House is back, and Ms. Greene is making it clear she will not be easily mollified.

“Fully funding abortion, the trans agenda, the climate agenda, foreign wars and Biden’s border crisis is not ‘ensuring liberty, opportunity and security for all Americans,’” she wrote, quoting from a list of Mr. Johnson’s key priorities upon taking the post.

She also slammed Mr. Johnson for failing to defund what she called a “witch hunt” by Jack Smith, the special counsel who is prosecuting Mr. Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election and for mishandling classified documents. Taken together, she said, those would result in a “death sentence” for Mr. Trump.

“They want him dead,” Ms. Greene said of Democrats, “and our power of appropriations could have stopped it, but Speaker Johnson didn’t even try.”

(It is all but unthinkable that Democrats would have agreed to slash spending for Mr. Smith’s prosecutions, or that Mr. Biden would have signed legislation doing so.)

On Monday night, Ms. Greene also laid out her case against Mr. Johnson to voters at a town hall in Tunnel Hill, Ga. “Am I angry? Yes,” she said. “My question is, are you angry?”

Ms. Greene’s letter appeared aimed largely at making the speaker squirm over the Ukraine aid bill, which he has agonized over — first refusing to take it up but more recently bowing to entreaties by Mr. Biden, Democrats, other Republicans and world leaders to do so.

“Mike Johnson is publicly saying funding Ukraine is now his top priority when less than seven months ago he was against it,” Ms. Greene wrote. “The American people disagree — they believe our border is the only border worth fighting a war over, and I agree with them.”

For months, Ms. Greene has been calling the Ukraine measure her “red line” for ousting the speaker. Last week, in an interview with the right-wing media host Tucker Carlson, Ms. Greene wondered aloud whether Mr. Johnson was being blackmailed to bring it up, “because he’s completely disconnected with what we want.”

Ms. Greene, a rabble-rouser who forged an unlikely alliance with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy that got her kicked out of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, referred to herself in the letter as a “team player,” but one who can no longer support the current leadership if it continues on its current trajectory.

She ridiculed the notion of the need for compromises in a moment of divided government.

“Even with our razor-thin Republican majority, we could have at least secured the border, with it being the No. 1 issue in the country and being the issue that is causing Biden to lose in poll after poll,” Ms. Greene wrote. “Nothing says shooting within our own tent like a Republican speaker of the House who makes his rank-and-file members vote to fund full-term abortion in order to pay our military soldiers.”

It is not clear whether Ms. Greene’s arguments will persuade her colleagues, including some other hard-right members who have voiced skepticism about a second move to oust a speaker. Representative Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who led the charge to remove Mr. McCarthy, for instance, said that when he made his move in October, “I made a promise to the country that we would not end up with a Democrat speaker.” With the Republican majority in the House having dwindled down to one precarious vote since then , Mr. Gaetz said, “I couldn’t make that promise again today.”

In her letter, Ms. Greene said that would not happen unless more Republicans retired and the party lost its majority, or Republicans voted for Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader.

Annie Karni is a congressional correspondent for The Times. She writes features and profiles, with a recent focus on House Republican leadership. More about Annie Karni

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