Analysis of Death of a Salesman

author: 

Arthur Miller born. Prominent playwright in America.

Setting:
late 1940s: Willy Loman's house, places in NYC


Summary:
This play looks into the life of a tragic man named Willy Loman. He is a man who has been striving for success and achieving the American dream, but has never been able to accomplish either of these goals. With his health deteriorating due to a lack of success, he has vivid hallucinations of past events where things were happier. In his weakened condition, Willy picks fights with his wife and two older sons.  His sons Biff and Happy are not successful as well, although both claim to try and make him happy. Biff and Willy constantly clash over the dispute of what Biff should do with his life, the city vs the country. Willy feels let down by Biff and constantly remembers when his life was going to be great. These flashbacks of times where the future looked promising, highlight the failure in Willy's life. Once the family convinces Willy that he has something to live for, the family goes to bed and Willy is "greeted" by his older brother once again telling him to go into the jungle and make something of himself. Willy is killed. The play ends at Willy's funeral with his wife Linda saying "We're free" due to their family being debt free finally.
      
Plot
Willy Loman comes home one night to his worried wife. Willy complains about driving back from his unsuccessful business trip. They discuss his failure, broken appliances, and debt. As they fight, Biff and Happy overhear. They then talk about their father's mental state and what they can do to please him. They then argue with Willy. Biff decides to go in for a job interview, and Willy decides to go talk to his boss. Willy is fired, and Biff is unsuccessful. Later when the three Loman men meet up for dinner, Willy is outraged at Biff's actions that day were unsuccessful and starts to have a flashback about when he cheated on his wife and Biff found out. Happy and Biff return to the household and are scolded by their mother Linda for disappointing their father. Later that evening when Willy returns home, Biff confronts Willy about him trying to kill himself. They both talk about their failures and tell each other that they love each other. After everyone is asleep, Willy is ushered by the hallucination of his older brother Ben to try and make something of himself. Willy goes out and is killed. The tragedy ends at Willy's funeral. 


significant characters:

Biff: Willy's oldest son, wants to be working with his hands and outdoors, conflicted between disappointing his father or disappointing himself. He had a bright future as a businessman/football player. He saw his dad cheating on his mom, and promptly lost all respect for him. He loses respect for him once again when he discovers that he wants to kill himself. Often steals items of worth and value because he feels that it makes him appear successful. 

Happy: The second son to Willy and Linda. He is always trying to live up to Biff, but is still not successful. He sleeps with betrothed women to feel affection. He doesnt put any effort into becoming a success. Tries to grab his parents attention by saying that he's going to loose weight and that he's been working out and that he will get married. 

Linda: Linda is Willy's wife and the mother to both Biff and Happy. She is the only one in the novel who truly understands Willy and is also the most realistic. She acts as a mother figure to Willy by babying him, defending his actions, and protecting him out of love. 

Willy: Willy is the main character. He is the salesman of the play. He has tried all his life to be successful, but has never succeded. Willy is not a stable character and is over dramatic. He changes to hopeful and happy to disappointed and angry in seconds. he often thinks of the past vividly and acts as if the past events were happening in real life. 

Uncle Ben: ben is Willy's older brother who went to the jungles of africa and became rich. He is an inspiration to Willy as well as a father figure. 

Charlie: Charlie is Willy's neighbor and a close friend. He tries to help Willy out financially, but he is pushed away by Willy's pride and vivid hallucinations. Charlie is considered to be a friend of Willy's.

Narative voice/style/point of view/tone/imagery/symbolism:
tone: shifts from overjoyed to overwhelmed and upset
Imagery: bright colors show happier times (which are often times of the past)
Symbolism:  the red corvette = youth/joy/success, the jungle = the city life/success


Quotes:
- "He's liked but he's not well liked" -Willy
    This shows Willy's materialistic views on the American dream and how hard work isn't as             important as good looks and natural charm
-"Figure it out. Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it." - Willy
      This quote shows how Willy is not satisfied with his current life and wished that he could have had the opportunity to pay off his house sooner. This is also foreshadowing the end of the novel.  


.Theme & Support:
Not everyone can obtain the American dream.