Death of a Salesman - Critical Essay

Death of a Salesman Critical Essay

1. INTRODUCTION -
Death of a Salesman was written postwar by Arthur Miller about a family, more specifically about a man named Willy Loman. He's the bread winner of his family, who dreams of having it all. This written piece goes into the struggles he and his family have to go through due to blind faith in society and material "rewards". 

A. THESIS STATEMENT -
 “The American Dream is something that cannot be realistically maintained because the idea of the American Dream is purely superficial.”

2. BODY -

A. SUMMARY - 

A. Willy Loman is a Salesman, who travels daily for work. All his life he has convinced himself that with the American Dream, life will be grand. He's worked hard underneath one boss most of his life, dedicating all his efforts and energy towards his goal. In this story; through the physical changes in surroundings, the emotional internal conflicts his family has to manage, Willy's own psychological downfall, the author proves his point that the "American Dream" really isn't a dream based on your own pure happiness, and not only that of material possessions, but that happiness really isn't a part of the dream at all.

B. CRITICISM/ANALYSIS -
The first thing I will be discussing is what it really means when Willy plants the seeds throughout the story. He is a working man, and truly believes he is at the top of his game and well liked, but has little reward to show his family for his hard efforts. Willy only tries to grow the seeds at night...which if anybody has a bit of a green thumb, knows that the positive potential in that is slim to none. I feel as though that he is ashamed to show his family of his sensed failures at work and fears he has of not been seen for the breadwinner and successful businessman he wants to be. His insecurity shows a lot here. I  also noticed that throughout the story when he starts his delusions on the American dream, he plants a seed in his yard when more natural surroundings still existed and the land more natural. However; in the course of the story, the surroundings in which he plants his seed become more harsh backgrounds for that (the neighborhoods/apartments being built up, trees and wildlife being taken away), basically making it impossible for the plant to flourish. I think this represents how even though he is stuck on what used to be as far as the "American Dream" goes,that corporate America does not feel the same way, and that they will do what's best for them and their own interests.

The second thing is the hardships his family goes through. Barely having any food on the table, fallen relationships due to Willy's hard criticisms on his sons and his infidelity, having to cope with their father trying to inhale gas in an attempt to kill himself, a wife being left to feel trampled on and desiring to feel wanted and equal. If Willy had pursued a dream that he felt inside of his gut (which is exactly whhat his brother Ben did), he wouldn't had put pressure on his sons, he wouldn't have treated them so negatively because without societies version of the American dream...they would have had nothing to measure up to and therefore would not have failed according to Willy. The son's wouldn't feel the pressure to provide for themselves and their mother because they know their father cannot. Willy wouldn't have sought for comfort outside of his marriage through another woman. If Willy really pursued something that made him happy, he would not consistently be seeking a way out through daily suicide attempts. 

When times were easier, and the dream not so cemented in Willy's head, his own well being was intact. The more he saw that he was working hard for someone else's dream (that being corporate America), and getting nothing for it...he started to fall apart. Which in turn affected his family life, his work views, and skewed make believe and reality. He collapsed under pressure, and saw himself as a never ending failure.

3. CONCLUSION -
If you looked at Willy's mental stability, and the pure happiness he had with his family before seeking out so desperately the "American Dream", it shows the reader that real happiness isn't from where you  live, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, etc etc. It's from peace within yourself, and in the others you love. When this dream becomes an obsession for Willy, all of that goes away. Corporate American does not look out for you, but for their own welfare. This story captures that through the examples and arguments I have provided. I hope that after reading this, I have given you a deeper perspective on this subject as a whole.