Death of a Salesman

Critical Analysis:

Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller started playwriting shortly after World War II and during the Great Depression, when the world was going through a lot of grief and turmoil. He wrote plays that people could relate to at that time. He allowed people “an honest view of the direction the country had taken” (PBS: American Masters). The play, Death of a Salesman, deals with “desperation and parental responsibility” (PBS: American Masters). The theme of the play is the “American Dream”, or rather, what people see it as. We can see how the characters strive for the “American Dream” in the past, present, and future (after the death of Willy Loman).

In Act I, Willy Loman starts to drift off, or day dream, about when his sons, Biff and Happy, were younger. He is very happy with his eldest son, Biff, because he is popular and is on the Varsity football team. He believes that his “American Dream” is coming true. He wants his sons to be successful and well-liked, just like him. Some may say that he is living the stereotypical “American Dream”. He is a man striving for success. He also has a small family with two well-liked boys. There is also a stay-at-home mother. This is the typical 30s All American family.

Further along in the play, we see that Willy is not so successful, but is still trying. All he wants is for his sons to follow him, be well-liked, and strive to be successful. Willy still sees the “American Dream” as a successful family. He is working so hard so that his family would have it easier. However, Biff is dreaming of other things. Biff’s “American Dream” is to be successful by doing something you actually like to do. He sees jobs like his fathers as “a measly manner of existence” (1218). We can see Biff is an idealist. Unlike his father, he is more interested in the means rather than what is won in the end. Willy is somewhat embarrassed that his son is just working on a farm and not getting the money he deserves. Biff mentions that maybe to complete his “American Dream” he “oughta get married [… he] oughta get stuck into something” (1218). Here, he is saying that maybe the thing he is missing is the commitment to someone. Maybe he would then be able to commit to one job and be satisfied.

Later in the play, Willy Loman plans to take his life so that his family could get more money. He also wants to show Biff how well-liked he is by having a funeral with many people. He knows that if he dies, the insurance company