Arthur Miller became famous for his play writing. The plays he made famous was “Death of A Salesman”, “The Crucible”, and “A View From the Bridge”.  He was born in October during the year 1915 in New York City. He was not an only child, he had a brother and a sister. Throughout his lifetime he had three spouses and one of them happened to be Marilyn Monroe.

Miller had four children, none from Ms. Monroe though. In 2005 , sadly, Miller died on February 10th in Connecticut.    

Arthur Miller wrote this play in 1928 but it was not published until 1949. In the 1940’s a version of the “American Dream” was floating around. Families wanted to live in a suburban neighborhood with their big yarded house and new automobile. That version of the “American Dream” seems the same as everybodies today, the only difference however is the changed that America was going under back then. The economy changed from agricultural to urban and from manufacturing to service and sale. Jobs were changing and people were moving.

At this time World War II had already taken a big toll on America’s economy and everyone was affected by it. There was a lot more stress on people when it came to working because they had to keep up with all the changes happening in society or else that meant that they would fall behind and never achieve the “American Dream”. Fathers worked hard to provide for their families yet everything seemed to continue to change at a rapid pace.

The main character Willy Loman suffered the stress that the 1940’s had brought. He was a salesman, a father, and a husband. Like many men of the 40’s Loman tried his hardest to achieve the American dream for himself and his family, but he never seems to get to that dream. His two sons, Happy and Biff, see that their father is not happy with his life, but they also see that he wants them to succeed in order for him to feel like he did not fail completely in life. Throughout the play Loman shows signs that he has some type of a mental disorder. He is caught and heard numerous times by his friends and family  talking with himself. He also has many flashbacks and talks as if they were happening again.

Another interesting character is Linda Loman, Willy’s wife. What makes her so interesting is that she deals with her husbands issues of failure and sessions of delusion. Linda is constantly trying to make her two sons see their father as a normal man that is just under stress however, she knows that is not the case. She knows that her husband is losing his mind, but she still seems to have hope in her family coming together again.

Charley is the Loman’s neighbor. He tends to unknowingly intimidate Willy because he is successful in life. Willy on the other hand denies that Charley is as successful as he looks because he is not liked, but he is clearly wrong. Charley always has to help Willy pay his bills and usually talks to him when he needs someone to talk to. In the end Willy realizes that Charley is his only friend.

One theme that can be pulled from this play  is the theme of the “American Dream”. The American dream became big during the 1940’s when America was undergoing change. Willy Loman seems to be pursuing this dream, but never reaches it. To achieve the American dream one must work work work without rest or breaks.

Everything was changing, living, transportation, and work. That dream drives Willy crazy, to the point where he feels like such a failure all the time. However, Willy does not realize that he has his family and Charley that truly care about him. The drive that the dream brought completely blinded him from everything that he already had in his life.

“He's liked, but not well-liked.” (Biff act 1)

Willy's recipe for success is based entirely on personality. Most people are liked by their friends and acquaintances. But only great men, according to Willy, are truly well-liked,  and that is what brings them success. From this Quote Willy's belief in personal success has been transferred to his sons as well, as they dismiss their friend Bernard for only being somewhat liked.

“You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit.” (Willy act 2)

This is Willy's speech to Linda's "attention must be paid" speech. He is arguing directly to his employer that there must be responsibility taken for employees. Willy gave his youth to the company, and now the company must take care of him.

“I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been ”(Biff act 2).

This is Biff coming to terms with the fact that his father’s versions of success for him were truly just illusions and nothing more. Biff has spent his life trying to live up to - or react against - an impossible falsehood and a vision of himself that never existed. Willy's versions of success impacted every part of his sons' lives.

“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.” (Happy)

This shows that Happy has become the idealist, while Biff is leaving town to start over as a man who accepts himself. Now Happy has the urge to try, to become something. Perhaps he will succeed - but more likely, he too will fail. Willy did die in vain, and Happy cannot change that.

“I've got to get some seeds. I've got to get some seeds, right away. Nothing's planted. I don't have a thing in the ground.” (Willy act2)

Willy realizes that his whole career has built up to nothing. He worked for 40 years and has nothing to show for it. This leads to his obsession with seeds late in the play - it is too late to grow anything for his sons, but at least he can plant some vegetables, something that will outlast him and provide some use.

1977. In some novels and plays certain parallel or recurring events prove to be significant. In an essay, describe the major similarities and differences in a sequence of parallel or recurring events in a novel or play and discuss the significance of such events. Do not merely summarize the plot.

- In “Death of A Salesman” The main character Willy Loman is constantly falling into flashbacks and hallucinations. These became very important in the fact that they help the reader see what has happened to Mr’ Loman over his 40 years of working during the stressful 1940’s.