Death of a Salesman

Author: Arthur Miller
Setting: 1940s, the Lowman's home in New York City
Significant Characters: Willie, Linda, Biff and Happy Lowman


Analysis:

• The American Dream - Willy's obsession on achieving his goal of becoming a successful businessman reflects the false hopes and dreams that people experience when chasing the American Dream. Willy dedicates his life to being a businessman solely for the materialistic factors. He believes that because of his hard work, he deserves what man who performs such work should have, which is the perfect family, wealth, and most important of all, respect. Willy refuses to alter his plan and ends up not having any of the things he dreams of, which ultimately dies chasing these superficial things.
• Goals that are never reached

Author's Style:

• Point of View: Stage directions - Audience
• Tone: Tragic, honest and straightforward, melancholic
• Symbolism: The seeds that Willy's planting, the pen Biff steals, the rubber hose

Important Quotes:
1.) "I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and the time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and I thought, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be . . . when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am."
      This is Biff describing the thoughts that run through his head as he realizes that he never wants to be what his father wants him to be. This confrontation is Biff's final step on breaking free from Willy's high expectations of him. Biff and Willy butt heads over this situation and Willy is so fixated on making Biff the son that he always dreamed of having that he completely disregards what Biff truly wants in his life. Willy's expectations of Biff reign over Biff's head and causes him to lose his sense of direction in life. Biff's defiance of Willy's expectations reflects the contrasting values that they hold - Biff focusing on the simplistic nature of life while Willy chases after the materialistic and idealistic American Dream.

2.)"Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground."
      Willy has finally come to the conclusion that he has not made an impact on anyone or anything that he's ever done. This is Willy's realization to his failure and while he's planting the seeds, he notices that there is no evidence in his life of any success. This quote is very important because it is Willy's admittance to his defeat...that after all of his hard work, he has not even left a dent in the business world.

Theme:
 The American Dream leads false hope for middle class people like Willy, who never achieves what he perceives as success.