In this paper I will try analyze the reasons for Willy’s failure. Is it his own fault that he is not able to succeed in his life? Or is the society he lives in to blame as well? As Miller is known for his critical views on modern society , I will try to find out if it is not society that is responsible for Willy’s failure.
At first, I am going to examine how Miller describes society in his play. Next , I will analyse Willy’s dream and what he thinks is most important to achieve success. At last, I will compare those conceptions in order to find out what leads Willy to his failure.
2 Characterization of the society Willy lives in
The house Willy and his wife Linda live in is described as a “small, fragile- seeming home with a “solid vault of apartment houses around (Miller 5)
This description at the beginning of the play already reveals a feeling of threat. It seems as if those tall apartment houses menace the home of
Willy and Linda. Those tall buildings could stand for progress and change within society as they are now built everywhere, whereas Willy’s house could represent isolation and former times. Miller emphasizes these images by saying that Willy’s house stands amidst those tall buildings like “a dream rising out of reality” (Miller 5). While reading this threatening image at the beginning of the play, the reader already starts to fear that Willy’s house will be swallowed by those apartment houses, as there seems no escaping. At the end of the play, this presentiment becomes real as Miller describes that “over the house the hard towers of the apartment buildings rise into sharp focus” (Miller 151). As the house does not only stand for itself but also for its inhabitants, those passages could be interpreted in the way that people who do not follow the ever-changing and progressive society will be excluded from and even destroyed by it. Apparently, in this society one has no other choice than to follow the progress or be left behind. If one is not able to do so - for whatever reasons - one will not be able to resist for long, he is condemned to lose against this reckless society. In another scene, Willy tells his wife Linda:
The street is lined with cars. There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don’t grow any more, you can’t raise a carrot in the back yard. They should’ve had a law against apartment houses (Miller 13).
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Characterization of the society Willy lives in
3 Willy’s idea of a successful salesman
4 Does Willy fail because of society or does society let him fail?
5 Conclusion
6 List of works cited
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the multifaceted reasons behind Willy Loman's failure in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," questioning whether his decline is a result of personal shortcomings or the inherent pressures of a dehumanizing modern society.
- The influence of competitive capitalist society on individual success.
- The clash between traditional values and modern technological progress.
- Willy Loman’s internal psychological conflicts and his distorted "American Dream."
- The dehumanizing nature of a business environment that prioritizes sales over people.
- The role of pride and the inability to adapt to changing social structures.
Excerpt from the Book
Characterization of the society Willy lives in
The house Willy and his wife Linda live in is described as a “small, fragile seeming home” with a “solid vault of apartment houses around” (Miller 5). This description at the beginning of the play already reveals a feeling of threat. It seems as if those tall apartment houses menace the home of Willy and Linda. Those tall buildings could stand for progress and change within society as they are now built everywhere, whereas Willy’s house could represent isolation and former times. Miller emphasizes these images by saying that Willy’s house stands amidst those tall buildings like “a dream rising out of reality” (Miller 5). While reading this threatening image at the beginning of the play, the reader already starts to fear that Willy’s house will be swallowed by those apartment houses, as there seems no escaping. At the end of the play, this presentiment becomes real as Miller describes that “over the house the hard towers of the apartment buildings rise into sharp focus” (Miller 151).
As the house does not only stand for itself but also for its inhabitants, those passages could be interpreted in the way that people who do not follow the ever-changing and progressive society will be excluded from and even destroyed by it. Apparently, in this society one has no other choice than to follow the progress or be left behind. If one is not able to do so – for whatever reasons – one will not be able to resist for long, he is condemned to lose against this reckless society.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's focus on identifying whether Willy Loman's failure is self-inflicted or a consequence of the societal structure in which he resides.
2 Characterization of the society Willy lives in: This section analyzes the setting of the play, exploring how the urban environment and modern competitive values act as a threatening, dehumanizing force against Willy.
3 Willy’s idea of a successful salesman: This chapter examines Willy’s misguided belief system, focusing on his obsession with personality, charisma, and being "well liked" as the primary metrics for business success.
4 Does Willy fail because of society or does society let him fail?: This part explores the tension between Willy’s inability to adapt to modern technological and social shifts and the ruthless, unforgiving nature of the corporate world that dismisses aging employees.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes that Willy’s failure is the result of an interaction between his personal flaws and the cold, competitive pressures of his environment.
6 List of works cited: This section provides the bibliographic references used throughout the analysis.
Keywords
Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, Willy Loman, American Dream, Capitalism, Social Pressure, Success, Personality, Modern Society, Failure, Alienation, Competition, Individualism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper explores the reasons for the protagonist's failure in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman," analyzing the interplay between his individual choices and his environment.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the impact of capitalist structures on human value, the conflict between past and present values, and the psychological burden of pursuing a hollow version of the American Dream.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine if Willy Loman is solely responsible for his downfall or if society, through its competitive and dehumanizing demands, is complicit in his failure.
Which methodology is used in this analysis?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon text-based evidence from the play and interpretations from scholarly secondary literature to evaluate character motives and societal critique.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body analyzes the physical setting of the play, investigates Willy’s definition of success, and contrasts his personal struggles with the ruthless requirements of his workplace.
Which keywords characterize the analysis?
Key terms include "Death of a Salesman," "Capitalism," "Success," "Alienation," and "Social Pressure."
How does the setting of the house reflect Willy’s struggle?
The description of the house being "boxed in" by apartment buildings symbolizes the way Willy feels trapped by progress and isolated by a society that no longer values his traditional methods.
Why does Howard’s reaction to the tape recorder signify a major turning point?
Howard's preoccupation with the machine rather than Willy's desperate situation serves as a commentary on a modern society that prioritizes technological efficiency over human responsibility and empathy.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Andreas Kirchmann (Autor:in), 2003, What are the reasons for Willy's failure in "Death of a salesman"?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/25066
