Death of a Salesman

What Is the Genre?

Death of a Salesman is a play, or drama, by Arthur Miller. This genre, or type of
literature, works well for the story of Willy Loman, a dramatic character driven to
distraction by his desire to be well liked. The play focuses on the Loman family's
tragic story of inflated dreams and thwarted desires.
The play also includes several dream sequences, no doubt a challenge for set
designers. Fortunately, the play contains stage directions, Miller's ideas to help the
theatre audience distinguish between past and present. 'Whenever the action is in
the present the actors observe the imaginary wall-lines, entering the house only
through its door at the left. But in the scenes of the past, these boundaries are
broken, and characters enter or leave a room by stepping through a wall on to the
forestage,' Miller suggests.
What Is the Setting?
Death of a Salesman is set in the late 1940s. The Lomans live in Brooklyn, and most
of the play's action occurs at Willy Loman's house. In addition, Willy experiences
some dream sequences in which the time and place of the action are not
established. He also recollects a life-changing encounter with Biff in Boston, and
this scene is presented as a flashback in the play.
Significance of the Setting
After Willy buys the house, apartment buildings are constructed all around Willy's
property. Willy's house is literally walled in by the apartments that encroach from
every direction. He speaks longingly of the days before the apartments were built.
''Remember those two beautiful elm trees out there? When I and Biff hung the
swing between them?'' Willy asks. Linda remarks that it was almost like being in the
country until the neighbor cut the elm trees.
Willy's lot is so overshadowed by the looming apartment buildings that his
backyard does not get enough sun to support a vegetable garden. Ever the
optimist, Willy attempts to defy the odds by planting seeds shortly before he
commits suicide.
Willy's dreams have walled him in just as the apartment buildings wall in his house.
Willy is committed to his dream of success, which he defines as being well-liked.
Now that he is aging and facing financial difficulties, his dreams close in on him.
After Willy is fired, he has few options. He goes to his neighbor Charley to borrow
money to make it through another month. This is not a long-term solution,
however, so Charley offers Willy a job.
The problem is that Willy has been jealous of Charley for years. ''He's liked - but
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he's not well-liked,'' Willy has told his sons. While Willy has bragged about success
and exaggerated his sons' accomplishments, Charley and his son Bernard have
actually achieved success. Now that Willy is down on his luck and unemployed,
Charley's job offer represents a way out of Willy's dismal situation. However,
because of his jealousy, he refuses to accept Charley's offer.
In this case, Willy's arrogance prohibits him from accepting the job that would
solve many of his problems. He's boxed in by his big talk and dreams, just as the
apartments box in his home. As Willy runs out of options, the setting elicits a
constricted feeling that mirrors the emotions of the characters in the play.
Time Period and Historical Context
A time period can be defined as a stretch of time that is bracketed off for a
specific purpose. When thinking about the time in which the story of Death of a
Salesman is set, these events play out over the final 24 hours of Willy Loman's life,
with the 'Requiem' being set a few days after his death, at his funeral. Let's think
about the historical context (the general cultural state of its setting in both time
and place) of the play. We can assume that the date is somewhere between 1945
and 1949. We know that the story is set in New York City in America, since Willy's
wife wants him to ask his boss whether he can't work in their hometown of New
York (in addition to the other mentions of places in America where Willy has gone
for business). Therefore, we know that the historical context is linked to American
history in particular.
Even though the play's events unfold during the mid to late 1940s, it is clear that
Miller is very interested in the influences of the past. This is clear because, as you
know, events in the play's present are disrupted when characters and events from
the past move onto the stage. These instances seem to represent Willy's memories,
rather than being 'flashbacks' where the entire time-frame of the play would
change. The audience can see this since Willy's character does not get replaced by a
younger version of himself on these occasions. From this it is clear, however, that
the past has a strong influence on Willy's current perspective on things, so we need
to consider not only the historical context of the play's present, but also how the
time period represented by these past events has had influence on our
understanding of 1940s America.
Since we know from the characters' conversations that Biff is 34 years old in the
play's present timeline and, since the play suggests a link between Biff's loss of
enthusiasm and his discovery of Willy's affair when he was 17 years old, Willy's
memories of a better time are most likely linked to the late 1920s or early 1930s. As
such, when looking at the historical context of the play, we need to think about the
relationship between these two time periods.
America After 1945

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After World War II ended, America went through a phase of great economic
prosperity and even greater national pride. At that time, the American Dream
meant suburban houses with white-picket fences, glamorous housewives, happy
families, respectable fathers, and fancy new appliances and cars. It was then that
the materialism and consumerist culture that we find throughout the world today
really developed. And yet, if you think about the way in which the play represents
life for the Loman family, we see that they have none of the ideals of the American
Dream. So why does Miller seem so skeptical of this ideal? The answer to that
question might be linked to the play's interest in the past.
America in the 1920s and 1930s
When the Great Depression hit America in the early 1930s, Arthur Miller's family's
lives were changed for the worse. His father's clothing business suffered, and the
family had to move to a less expensive neighborhood. Theirs was not an isolated
case. Many people were struggling financially, and as you can imagine, few would
have been able to afford luxuries at this time. Those people who were fortunate
enough to keep their jobs realized that working hard did not necessarily mean that
you could live comfortably. The American Dream seemed an impossible ideal to
many.
Death of a Salesman: Implications
When we look at the thematic interests in the play, the entire work is characterized
by skepticism toward the American Dream. Willy seems obsessed with the idea
that his sons, like his brother, should go out into the world and make a success of
themselves. Yet we know that Biff is unable to keep a job, largely because he keeps
stealing from his employers. We also know that the family's car and appliances
keep breaking and that they are almost always in debt. By giving his audience a
sense that the ideal is just a fantasy (much like the many other fantasies and
delusions that the family try to maintain throughout the play) and that the reality is
far more grim, we can say that Death of a Salesman is a text which criticizes the
historical context of the 1940s.
The Loman family become a metaphor for a society which Miller believes is in
denial about its reality. Many historians today will tell you that the materialism and
consumerist culture of the 1940s served to distract people from greater global
political unrest. Miller's choice of a salesman as his main character perhaps points
us to his interest in the economy of the time, yet it is clear that the playwright
questions the true value of materialism, since Willy not only struggles to sell
things but is also struggling to pay off his debts.
Summary
Although Death of a Salesman is set in the 1940s, the play has a clear interest in the
influence of the past. In this we can see how Miller's own experiences during the

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Great Depression made him skeptical of the materialism and consumerist culture
which was a part of the American Dream during the 1940s. Miller uses the
Loman family as a metaphor through which he is able to show the contrast
between the American Dream and the reality which many people faced.
Themes and symbols of the play
Willy Loman's Dreams
Most people experience disappointments in their lives at some point, but most
people are able to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their dreams. Willy
Loman's dreams, however, set him up for failure. His mistaken ideas about the
American Dream lead to tragedy, not only for Willy, but for his family, as well.
The Play's Themes
The American Dream is the dominant theme, or main idea, in Death of a Salesman.
Willy Loman's notions of the American Dream equate success with being well-
liked. Likeability is an important quality for a salesman like Willy, yet he is unable
to achieve the success he desires. His neighbor Charley, in contrast, is able to
establish a comfortable living through hard work.
Charley's son Bernard has grown up to become a successful attorney, while Willy's
sons - reared on the idea that being liked is all that matters - have not found
professional success. The Lomans' ideas about the American Dream leave out one
critical component: hard work.
The American Dream has betrayed Willy, and betrayal is another significant
theme in the play. Willy betrays his wife Linda with a woman in a hotel; Biff's
discovery of the affair is a turning point in his life, for it leads him to think of his
father as a phony.
Willy has made much of Biff's status as a high school hero, and he wants Biff to
live up to the potential he has shown as a young man. Willy understands that Biff
has simply given up after learning of his betrayal of Linda. Willy says to Biff, ''I
want you to know, on the train, in the mountains, in the valleys, wherever you go,
that you cut down your life for spite!''
Symbols
The symbols that appear in Death of a Salesman add a deeper context to the play
and highlight many of the play's themes.
Willy Loman is a dreamer, and he plants seeds in his backyard, hoping to provide
for his family. The seeds represent potential, much like Willy's appointments.
Both represent Willy's attempts to provide, yet neither the seeds Willy plants nor
the appointments with the buyers are guaranteed to yield anything of value.

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Willy mentions the refrigerator, a material possession that appears built to self-
destruct by the time the owner finishes paying for it. Willy resents the refrigerator,
which has required a belt replacement already. Linda also mentions the revolving
credit monthly payments for the vacuum cleaner and washing machine. Willy is in
over his head, and the monthly payments make it appear that the Lomans will
never be ''free and clear.'' These symbols of materialism fail to satisfy, and they
actually create additional problems as the Lomans struggle to make the payments.
When Linda Loman mends her stockings, Willy is reminded of his betrayal of her
with a woman in a hotel. He brings the woman stockings as a gift, and Willy
becomes angry when he sees Linda mending her old hosiery. ''I won't have you
mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!'' Willy says angrily. Besides
the guilt Willy feels at the reminder of his affair, Willy also sees the act of mending
stockings as a contradiction of his notions of success.
After Biff waits all day to meet with Bill Oliver, he assuages his disappointment by
dashing into Oliver's office and stealing a fountain pen. The pen is representative
of the business world, a world Biff knows he will never be able to enter. As such, it
is also a symbol of the American Dream. Biff's theft of the fountain pen also
underscores his kleptomania, a practice that causes him to move from job to job.
Willy often thinks of his brother Ben who found diamonds in the jungle. Ben is
already dead as the play opens, but he represents success to Willy. As Willy
considers committing suicide so his family can collect his life insurance benefits, he
comes to see this solution as comparable to the riches represented by Ben's
diamonds.
''I see it like a diamond, shining in the dark, hard and rough, that I can pick up and
touch in my hand. Not like - like an appointment!'' Willy says, as he considers the
tangible benefits of the insurance policy. Ben appears as a hallucination,
encouraging Willy to kill himself. ''The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy,''
Ben says in the play's final scene. ''One must go in to fetch a diamond out.'' The
diamond is one of the most memorable symbols in Death of a Salesman.
Summary
Death of a Salesman is the story of Willy Loman and his fruitless pursuit of the
American Dream. Willy's dream betrays him, and his flawed ideas of success affect
his sons as well. Arthur Miller includes many symbols to underscore the play's
main themes. These symbols contribute to the audience's understanding of Miller's
themes and add memorable elements to the tragic story of Willy Loman.

Characters.

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The play revolves around the four main characters of the Loman family:

Willy Loman

Linda Loman

Biff Loman

Happy Loman

Other characters in the play are:

Charley

Bernard

Ben

The Woman

Howard Wagner

Willy in Death of a Salesman

William "Willy" Loman is the tragic hero of the play Death of a Salesman. His dual-sided nature of a
sweet husband, a driven salesman, and a protective father versus an unfaithful partner, failing salesman,
and resentful father makes him a rather complex character.

Willy is proud and hopeful for both his sons, Biff and Happy. Seeing Biff perform well in football in
college, he hoped he would have a successful career. However, when Biff aspires to lead a simple life, he
chides him for not having enough ambition and drive. On one hand, he has big dreams for his son, and on
the other, he resents the life that makes him happy.

Willy always tried to provide for his family and dreamt of owning a house one day. The play ends with
him giving up his life to get the money from his life insurance that would rid his family of debt. In this last
act as a salesman, he shows his deep love for his family and the lengths he would go to give them a
secured life.

Linda in Death of a Salesman

Linda Loman is extremely supportive and tolerant of her husband, Willy. She works diligently towards
keeping up the illusion of her husband's idea of success and lets him be the authority figure in the house,
despite his spiraling mental state. Linda is aware that her husband is borrowing money from his friend and
is not making enough sales. She also knows of his suicide attempts. She tries to convey this to her sons and
begs them to come to their father's rescue. Linda is a loyal and loving wife, much more resilient than her

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fragile husband. She attempts to keep her husband motivated and tells him to ask his boss for a non-
traveling job and an advance to pay the premium. She motivates Willy by asserting that his recognition and
promotion are long overdue. Linda is the thread that binds the otherwise broken family together. However,
she is weak when it comes to her hope of clinging to the ideas of success that are based on false beliefs.
Linda was there for her husband till the very end, looking out for him, mending his relationships, and
believing in him and his dreams.

Biff in Death of a Salesman

Biff (34) is the older son of the Loman family. As a child, he worked hard to please his father, whom he
idolized. Like his father, Biff regarded social acceptance and likability as valuable factors in the path to
success. In the process, he became a thief, and this was overlooked by his father. One time, when he was
on his way to surprise his father, he came to know about his father's infidelity. This discovery changed his
perspective and severely damaged their relationship.

Biff does not have a knack for business and dreams of going far off to lead a simple, fulfilling life. In
the first scene of the play, Biff gets excited about the idea of buying a ranch with his younger brother
Happy. Biff longed for change and wanted to face the harsh truths of his life. However, these desires led
to serious rifts in the family as they clashed with the ideologies of his father. After his father's death, Biff
concludes that he had the wrong dreams. This self-analysis leaves us with the hope that Biff might
actually make something of his life with a more realistic approach to it.

Happy in Death of a Salesman

Happy (32) is the younger son of the Loman family. His character does not have enough depth, and he is
often seen lying to get attention. He works as an assistant buyer in a departmental store and indulges in
relationships with women who are married to his superiors. He finds these activities fun and worthy of
social recognition and happiness. He embodies his father's worst characteristics and aspires to be
successful with no hard work.

By the end of the play, his future looks bleak and doomed. He is not shaken by his father's death and is still
carried away with the duped idea of the American Dream and superiority.

Uncle Ben in Death of a Salesman

Ben is Willy's older brother who is dead at the start of the play but makes an appearance in Willy's
hallucinations of the past. Ben is a symbol of success and of the American Dream for Willy. He
idolizes Ben and is fascinated by how he made a fortune at the young age of twenty-one in the distant
land of Africa. He dreams of a similar, fortunate, and successful life for his family. The idea that Ben's

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adventurous life, based on chance, resulted in great success often comes to Willy's mind. Ben is the
embodiment of the American Dream coming true and one of the main reasons Willy never reasoned with
his rather impractical beliefs.

Ben is also central to the plot of the play because in one of his imaginary conversations with him, Willy is
reminded of his insurance money. This reminder led to Willy's decision to end his life and use the money
to pay off his family's debt.

Charley in Death of a Salesman

Charley is Willy's neighbor and only friend in the play. He is a kind and helpful person. When Willy
was not doing well in his job, Charley loaned him the money to get by. It is indicated that Willy is envious
of Charley's successful life. However, later in the play, he accepts that Charley is his only companion.

Bernard in Death of a Salesman

Bernard is Charley's son who is a successful lawyer. This was in contrast to Willy's older son, Biff, who
was still unsettled in his life. Looking at Bernard, Willy pondered over his son's unfruitful life. Bernard
had always been kind towards Willy's sons. However, Biff always mocked him during their school days.