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Death of A Salesman

The essay analyzes Arthur Miller's play 'Death of a Salesman,' focusing on the themes of identity and the role of the breadwinner in society during the Great Depression. It highlights how the economic and historical contexts shape Willy Loman's struggles with achieving the American Dream, leading to his emotional and financial instability. The play reflects the disillusionment of the American Dream and the impact of societal expectations on personal identity.

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13 views1 page

Death of A Salesman

The essay analyzes Arthur Miller's play 'Death of a Salesman,' focusing on the themes of identity and the role of the breadwinner in society during the Great Depression. It highlights how the economic and historical contexts shape Willy Loman's struggles with achieving the American Dream, leading to his emotional and financial instability. The play reflects the disillusionment of the American Dream and the impact of societal expectations on personal identity.

Uploaded by

785dkrdrb6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The play focused on in this essay is Death of a salesman, this play by Arthur Miller illustrates a

breadwinners place in society and his identity as a man. The loss of identity as a man in this play is
further explored by further explaining and exploring the social, economic, artistic and historical
context in conjunction with the setting of the play that would have further developed these
contexts. The time and place the play was set in are a further indication of a period in America
where things such as the historical and economic context shape the world of Death of a salsman.

The Great Depression and The American Dream are two of the key ideas when it comes to the
economic environment of a salesman's suicide. The world of Death of a Salesman was heavily
influenced by these two ideas.

The great depression, which had a significant impact on the American economy, is where Arthur
Miller set the majority of Death of a Salesman. The American dream was a deeply held belief for the
Miller family.

During the Great Depression, which was an economic catastrophe for the nation and a time when
people could not afford a basic existence in the United States, Arthur Miller placed this novel and
the stage production. The great depression had a negative impact on Willy and his family because he
was/is the only provider for them. Despite having worked as a salesperson his entire life and being
married to a loving and dedicated wife for a long time, Willy is unable to achieve either financial or
emotional stability.
Willy Loman's aspirations for material prosperity and social acceptance resemble the American
Dream of the 1940s, but his sense of optimism has long been dashed, and the innovation that
claims to improve life and more satisfying continuously frustrates Loman. In the end, Willy’s
sense of identity is unfulfilled, his connection with his older son is strained, and he is unable to
adjust to the changing world around him. As a result, the promises of the future ring hollow.

A place where "living should be better and richer and fuller... with opportunity for each according
to aptitude" is how the American dream is put forth.

Willy Loman's sons, one of whom was a bum who squandered money on drinking and partying
while the other believed himself to be superior to his father who had worked all his life for them,
did not assist the economic problem either. Willy battled so hard to maintain his position as the
best salesman in the world because he had such a strong belief in the American Dream.

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