the death of a salesman essay topics

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122 Death of a Salesman Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on death of a salesman, ✍️ death of a salesman essay topics for college, 🎓 most interesting death of a salesman research titles, 📌 easy death of a salesman essay topics, 💡 simple death of a salesman essay ideas, ❓ death of a salesman essay questions.

• The American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Failure of American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• Reality vs. Illusions: Death of a Salesman Analysis Essay
• Death of a Salesman as a Social Drama
• Death of a Salesman Psychoanalitic Analysis
• American Family in Death of a Salesman
• Miller’s Death of a Salesman vs. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
• Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis In the “Death of a Salesman” play, Arthur Miller concentrates on the life of the middle class people-presented through the Loman family.
• Analysis of “The Death of a Salesman” by A. Miller “The Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, is a play that sheds light on issues several individuals in America experience in their quest for the American Dream.
• The Last Scene of Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” The paper analyzes the scene the is at the last of Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman”, beginning about line 780 in Act II and continuing to the end of the play.
• Death of a Salesman: Imagery & Sumbolism The Death of a Salesman was a tale of broken dreams, aspirations of the characters and unfulfilled promises. The Loman family is portrayed in the play as a dysfunctional family, each member with his or her issues.
• Death of a Salesman: Plot Analysis The events of Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman take place in 1949, four years after the Second World War has come to an end.
• “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller Seeds can be discussed as the most intriguing image presented in Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” because seeds symbolize the hope of the main character Willy for the best future.
• Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” in the Context of Modern Human Resource Fundamentals Since its first play in 1949, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is still recognized as one of the greatest dramatic pieces of the 20th century.
• Money & Wealth in Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” is, to me, all about the dangers of defining happiness in terms of financial success.
• Death of a Salesman: Critical Analysis In “Death of a Salesman” setting performs a task of great importance: the melody, the sound of flute, that is the initial element of the setting, speaks about something light and pleasant
• Symbolism in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller In Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman, the sub-surface ideals of the American Dream are investigated and a very close ruinous look is the outcome.
• The Representation of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Living in a society where each person can achieve success and respect regardless of their origin, gender, or race was a general idea of the American Dream at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the American Dream is slowly fading and becoming more of an illusion after the Depression…
• Social & Personal Values in Death of a Salesman Stylistic devices and unique vision of economic development help Miller to unveil social changes and new traditions influenced by new culture.
• Willy Loman as a Protagonist in Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller, the author of Death of a Salesman, is a well-known American playwright of the twentieth century. The play won him international fame and came to be counted by as a real achievement.
• Heroes and Cowards in “Oedipus Rex” and “Death of a Salesman” In the two plays, “Oedipus Rex” and “Death of a Salesman” there are many parallels. One major parallel is courage and cowardice.
• “Death of Salesman” by Arthur Miller: Play Review In the play “Death of a Salesman,” American dramatist Arthur Miller wrote about the moral predicament of the working class.
• The Downfall of Willy Loman in the “Death of a Salesman” In the play “Death of a Salesman”, Arthur Miller manages to masterfully show how dreams, combined with pride and stubbornness, are able to destroy a person’s life.
• Death of American Dream in Death of a Salesman Using a dramatic point of view, Miller creates a theme loosing hopes and tragedy as a result of false ideals and inability to achieve the American dream.
• Protagonist in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis In Death of a Salesman, Miller depicts a contradiction between industrial society and personal values, false dreams, and inability to understand and find his place in this society.
• Willy Loman’s Character in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller In his play the Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller narrates a story of Willy Loman’s desperate searching for happiness and recognition.
• Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Play Analysis The play “Death of Salesman” by Miller is a truly unique and valuable piece of art. It can be recommended to become familiar with this composition for both youth and adults.
• Similarities and Contrasts between “Fences” and “Death of a Salesman” Both plays are works that question the right of the average American to be a tragic hero. The central conflict of both works is consistent with the laws of tragedy
• “Death of a Salesman,” Misinterpreting the Concept of the American Dream The American dream consists in altruism and spiritual values, rather than material welfare as such. In other words, it is more about spiritual prosperity.
• Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis The main action of Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” is focused on the final two days in the life of an ordinary man named Willy Loman.
• Themes in Death of a Salesman: Research Paper This paper discusses a depressing story of illusions – 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller – and describes its main characters.
• Willy Loman and His American Dream: Essay on Death of a Salesman In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, we see a devastating portrait of a man, Willy Loman, consumed by the wrong dream.
• Tragic Hero in A Death of a Salesman The Death of a Salesman is play written by Arthur Miller that touches upon the analysis of the downfall of an ordinary man.
• Willy Loman Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman” vividly portrays a life of a middle-class salesman who tries to achieve the American dream and realize his life hopes.
• Death of a Salesman: Literary Analysis Essay A literary analysis of Arthur Miller’s "Death of a Salesman," as to draw out its theme, plot, structure, character, and setting proves that the literary merit of the play is astonishingly great.
• “Death of a Salesman” Dramatic Tragedy by Arthur Miller The genre of dramatic tragedy is revealed comprehensively in the play “Death of a Salesman” written by Miller.
• Symbolism in “Death of a Salesman” Play by Arthur Miller The play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller is a story of a salesman, Willy, who is trapped by his daydreams.
• Miller’s Death of a Salesman: Thematic Analysis Death of a Salesman is a 1949 chef-d’oeuvre stage play by Arthur Miller, which addresses various issues that were affecting American society at the time.
• Willy & Linda: Family as a Theme in Death of a Salesman Miller creates contrasting characters of Willy and his wife Linda in order to depict and demonstrate different social and personal values typical for his age.
• American Reality vs. American Dream: Death of a Salesman Theme Analysis Arthur Miller dramatizes not only the disappointments of a little man in America but he focuses readers’ attention on the gap between the American dream and the American reality.
• The Character Study of Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Miller’s Death of a Salesman is iconic and representative since it takes place during a time of national catastrophe, the Great Depression.
• Material Success and Failure in Miller’s Play “Death of a Salesman” The impossibility of gaining material success in Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” is transmitted through a variety of symbols.
• “The Death of a Salesman” Film by John Malkovich John Malkovich’s film “The Death of a Salesman” is an adaptation of the 1949 play by Arthur Miller, which was also staged many times in the US, London, Berlin, and Bombay.
• Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman” This paper discusses the character of Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman” – one of the essential tragedies in American literature.
• The Comprehension of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman” This play is a perfect example of a typical story of people attempting to define their American Dream and follow it through the struggling, yet those attempts are not successful.
• “The Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller Overview Arthur Miller defies the American dream mythology in “The demise of a salesman.” He invented the salesman character for the audience to connect with him without a recognized product.
• Plot and Characters in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” In the play, “Death of a Salesman” Miller says that the latest boom in real estate is one of the testimonies of the success of the American businesses.
• Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”: The Theme of the Small Man in the Play In the Death of a Salesman, the author – Arthur Miller – uses characters, plot and structure, and dialogues to advance the theme of a small man and the ruination of his illusions.
• “Death of a Salesman”: The American Dream by Arthur Miller Even though many readers consider the American Dream as one of the core ideas in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, there is always a chance to find some new interpretation.
• Success in Death of a Salesman There are two types of people: those who do all they can to achieve some success, who work hard and at last achieve success.
• Symbolic Character in “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller demonstrates the struggle of a man in an attempt to reach success in life.
• Death of a Salesman: Book Review “The American Dream” is the highlight of this story. However, it can be learned from the story that the most meaningful way to achieving the American dream” is by climbing the ladder.
• Death of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Miller’s play Death of a Salesman depicts the American dream and the inability of a person to understand the meaning of life and family happiness.
• Women in Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman: Compare & Contrast Essay The leading females in Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman are submissive characters who are unable to avert the imminent tragedies of the dominant protagonists in both plays.
• Death of a Salesman: the Theme of a Small Man in a Big City This research paper is designed to analyze the literary work of Death of a Salesman from the point of view of a small man in the big city.
• Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and the American Dream The play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller is a prominent and well-known work with vivid and deep characters, and each of them had one’s own story.
• Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” by A. Miller “Death of a Salesman” is one of the brightest works of Arthur Miller, and the problems enlightened in it remain actual long after the work was first published.
• Seeing Inside Willy’s Head in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• The Loman Father and Sons in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Symbols and Journey Used in Ellison’s Book Invisible Man and Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• The Selfish Linda Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Hero, Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• The Dead End Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Sympathy for Willy Loman – Death of a Salesman
• Hardships, Family Relationships, Insanity and Death in Two Renowned Dramas Fences by Wilson and Death of a Salesman by Miller
• The Conflicted Linda Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Characters Willy and Biff Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Contrasting Biff and Bernard in Death of a Salesman
• American Values and Success in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Would Aristotle Label Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman as a Tragedy
• Comparing Willy Loman From Death of a Salesman and Joe Keller From All My Sons
• The Positive and Negative Personalities of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Seeking the American Dream Of Success as Presented in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• America’s Preoccupation With Materialism After World War II in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Comparing Light and Growth in a Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman
• Marxism and the Fall of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman
• The Crucible and Death of a Salesman: Search for Happiness
• Achieving the American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Chasing the American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Comparing Father and Child Relationships in Death of a Salesman
• Father and Son Relationship Between Willy and Biff Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Good Looking and Popularity in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Arthur Miller’s Play, Death of a Salesman: How Willy Loman Was Killed by Change
• Father and Son Willy and Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• How Women Are Portrayed in Death of a Salesman
• How Does Miller Use the Father-Son Relationships to Question the Values of 1940’s America in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• The Perfect Wrong Dreams in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Arthur Miller Based the Death of a Salesman in the Pursuit of the American Dream
• Structure, Themes, and Motifs in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• The Conflicted Linda Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman
• The Reality for Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• Willie Loman’s Corrupted View of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• Willy’s Tragic Flaw and the Effect It Has Upon His Sons-Death of a Salesman
• The Struggles Regarding Life Fulfillment Leading the Characters of “A Death of a Salesman” to Death
• The Secret Between Biff and Willy in Death of a Salesman, a Play by Arthur Miller
• Protagonists Looking for Happiness in “Death of a Salesman”
• Is “Death of a Salesman” a Tragedy According to Aristotle?
• Why Do Some Individuals Consider “Death of a Salesman” a Tragedy Instead of a Drama?
• What Kind of Play Is “Death of a Salesman” and Why?
• Why Is the Title “Death of a Salesman” Ironic?
• How Is the Conflict in “Death of a Salesman” Resolved?
• How Does “Death of a Salesman” Relate to the Real World?
• What Is the Significance of the Title “Death of a Salesman”?
• How Is Foreshadowing Used in “Death of a Salesman”?
• What Is the Main Conflict in “Death of a Salesman”?
• Does Modernity Play a Major Role in the Play “Death of a Salesman”?
• What Is the Moral Lesson of the Story “Death of a Salesman”?
• How Is the American Dream Represented in “Death of a Salesman”?
• What Was the Original Name of “Death of a Salesman”?
• Is “Death of a Salesman” Relevant Today?
• What Techniques Does Arthur Miller Use to Highlight the Conflict Between Past and Present in “Death of a Salesman”?
• Who Is the Tragic Villain in “Death of a Salesman”?
• How Is Language Used in “Death of a Salesman”?
• Is “Death of a Salesman” Realism or Expressionism?
• Who Are the Main Characters in “Death of a Salesman”?
• What Conventions Does Miller Use in “Death of a Salesman”?
• How Does “Death of a Salesman” Link to Tragedy?
• Are the Two Plays by Arthur Miller “The Crucible” and “Death of a Salesman” Similar?
• Why Is “Death of a Salesman” Considered a Social Drama?
• How Does Arthur Miller Define a Tragic Hero in “Death of a Salesman”?
• Who Is the Best Character in the Story “Death of a Salesman”?

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These essay examples and topics on Death of a Salesman were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 21, 2024 .

Death of a Salesman

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Discussion Questions

Arthur Miller’s narrative technique is critical in portraying both Willy’s mental state and his skewed perception of reality. When unable to face the current reality, Willy recreates his memories to help him come to terms with his current mental state and maintain his hopes for the future. How does the fluidity of time impact the audience’s understanding of the plot, character development, and the story’s main themes?

Despite Willy’s religious dedication to the American Dream, his longing for nature and life outdoors is heavily implied in his regret at not taking Ben’s offer to go to Alaska. It is clear that the Loman men long for the outdoors and are not suited to life in the business world. How does each of the Loman men respond to their natural inclination to the outdoors? Why does each Loman choose the paths that they do? What implications do these choices have on their lives?

The fractured relationships between the Loman fathers and sons significantly impact their lives. While Willy’s father abandons him, Willy himself betrays his family despite working to provide them with the American Dream’s idea of success. How do the choices of each father impact their sons’ interpretations of success? How do Willy and Biff perceive their respective fathers and why? 

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Plays — Death of a Salesman

Essays on Death of a Salesman

What makes a good death of a salesman essay topic.

When it comes to writing an essay on Arthur Miller's iconic play, Death of a Salesman , choosing the right topic is essential. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and allow for in-depth analysis. Here are some recommendations on how to brainstorm and choose a compelling essay topic:

• Consider the themes: Death of a Salesman explores various themes such as the American Dream, disillusionment, and the nature of success. When brainstorming essay topics, consider how these themes can be explored in depth.
• Character analysis: The play features complex characters such as Willy Loman and his son Biff. Choosing an essay topic that delves into the characters' motivations, conflicts, and development can lead to a rich and insightful analysis.
• Symbolism and imagery: Death of a Salesman is rich in symbolism and imagery. Look for essay topics that explore the significance of symbols such as the Loman house, the seeds, and the flute, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the play.
• Social and cultural context: Consider how the play reflects the social and cultural context of its time, and how these themes are still relevant today. Essay topics that explore the play's cultural impact and relevance can make for a compelling analysis.

Best Death of a Salesman Essay Topics

When it comes to choosing the best Death of a Salesman essay topics, it's important to think outside the box and choose topics that stand out. Here are 20 creative and thought-provoking essay topics to consider:

• The Illusion of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Hero: Willy Loman's Downfall
• The Role of Gender in Death of a Salesman
• The American Dream: Success or Failure in Death of a Salesman
• The Loman Family Dynamics: A Dysfunctional Portrait
• The Symbolism of the Loman House in Death of a Salesman
• The Disillusionment of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Flaw: Willy Loman's Fatal Mistakes
• The Portrayal of Friendship and Betrayal in Death of a Salesman
• The Relevance of Death of a Salesman in Today's Society
• The Disintegration of Willy Loman's Mental State
• The Significance of the Flute in Death of a Salesman
• The Role of Women in Death of a Salesman
• The Conflict Between Reality and Illusion in Death of a Salesman
• The Representation of Success and Failure in Death of a Salesman
• The Impact of Capitalism on the Characters in Death of a Salesman
• The Role of the American Dream in Shaping the Characters' Lives
• The Influence of Society on Willy Loman's Mental Health
• The Betrayal of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman
• The Tragic Nature of Willy Loman's Fate

Death of a Salesman Essay Topics Prompts

Looking for some creative prompts to kickstart your essay writing process? Here are 5 engaging prompts to inspire your Death of a Salesman essay:

• Imagine you are Willy Loman's therapist. Write a journal entry reflecting on his mental state and the factors contributing to his disillusionment.
• Choose a minor character in Death of a Salesman and analyze their significance in the play. How do they contribute to the overall themes and narrative?
• If you were to rewrite the ending of Death of a Salesman , how would you envision a different fate for Willy Loman and his family? What changes would you make to the characters' arcs?
• Explore the significance of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman and its portrayal as both a driving force and a destructive illusion. How does the play challenge traditional notions of success and happiness?
• Take on the perspective of Biff Loman and write a letter to his father, Willy, expressing his feelings of resentment, love, and the complexity of their relationship.

Choosing a compelling Death of a Salesman essay topic requires careful consideration of the play's themes, characters, and cultural context. By brainstorming thought-provoking topics and prompts, you can embark on a compelling and insightful analysis of Arthur Miller's timeless masterpiece.

Tragedy and The Common Man: an Exploration of The Human Experience

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Death of a Salesman - The Change of The American Dream

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The Changes of Willy Loman’s Character in Death of a Salesman

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February 10, 1949

Arthur Miller

Willy Loman, Linda Loman, Biff Loman, Happy Loman, Ben Loman, Bernard, Charley, The Woman, Howard

Mythic figures, the American West, Alaska, the African jungle,Seed, diamonds, Linda’s and The Woman’s stockings, the rubber hose

The American Dream, the anatomy of truth, and infidelity.

“Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!” “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.” “And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?” “You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away — a man is not a piece of fruit!”

The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949 and ran for 742 performances. The play has been adapted for cinema ten times. The play Death of a Salesman won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play.

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American Dream in Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Essay

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The play Death of a salesman is indeed an anatomy of the American dream especially because the plot of the story revolves around some of the basic material gains that individuals in the American society yearn for. This is evident from the onset of the play when the lead character Willy Loman arrives home after a failed work mission and immediately embarks on blaming some of his woes on his under-achieving son Biff.

From the flashback Willy is disappointed that Biff was a representation of a bright future when he was much younger but turned out completely different on growing up (Miller 1-3). This is definitely what happens to most families in the American society where individuals get into life hoping to have all the best in terms of material wealth as well as have families that would be the envy of most of their neighbors (G.Perkins, B. Perkins and Phelan 1928).

Fathers and mothers have dreams of how their children would be even more successful and they (the parents) tend to bend their children towards growing up in this direction which is sometime informed by the parents’ failure to achieve certain goals in their own childhoods. Unfortunately, in most cases, the children tend to have their own wishes and aims and in the process of trying to fulfill the desires of their hearts they end up disappointing their parents.

The rant by Willy about not taking the opportunity to accompany his brother on his mission to Alaska and Africa, and therefore missing on the chance to become as wealthy as Ben is a complete revelation of how individuals in the American society fail to appreciate the little blessings they have in their wish to have everything. This desire for all the best of things in the world is the guiding principle of the American dream and figuratively speaking it is the primary fuel that keeps the fire burning.

In society most people would not appreciate the fact that they are lucky to have three square meals a day and even the potential to bear children just because they can see other individuals living better than them. If the sons that Willy found a failure were to be taken out of his life by him not being given the ability for procreation, it is definitely predictable that Willy would start complaining about his inadequacy as a man.

It is Willy’s inability to attain most of his heart’s desires that leads him to committing suicide. His son, Biff, also responds to his own inability to achieving the American dream by resorting to theft. He regards his kleptomaniac state as a way of rebelling against the corporate world which he could not penetrate. In the American society, most individuals would resort to inappropriate ways of dealing with their frustrations and Biff’s case is not unusual.

The American dream leads individuals to always want appreciation from other people in society. Almost everybody would do anything to become popular and when they fail to do so, they enter into a realm of self-pity. This is evident by Linda’s disappointment at the small attendance of Willy’s funeral. Ideally Linda should be saddened by the loss of a life partner to notice such a small thing as they number of people at the funeral.

It should actually not matter whether it is only the direct family members who show up at the burial but as a person wishing to achieve significance in society, Linda’s hope is that her social network is big enough for people to appreciate her pain.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. Death of a salesman: A play in two acts. New York City: Dramatists Play Service, 1952. Print.

Perkins, George, Barbara Perkins & James Phelan. The American Tradition in Literature, Volume II. 2 nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.

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Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.

Death of a Salesman Material

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Death of a Salesman Essays

Shattered dream - the delusion of willy loman james lee, death of a salesman.

"The jagged edges of a shattered dream." Do you find that the play leaves you with such an impression?

Death of a Salesman tells the story of a man confronting failure in the success-driven society of America and shows the tragic trajectory which...

Perceptions of Self Worth and Prominence: Spaces and Settings in Death of a Salesman Lorin Veigas

A wise and possibly very cynical man once said "Nothing fails like success." Even if one is not familiar with Gerald Nachman, or the other rebel comedians of his time, we can all appreciate the clever irony in this quotation. In the complex and...

Sales and Dreams Alex Hoffer

In Arthur Miller's Play Death of a Salesman, the dreams of the major characters are the central focus of the plot. The Lomans, particularly Willy, struggle to realize their dreams while fearing that these goals are unreachable. Yet this fear is...

Musical Motifs Marleigh Russell

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a deceptively simple play. The simplicity of the play, however, quickly dissolves into a respectful ambiguity through Miller's ingenious stage directions, nonverbal expressions and, most importantly, his...

Death of A Salesman: Shifting of the American Dream Richard Salgado

From its very infancy, the American continent was often equated with boundless opportunity. In A Description of New England John Smith characterized the early colonies of 1616 as a land of economic potential, declaring that "If a man work but...

Death of a Salesman: Psychological Criticism and Deconstruction Anonymous

Arthur Miller's American masterpiece Death of a Salesman, first presented on the stage in New York City in 1949, represents a successful literary attempt at blending the themes of social and personal tragedy within the same dramatic framework. Yet...

Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' Exemplifies how Careful Attention to the Linguistic Features of a Play tell us all we need to know about Performance Kerri Margaret Scullion - Reid

A thorough analysis of the linguistic features of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1949) will illustrate how, for a conscientious reader, all we need to know about performance is supplied within the written text. Focusing on the dramatist's...

Society In The Crucible and Death of a Salesman Michael Brooks

Two plays by Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, both contend that society is the indifferent, sometimes brutal, force that crushes an individual. Although the plays take place in different time periods, they each convey the force...

Symbolism Portrayed Through Common Objects Karen Hill

In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses common objects as symbols of the evolving relationship between the main characters in his play. Women’s stockings and their holes symbolize the failing relationship between Willy Loman and his wife,...

House Versus Home in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman Anonymous

In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, both authors use their characters’ living space, the house, as a metaphor for the attainability of the American Dream of security, wealth, and...

Fetters of the Dream: Failure and Success in Death of a Salesman Yvette Whitaker College

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a story about the futility of self-deception, but it also examines the definition of "success" in post-WWII America and the danger of suppressing one's own inclinations to meet the expectations of others....

Biff's Self-Discovery in "Death of a Salesman" Sukayna Ibrahim 11th Grade

In Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman,” Willy Loman is an individual who strives to achieve the “American Dream” in the 1940’s. This era was characterized by America’s climb out of the Great Depression in addition to its recognition as a...

Sympathy for Willy Loman Anonymous 11th Grade

Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ is a domestic tragedy that centres around the dysfunctional Loman family, most notably Willy Loman, a failed salesman so captivated by the American Dream and his desire to be a good father that it ultimately...

Is Tragedy Possible in the Modern Society Depicted in Death of a Salesman? Anonymous College

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman can be measured against Aristotle’s notions of tragedy expressed in his Poetics , involving a fall caused by hamartia and hubris , and an eventual recognition and reversal of fortune, culminating in the audience...

The Redefinition of Tragedy in Death of a Salesman Anonymous College

The definition of a tragic character is something that has been considered set in since the times of ancient Greece. Aristotle’s Poetics defined what makes up a comedy and tragedy, and that definition has been widely accepted since then....

Emotional Intertextuality Between Death of a Salesman and The Kite Runner Haley Paige Parson 12th Grade

There are numerous similarities between Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. However, most of the similarities readers identify are only surface deep, and essentially superficial. Sure, readers know that both...

The Death of Dave Singleman: A Study of Contrasts Anonymous 11th Grade

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman actually makes reference to the deaths of two salesmen: protagonist Willy Loman and an admired yet never-seen character named Dave Singleman. It can be argued that the most obvious difference in the deaths of...

The Crucial Need for Feminism in a Patriarchal Society: Evaluating Death of a Salesman Sofia Gemma Corsetti 12th Grade

The issue of gender equality is a pressing topic in our modern society. Over the course of the past century, we have established human rights, racial rights, and even animal rights. So why is it that when a woman demands equality, she is looked at...

Forgetting Family, Finding Freedom Sarah Noor 12th Grade

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie capitalize on the theme of abandonment. In both plays, the protagonists experience abandonment and later desert their respective families; as a result, they illustrate...

Opposite Takes on the “American Dream” in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Kevin Andrew Fagan College

Money is one way to achieve one of the “American Dreams.” The “American Dream” is different for everyone and that dream for most people depends on how they were raised. There are many plays that critique the “American Dream” but only two will be...

The Use of Props in Master Harold... And the Boys and Death of a Salesman Noah David Perry 12th Grade

Playwrights, unlike the authors of novels and other forms of literature, employ the use of production elements and stage designs in the development of their works. These additional aspects present within the creation of theatre grant playwrights...

Capitalism as Masculine Identity in American Theater: Death of a Salesman and Glengarry Glen Ross Riley Stephen Meachem College

America has long prided itself on being a land of opportunity. Since the fifteenth century, pilgrims have flocked to American shores, urged onward by the thought of making money, off the rich lands and resources available here. As time has gone...

Father-Son Relationships in “Death of a Salesman” and “Fences” Anonymous College

In the drama Death of a Salesman, the conflict that arises from a failing paternal-son relationship is illustrated akin also to the play Fences. Both storylines follow middle-class households in the mid-20th century and the interactions between...

Fragile and Fantastic, Fake and Flawed: Two Conflicting Views of Willy Loman Sophia Nadler College

Arthur Miller’s 1949 play, Death of a Salesman, endures today because of its ability to effectively convey a complex family dynamic in the wake of its patriarch’s failed American dream. Themes of disappointment and denial, embellishment and skewed...