Introduction
In this play of “Death of a salesman,” I will argue how Loman explored the American dream and all he thought reflected the attitude of the true life and dream of the middle class and other common people of America.
Believe it or not, the beauty of life lies in commitment, honesty, true and simple living, integrity of character, and adherence to moral values. What matters ultimately in life is how honest one is to oneself. It hardly makes any difference how others perceive you or how you are to others. If one is true and honest to oneself in a true sense, everything falls in place with a passage of time. It is important to remember this fact that the way one thinks and behaves, is permanent, and the way others see or think anyone is, is temporary. So, time is ripe to change one’s attitude and approach towards life and try to believe in oneself, persevere in life, and attain success and character with one’s ability, thought process, and performance. And, there is no point thinking about past and planning about a prospective future if one does not do anything in the present time. In this background of this bitter facts of life, the play, “Death of a salesman” written by Arthur Miller, deals with the multiple and deep layers of life and reflects a moot question for all of us to learn in life.
Body
In this play, the action takes place in Willy Loman’s house and yard. In addition, some of other places are his place of visits in the present New York and Boston. In order to understand the nuances of this play, it becomes imperative to analyse all its elements pragmatically and effectively. In the post-war era in America, the American dream was plagued by the anxieties of middle-class who believed in materialism, false display of life, and snobbery. They attached so much value on baseless values of material success. Further, it deals with the experience of social disintegration of a family who not only failed in business as a businessman but also failed in family life as a father and husband. Some of quotes that display the darkness that engulfed his life are presented here:
a) LINDA: Don’t you feel well?
WILLY: I’m tired to the death. (The flute has faded away. He sits on the bed beside her, a little numb.) I couldn’t make it. I just couldn’t make it, Linda. (Page number 5)
b) WILLY: I’ll start out in the morning. Maybe I’ll feel better in the morning. (She is taking off his shoes.) These goddam arch supports are killing me.
LINDA: Willy, dear. Talk to them again. There’s no reason why you can’t work in New York. (Page number 6)
c) WILLY: They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England. (Page number 6)
d) WILLY: 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. Remember those two beautiful elm trees out there? When I and Biff hung the swing between them? (Page number 8)
e) WILLY: That’s just what I mean. Bernard can get the best marks in school, y’ understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y’ understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That’s why I thank Almighty God you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want. You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. Willy Loman is here! That’s all they have to know, and I go right through. (Page number 21)
In the context of these texts, I would like to discuss some of the elements, are:
a) Understanding the background of author and context of the play
b) Interpreting the genre and plot summary of the play
c) Leaning lessons in life through the central theme of the play
So, it makes good sense to deal with these components of the play systematically.
Background of Author and contemporary Context
Arthur Miller was born in New York City in 1915 in a middle class family of manufacturer and a teacher. He was an average student who had an unflinching faith in the values of dedication and commitment towards life. Later, he was a successful businessman when everybody liked him and things went the way he expected. He had a happy and prosperous family. But, when the rainy days of his life started, no one was there with him. He feels humiliated and rejected and thinks himself as a refugee in his own homeland. So, he feels that a man should be always be afraid of time and tide. Because, no one knows as to when the time will change and one can turn from rag to riches and riches to rags. So, he was the victim of circumstances and consequences of life. Another thing that mattered in life was inherent context of the time he was born and the difficulties of life he encountered himself socially and economically. He was just 5 year old when the First World War ended. Consequently, the after-effects of the war created a great influence on him and the others. So, it was the influence of time that groomed him to struggle in life and move forward to face the challenge of life boldly and efficiently. Further, the writer was moved also by seeing the pathetic condition of the common people who really struggled to sustain their life during the time of Economic Depression. The existing socio-economic condition of that time taught Miller a great lesson in life, forced him to work at an automobile parts factory, and save money to acquire academic degrees in school and college. The duration from 1920 to 1950 was the prime age of his life that saw major events at the national and international levels. These were:
a) Degradation of Socio-economic condition in the aftermath of the First World War
b) Political turbulence and disharmony among the people and nations of the world
c) Lack of atmosphere for world peace and existence of torn relations
d) Prevalence of Cold war and Economic Depression
e) Onset of the Second World War in 1939 and its aftermath
f) Socio-economic, political, and economic transformation at the regional and international levels after the end of Second World War
During this time, his personal struggles in life, and the social, economic, and political conditions of that time created a thick layers of emotional attachment and cohesion towards the common people of the USA and the world in general. Therefore, these backgrounds groomed him in such a way to make him a renowned American playwright, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, short story writer, nonfiction writer, travel writer, children's writer, and autobiographer. Ultimately, he succeeded in presenting a historic play - Death of a Salesman – in 1949, created ripples in the minds of people nationally and internationally, and became one of the pioneering writers for drama and theatre that America has produced in the 20th century.
His gamut of criticisms covers all areas of life. Some of the prominent points that he strongly wanted to address and convey to the people through this novel are provoking and heart-touching. All his philosophy of life deals with basic attitude and problems of people. In order to visualize the nuances of this novel, some of the dominant points that vehemently criticized, are treating people based on the socio-economic condition and designation and considering a person a fool if he or she does not get something in life. It also shows something to others what one is not, and getting trapped in a vicious cycle of snobbery and false display of status. Further, there is display of false social values - consumerism, ambition, social stature. In addition, some elements are about ignoring the comforts of personal relationships, family and friends, and love. Furthermore, they believe in the success formula of being good to others and get liked, not in possessing knowledge, working hard and leading a simple but honesty life. And, they pretend to be an important, respected, and successful person in life to win the love and respect of one’s family
Genre
This play is a drama that revolves around the predicament and tribulation of the life of a Loman family who are victims of the circumstances caused not only by the external forces but also by their untrue approach towards life.
BIFF: You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! (Overcome, he turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. Willy is left on the floor on his knees.)
WILLY: I gave you an order! Biff, come back here or I’ll beat you!
Come back here! I’ll whip you! (Page number 89)
Ultimately, the play ends in a tragedy where the protagonist commits suicides, thereby causing pain and anguish to himself and the entire family.
WILLY: Then hang yourself! For spite, hang yourself!
BIFF: No! Nobody’s hanging himself, Willy! I ran down eleven flights with a pen in my hand today. And suddenly I stopped, you hear me? And in the middle of that office building, do you hear this? I stopped in the middle of that building and I saw — the sky. I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? 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! Why can’t I say that, Willy? (He tries to make Willy face him, but Willy pulls away and moves to the left.)
WILLY (with hatred, threateningly): The door of your life is wide open!
BIFF: Pop! I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you! (Page number 95)
The basic ingredients of theme are the result of showing something in life to others what one is not. Further, it deal with a situation where a misguided person sails his journey of life and endeavour to accomplish something that he thinks is the right thing, But, ironically it is the same temperament, which is based on false display and unethical practices, that breeds pain and anguish to himself and everyone around him. This play is a drama that demands to be performed and spoken by actors in front of a live audience. In addition, it offers a thick layer of creamy dishes of mental and moral degradation of a family values, social values, and economic conditions. Finally, it ends on tragic note and opens the eyes of the common masses about the root values of life.
But, the tragic end of a salesman gives every reason to believe that it is a tragedy which a lot of differences from the ancient Greek version of the genre. The basic difference is that the protagonist, Willy Loman, is a middle class person who is a salesman, not a king or a warrior. Because the ancient Greek version of tragedy demonstrates the elements of chorus as well as fights, battles, conspiracy and finally the death of a king or warrior. But, this is not the case with this play where there is neither a presence of chorus nor the death of the prominent king or warriors. The subject matter of this play displays the sorrow and tragedy of the common man and tries to prove that an average everyday guy is just as worthy of dramatization as those of a king or a valiant warrior.
Plot Summary
There are four prominent characters, Willy Loman, Linda Loman, Biff Loman, and Happy Loman, and all of them are from the same family that has the relationship of father, mother, elder son and younger son respectively. In this play, the father - Willy Loman , is a protagonist who is a sixty two-year-old travelling salesman, and faces trouble in his life. He finds it difficult to keep pace with the modern changes and strike a balance between work and life. Further, he always drifts back and forth between reality and memory, thereby ignoring the significance of the present time. Such a temperament affects his performance professional life and he gets demoted as a commission salesman. As a result, he is not faithful to his wife, Linda Loman, can teach true ways of leading life to his both sons, Biff Loman and Happy Loman. He becomes the victim of his own misdeeds and dishonest life by teaching wrong things to his sons. He never sets an example to his employers and family members with his action, competence and performance but he expects everyone to do what he think is right and acceptable. There is an environment of arguments, blame game, fights, and differences among all the members of the family. Such a scenario has given room to the tension in the family and a sense of frustration prevails everywhere and always. Finally, the protagonist, Willy, begins to seek reasons for his present state of being and tries to find answers for his predicament of his problems and struggles in life. But, he fails to bring about the fundamental change in his approach towards life and invites problems to come in his life and disturbs his mental state of life. Consequently, he finds darkness engulfing him and problems cornering him in a vice-like grip. Furthermore, he finds that all the roads for finding solutions to problems are blocked and there is no ray of hope to succeed in life. This makes him realize that he is a failure and worthless in this world and he has wasted his life. But, he wants to give materialistic happiness to his sons as they are also jobless and broken-heart. In the end, he sacrifices his life in the hope of giving happiness, peace and prosperity to his family members by committing suicide. By this way, he wants to prove and show to his sons that his wasn't useless and completely wasted as, after his death, there is a possibility of getting the insurance money to make his sons. He further thinks that his solemn sacrifice for their well-being will force them consider their father a hero, and appreciate the sacrifice that he made for his sons. But, his final sacrifice doesn't work out that way and the insurance company doesn't cover suicide. So, the plan of grand funeral fails and only Willy's family and their two neighbours attend the final rites of funeral. Therefore, the legacy of Willy is a case of a broken man, whose life had become an utter failure in all walks of life.
Central Theme
In order to visualize the nuances of this play, it reflects a broad and rational lesson for all of us to learn and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous, and purposeful life. The themes conveyed through the tragedy of a salesman touch the life of not only the people of the USA but also the entire world. Some of significant and educative lessons everyone can learn from this play, are:
a) Treat all the people in an unbiased manner without any discrimination on the basis of region, language, economic condition, status and designation.
b) Never show something to others what you are not, be honest to yourself, and respect the truth and honesty in life.
c) Display true social values ambition and social stature in life.
d) Never ignore the comforts of personal relationships, family and friends, and respect love and mutual understanding.
e) Never attach too much importance to money and lead a rat race for earning more.
f) Never teach anyone with words and sounds but with actions and behaviours.
g) Take accountability and honour in respecting the sentiments of family and society, and never inculcate a habit of blaming others.
h) Try to correct yourself first and never find faults in others.
i) Never be blind to one’s inability, see the reality, and ignore the fantasy.
j) Love yourself and be good to yourself so that you can love and be good others.
k) Believe in possessing knowledge and competence, working hard, and leading a simple but honesty life
l) Neither be snobbish in life nor pretend to be an important, respected, and successful person in life to win the love and respect of one’s family
Conclusion
In the light of the aforesaid facts and analysis of this play, it gives us an educative message as to what life is, how we should lead a life, why we make mistakes in life, how we can overcome these mistakes, and many more. The predicament of “Willy” is the true reflection of the predicament that all of us encounter. This message is not just limited to the people of the USA but has a universal significance and relevance in human life. Therefore, time has come for us to learn positive elements of this play in a rational manner, remove anxieties and depression of life caused by this materialistic, consumeristic, capitalistic world, and make our life happy, progressive, honest, and prosperous in a true sense. Such an approach will go a long way to serve the purpose and inner motive of the writer and the play “Death of a salesman.”
Works Cited
"Miller, Arthur." Biographical Dictionary. New York: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd., 1997.
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem. New York: Penguin Books, 1998.
http://www.homework-online.com/doas/index.html
http://summarycentral.tripod.com/deathofasalesman.htm
