Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller

In reference to his characters, Arthur Miller once made the following statement: “He’s not the finest character that ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid,” (Brainyquote para. 3). Arthur Miller typically uses events to create the situations, lives, and history for his characters. That is because he utilizes realism in many of his famous works, such as Death of a Salesman and Broken Glass . As a matter of fact, Miller did not create a large number of works involving upper class or “fancy” things. He created stories that portrayed characters who were not perfect, who had pain and sorrow in their lives. In other words, they were not fake; they were as real as any living person.
The underlying subject of this story seems to be the questioning of the American dream, something so many Americans found a new reason to chase after World War II. This piece captures the emotions of the time period and embodies them into characters that all audiences can sympathize with. The story begins with the main character Willy Loman returning home from a business trip. It is revealed that he has trouble remembering events and distinguishing the past from the present, filling his life with a combination of a hopeful past and brutal reality. This describes the attitude of many Americans at the time; so eager to pursue that American dream, but well aware and cautious of events like the Great Depression that occurred just a decade before. In a specific scene, when Willy is discussing with his wife how passersby ignore him, he begins to compare his life to the lives of other men. “Other men - I don’t know - they do it easier. I don’t know why - I can’t stop myself - I talk too much. A man oughta come in with a few words,” (Miller 23). In this scene, Willy represents so many American men of that time period. How could a man have a decent job and a great family but still be unhappy? What regrets could a man with that life possibly have? All of these questions and more are answered in Death of a Salesman, providing a sense of
The major dream of that time was to raise a family, get a high paying job, and to move on from the thought of war. It was a time of happiness and celebration, yet eventually these emotions devolved into an emptiness, leaving so many people wondering what to do next with their lives. They all thought making a large salary was great, but the feeling of inferiority to others and working long hours without recognition was bound to take a toll eventually. Arthur Miller’s work in this case brought attention to a secret sense of insecurity so many men had been hiding for so long. Needs were evolving from simply getting a job and house, and people actually expected to achieve happiness in all aspects of life. Miller exposed this with his writing, and in doing so changed the perspective on life for so many people, not just men. Death of a Salesman reveals that it is okay to regret decisions and to relive old memories, but not to dwell on them. Where the past and present may be filled with hard times, despairs and regrets, the future is untold and can be influenced by any common man, no matter how