Death Of A Salesman Individualism Essay

Arthur Miller’s classic screenplay Death of a Salesman, tells the life of the Loman family through a complex and anachronistic story that reveals the family member’s struggles with individualism and purpose. The protagonist of the story, an aging salesman named Willy Loman, has grown delusional after years of personal financial stagnation. As a younger salesman, Willy claims that he possessed talent and had many connections throughout New England, but in his old age his network of friendships has disappeared and his sales have dwindled down to nothing. When confronted by his son Biff and told that capitalism has consumed him and made him one of many, Willy quickly reaffirms his individualism: “I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman” (Miller 210 iBook). Although correct that he remains distinct from his coworkers, Willy fails to realize that the world he works in does not care about his name. Willy has spent his whole life as a subservient, and he has never gotten the opportunity to give
As Willy’s own personal identity begins to fall apart before his very eyes, he attempts to attach parts of himself to his son, but Biff rejects Willy’s flawed, materialistic dreams. Biff craves simplicity, and there is nothing that he hates more than the world of business that devoured his father and threatens to eat Biff himself whole. Willy’s insecurity about his own failures in life and his inability to ever become his own unique person leads to him living vicariously through his son and entering a downward spiral that culminates in his suicide. Willy’s plight reflects the life of the average man who comes and goes without ever truly making a difference, and his delusions that his actions will better his family make the loss of personal identity he experiences so devastating and