Character Analysis Of Death Of A Salesman - 755 Words

Arthur Miller begins his play with an excellent description of the setting of the play. This makes it easy for the reader to imagine themselves actually watching the play and causes the reader to be able to better relate to the play. Because Death of a Salesman can be considered an emotional play, it qualifies as being a timeless work of literature, especially because it has the ability to touch the human heart. Willy Loman is a salesman, who lives in New York City with his wife Linda. From the beginning of the play, Miller makes it obvious that Willy struggles with many obstacles, such as anger and even confusion since there are many times throughout the play where Willy becomes severely confused. Many characters throughout the play,†¦show more content†¦Ben, Willy’s older brother, believes that his American dream was that he started out with little, and ended up being very successful. It is ironic, because Ben brags that he came out of the African jungle a rich man, so he did not necessarily achieve the American dream, since his wealth began in Africa. Although Ben is not alive anymore, he frequently appears in Willy’s dream and can be considered as a symbol of the success that Willy desires. Another character who struggles with trying to pursue the American Dream is Happy, Willy’s youngest son. Happy possesses many of the same traits as Willy and lives the lie of the American Dream. Happy shows many signs of delusion, even believing that he is in a higher position in his store than he really is. Another character, Biff, the oldest son, also struggles with the idea of the American Dream. Biff’s main struggle throughout the play is between pleasing his father or pleasing himself. Willy wants Biff to inherit his world of sales, but Biff finds himself happier outdoors and is a farmhand. At the end of the day, Biff realizes that his happiness is more important than being rich and achieving the American dream. He returns to the farm where he makes less than $35 a week and does manual labor. Biff can also be considered a relatable character because he redefined his version of the American dream. This play is very relatable to its’ readersShow MoreRelatedDeath Of A Salesman Character Analysis1240 Words   |  5 PagesUndeniably charming, Death of a Salesman begins quickly, and immediately grabs a reader’s attention. A paragraph of stage directions sets a clear picture in the reader’s head, and then immediately transitions to develope the protagonist by revealing his wife’s thoughts. The setting is described in depth through the stage directions; Death of a Salesman takes place in Willy’s small, fragile home in Brooklyn. Willy, the protagonist, and Linda, his wife, are the first characters introduced. Their dialogueRead MoreDeath of a Salesman: Character Analysis of Willy882 Words   |  4 PagesDeath of a Salesman As a mentally unstable man, Willy has a very complex relationship with the people around him, which come a great deal from his own guilt and insecurity. His relationship with three of the characters strongly stands out from the others. These characters are his oldest son Biff, his only friend and neighbor Charley, and Biff’s childhood friend and Charley’s son Bernard. His relationship with Biff is tainted by the fact that Biff could never live up to his father’s expectationsRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Willy Loman In Death Of A Salesman838 Words   |  4 PagesWilly Loman from â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller is a tragic hero. A tragic hero is someone who has a judgement error and inevitably ends up destroying himself. Miller believes that the common man makes the best tragic hero as we want to be seen as a image and or not be thrown away. 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In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman’s character refutes Aristotle’s theory, as he is notorious for blinding himself from the truth which appears quite obvious to others around him. As a salesman throughout his life, Willy’s set his life’s goals on materialistic things and ultimately he does not achieve those goals. Distinctly opposite to Willy, Oedipus in the play Oedipus Rex enters life, as a nobleman who inherits his wealth. Although both characters experience a tragic collapse