Death Of A Salesman Expository Essay
Danielle Altamuro
Ms. Coyle
Hnrs English 10, Period 8
3/31/14
Death of a Salesman Expository Essay Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. Every day, opportunities are present in the lives of society. However, it is society’s choice of whether or not to take these opportunities and run with them. Often, people resist change and avoid situations rather than taking advantage of new opportunities. The decision of evading circumstances could potentially lead to dissatisfaction, regret and unhappiness in the long run. Peter McWilliams states, “To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all.” According to this quote, not taking an opportunity that requires work instead of pulling through and facing the risks of making mistakes along the way is the greatest fault. Peter McWilliams’s quote is accurate and could be proven through the play, Death of a Salesman, and through opportunities not taken by slaves in order to escape during the 1800’s. There are various examples where the characters of Death of a Salesman are left sorrowful after rejecting exposed opportunities in their lives. Willy Loman, a salesman in the late 1940’s, is a character that sets high standards for himself and especially for his sons. He never realizes his personal failure nor can he fully understand his own self. In the midst of the inability to provide enough for his family through his career and attempting to maintain a relationship with his sons, Willy finds himself in an unhealthy mental state. Willy has had a profession as a traveling salesman for most of his adult life and he constantly discusses the missed opportunities he had in his past. One of the most prominent missed opportunities was when his brother, Ben, invited him on a journey to Alaska. Not going on this promising venture caused lifelong regrets for Willy. Not taking a risk and straying from the world of
Ms. Coyle
Hnrs English 10, Period 8
3/31/14
Death of a Salesman Expository Essay Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. Every day, opportunities are present in the lives of society. However, it is society’s choice of whether or not to take these opportunities and run with them. Often, people resist change and avoid situations rather than taking advantage of new opportunities. The decision of evading circumstances could potentially lead to dissatisfaction, regret and unhappiness in the long run. Peter McWilliams states, “To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all.” According to this quote, not taking an opportunity that requires work instead of pulling through and facing the risks of making mistakes along the way is the greatest fault. Peter McWilliams’s quote is accurate and could be proven through the play, Death of a Salesman, and through opportunities not taken by slaves in order to escape during the 1800’s. There are various examples where the characters of Death of a Salesman are left sorrowful after rejecting exposed opportunities in their lives. Willy Loman, a salesman in the late 1940’s, is a character that sets high standards for himself and especially for his sons. He never realizes his personal failure nor can he fully understand his own self. In the midst of the inability to provide enough for his family through his career and attempting to maintain a relationship with his sons, Willy finds himself in an unhealthy mental state. Willy has had a profession as a traveling salesman for most of his adult life and he constantly discusses the missed opportunities he had in his past. One of the most prominent missed opportunities was when his brother, Ben, invited him on a journey to Alaska. Not going on this promising venture caused lifelong regrets for Willy. Not taking a risk and straying from the world of