Symbols In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
Symbols in Death of a Salesman
Katerina Yanova
Death of a Salesman is a tragedy about the failures and shortcomings of the American Dream. It follows the last days of an old and failing salesman, and slowly exposes his dysfunctional relationship with his family, his many unfulfilled dreams, and his progressive mental deterioration, which eventually leads to his suicide. Death of a Salesman was written by Arthur Miller, a prominent American playwright. In the play, he criticizes the blind pursuit of the American dream, and to a certain extent, capitalism.
The symbols in this play: the seeds, rubber hose, diamonds, and stockings, show Willy Loman’s plentiful failures, and, through him, mirror the fallacy of the American Dream.
The seeds, which Willy attempts to plant on the eve of his death, seem to represent new hope for his family without him. The fact that the seeds have never been able to grow there before also parallels his never being able to have a good relationship with his family, as well as his constant struggle as a salesman to provide for his family. The seeds, Willy being the ground, and Biff being the seeds, also symbolize his relationship with his son Biff, nothing will ever come from …show more content…
They are, to Willy, somewhat a manifestation of prosperity and wealth, and, to a point, a way of leaving something behind for his family, especially his sons. Willy’s failure to join Ben on his business ventures in Alaska that eventually result in Ben becoming extremely wealthy further exemplifies his failure to become a successful salesman and achieve the illusive American Dream. Furthermore, just before Willy kills himself, his delirious mind sees Ben, telling him “The jungle is dark, but full of diamonds.” spurring him on to claim the ever elusive diamond, that is, his life insurance after he kills himself, giving his life some small hint of
Katerina Yanova
Death of a Salesman is a tragedy about the failures and shortcomings of the American Dream. It follows the last days of an old and failing salesman, and slowly exposes his dysfunctional relationship with his family, his many unfulfilled dreams, and his progressive mental deterioration, which eventually leads to his suicide. Death of a Salesman was written by Arthur Miller, a prominent American playwright. In the play, he criticizes the blind pursuit of the American dream, and to a certain extent, capitalism.
The symbols in this play: the seeds, rubber hose, diamonds, and stockings, show Willy Loman’s plentiful failures, and, through him, mirror the fallacy of the American Dream.
The seeds, which Willy attempts to plant on the eve of his death, seem to represent new hope for his family without him. The fact that the seeds have never been able to grow there before also parallels his never being able to have a good relationship with his family, as well as his constant struggle as a salesman to provide for his family. The seeds, Willy being the ground, and Biff being the seeds, also symbolize his relationship with his son Biff, nothing will ever come from …show more content…
They are, to Willy, somewhat a manifestation of prosperity and wealth, and, to a point, a way of leaving something behind for his family, especially his sons. Willy’s failure to join Ben on his business ventures in Alaska that eventually result in Ben becoming extremely wealthy further exemplifies his failure to become a successful salesman and achieve the illusive American Dream. Furthermore, just before Willy kills himself, his delirious mind sees Ben, telling him “The jungle is dark, but full of diamonds.” spurring him on to claim the ever elusive diamond, that is, his life insurance after he kills himself, giving his life some small hint of