The Consequences In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

The use of literary devices helps readers to further develop deeper knowledge and understanding of the text and who the text revolves around. Every aspect of a piece of literature relies on other aspects within to create a complexity and relatability that an author wants to achieve. The same can be said for situations outside of literature: in the lives of people. The morals and values of an individual influence the actions he takes. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Miller utilizes flashbacks, symbols, and characterization to show that Willy and Biff’s morality is represented by actions of lies, hypocrisy, and succumbing to society. The flashbacks in Death of a Salesman create a buffer between Willy's past and present actions as well as how his morals evolve and influence those actions. Willy does not know his father, and consequently, he has never had a strong male figure in his life. Willy’s flashbacks with Ben show that Ben is a family member that Willy views as a role model. Even though Willy does not know Ben well, He knows that Ben is successful. This causes Willy to value his actions, and want to implement them into his own life. All he knows about Ben’s success is that he walked into the jungle, and walked
Both Willy and Biff’s actions of lying hypocrisy, and succumbing to society provide the readers with a better understanding of the values each hold, and why success has been so unattainable. Willy's morals feed off of societal pressures because he feels the need to make himself in the image of society. Many of Biff's morals stem from the example his father leads in his life, as well as expectations that have been placed on him. The literary elements Miller uses throughout the drama show the progression of these morals and the actions that are taken as the consequence of that morality or lack