“In order to achieve personal fulfilment sacrifices have to be made.” How have the contexts of the composers of “Death of a Salesman” and “American Beauty” shaped their representations of sacrifice? Personal fulfilment must be achieved through sacrifices‚ however sacrifices do not always promise the achievement of a dream. Personal fulfilment is a desire‚ often thought of a better life‚ and these cannot be achieved unless certain things are given up. These sacrifices are compared to what you have
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Death of a Salesman‚ Miller’s most famous work‚ addresses the painful conflicts within one family‚ but it also tackles larger issues regarding American national values. The play examines the cost of blind faith in the American Dream. In this respect‚ it offers a postwar American reading of personal tragedy in the tradition of Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle. Miller charges America with selling a false myth constructed around a capitalist materialism nurtured by the postwar economy‚ a materialism that obscured
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determined belief that in America‚ all things are possible to all men‚ regardless of birth or wealth; if you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However‚ Miller believes that people have been “ultimately misguided” and Miller’s play‚ “Death of a Salesman”‚ is a moving destruction of the whole myth. The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants‚ most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better
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In the Novel Death of a Salesman‚ the Character Willy has a character that foils him in the story. This character is his brother Ben. By definition a foil‚ in the literary sense of the word‚ is a person that gives contrast to another person. In this case Ben is the perfect foil for Willy. Willy represents the common man. He feels that he must be a good provider for his family. Willy also fights for his sons’ approval. He wants to see himself as a great salesman and a great provider. The problem he
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The American Dream in the Death of A Salesman is very evident. He has this idea of how his life should be and he will do anything to succeed at this dream. Just like the Death of a salesman the Death of a traveling salesman has a dream to. Their dreams are pretty similar in the way that they strive to be good salesman. In Death of Salesman he shows his American dream from the beginning. He has this idea of how he should be and how people should view him as a salesman. The whole time he is expressing
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How closely can one compare the real world today with the idea of the ‘american dream’ in “Death of a Salesman”? The American Dream for most people is all about money‚ a family‚ and a steady good paying job. For others‚ it is just about them and their own satisfaction. In Death of a Salesman‚ a story written by Arthur Miller‚ there are literary elements that describe social issues. However‚ they do not only apply to the story‚ but also to society today. The american dream presents success as something
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In the words of Mitch Albom‚ “Some parents smudge‚ others crack‚ and a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces beyond repair.” In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman‚ he examines the extent to which parents can create conflict in a child’s life. Willy’s affair‚ misguided upbringing of his children‚ and delusions create a strained relationship with Biff. Willy’s outward indifference toward Biff’s discovery of his affair initiates Biff’s discontent with his father. When
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LINDA: I don’t think he fell asleep. HAPPY: No kidding! LINDA: I know and sure enough‚ on the bottom of the water heater there’s a new little nipple on the gas pipe. HAPPY:(angrily) That — jerk. BIFF: Did you have it taken off? LINDA: Every day I go down and take away that little rubber pipe. But‚ when he comes home‚ I put it back where it was. How can I insult him that way? I don’t know what to do. (She is bent over in the chair‚ weeping‚ her face in her hands.) Biff‚ I swear to God! Biff
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DEATH OF A SALESMAN Study Guide for Teachers World-Class Theatre in the Heart of Vermont 703 Main Stre e t ‚ W eston‚ V T 05161 www.westonplayhouse.o rg The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company The 2010 WPTC Teacher’s Workshop and the School Matinee and Touring Production is made possible in part by grants from: The Bay and Paul Foundations Mountain Room Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The Shubert Foundation The Vermont Country Store and The Orton Family Vermont Humanities Council
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Death of a Salesman Final Essay In Death of a Salesman‚ by Arthur Miller‚ the main tragic character‚ Willy‚ misses accomplishing his joy of being popular and well known because he’s blinded to reality by his obsession over how well liked one is. In On Joy in Tragedy‚ Arthur miller states "tragedy occurs when a man misses accomplishing his joy". He defines tragedy as a situation in which something good could’ve happened to an ordinary person‚ but because of their failure to take advantage of it
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