In the play "Death of a Salesman"� by Arthur Miller‚ reality and illusion is a major theme and source of conflict. Willy‚ main character of the play‚ has a hard time distinguish between reality and illusion. His flashbacks‚ mostly back to the time when Biff was still in his high school year‚ always overlap with the present days. He cannot see who he and his sons are. He believes his elder son‚ Biff‚ and his youngest son‚ Happy‚ are great and successful and cannot accept the fact that they are not
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especially sons‚ consider their fathers’ legacy as a legend and dream to follow fathers’ footsteps. A son’s future depends on the role of the father‚ and it is so important that their family’s faith depend on their relationship. Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” consists of endless father-son conflicts due to the fact that Willy‚ an oppressive father‚ has high‚ unattainable expectations for his son Biff; while he appears to have virtually no relationship with his youngest son‚ Happy. Willy refuses
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I. Description of Main Characters A. Willy Loman 1. Willy Loman is an aging salesman who has had to work hard for everything in his life. Throughout the story we are given a look into the skewed reality he has created for himself as the story progresses. Unlike other tragic heroes‚ Willy is unable to fully realize the situation he has been placed in. Even though he comes to a superficial understanding of himself and the sales profession‚ Willy is unable to see his own failure as
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The Expressionistic Devices in Death of a Salesman Musical Motifs From the opening flute notes to their final reprise‚ Miller’s musical themes express the competing influences in Willy Loman’s mind. Once established‚ the themes need only be sounded to evoke certain time frames‚ emotions‚ and values. The first sounds of the drama‚ the flute notes "small and fine‚" represent the grass‚ trees‚ and horizon - objects of Willy’s (and Biff’s) longing that are tellingly absent from the overshadowed
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Arthur Millers play “Death of a Salesman” is a well-recognized drama‚ yet it has been controversial due to the ethnicity of the actors performing it. Critic John Lahr believed that Millers play “Death of a Salesman” could not be preformed by black actors. This is a play with universal themes‚ such as the “American Dream”‚ but the American Dream was different for African Americans back then‚ than what it is today in modern society. In the Hard Sell “A black Death of a Salesman” August Wilson argues
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Flutes The flute music is a symbol supporting the meaning of the play. Flutes are playing during play’s opening and also at its closing during the scene at Willy’s grave‚ so the sound of the flute encompasses the entire drama. The symbolic use of flute music becomes more important when it is revealed that Willy’s father used to make and sell flutes. Ben Half way through the first act‚ the reader hears something about Willy’s brother Ben. Willy wishes that he had gone to Alaska with his brother
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Death of a Salesman Symbolism Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a play full of symbolism and themes that are intertwined with one another throughout the entire play. Most of these symbols are either symbolizing something that cannot be had‚ or something that is wanted but simply cannot be reached. The three symbols particularly used in this play are diamonds‚ seeds‚ and Linda ’s stockings‚ all of which are either not obtained or simply used to leave a legacy. The symbolism of diamonds
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Be the change you wish to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi). In the novel "Such is my Beloved" by Morley Callaghan Father Dowling’s guilt later leads to the failure between both the prostitutes‚ Midge and Ronnie‚ and also Father himself. Due to each of the charactors‚ Midge‚ Ronnie and Father Dowling they each have life changing moments due to each others influences. Father Dowling starts off by being emotionally attached to the girls‚ but later it is evident that the two girls change him to
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Realism Realism is defined as an attempt to reproduce faithfully the surface appearance of life. "Death of a Salesman" can be termed as a realistic play in many ways. The play has characteristics of an everyday-life situation. "Death of a Salesman" is almost equivalent to some families‚ in the way of Willy and Biffs disagreement on certain ideas. Willy is upset with Biff because he has not settled down and found a good job. As Happy and Biff are in the bed talking‚ Biff tells Happy‚ "I tell
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Conflict in Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” In “Death of a Salesman‚” Arthur Miller’s use of conflict develops the setting and secures the interest and attention of the reader. Conflict achieves the intrigue needed to hold the audience’s attention to allow the author to express the significance of the story. Miller uses his main character‚ Willy Lowman‚ to analyze the conflict of the American Dream versus happiness through material wealth. The conflicts of illusions versus reality‚ individual
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