Paper Summary:

This paper explains that "Death of a Salesman" is about the American culture of "keeping up with the Joneses". The paper describes and analyzes the main characters in the play and explains how their values and beliefs they ascribe to help illustrate this element of American society.

From the Paper:

"Willy's boss, Howard, tells him, as he fires him, that he should surrender his "false pride" and ask his sons to help support him. In fact, Happy is doing well and could help him financially, although Biff could not, but Willy will have none of it. All Willy has left is his false pride, distorted beliefs that once he was a great salesman and that once he was popular. Taking money from Happy would force him to face that he has not been financially successful. But Willy has other indications that placing value on superficial traits has not paid off. He sees Bernard, who is now grown and financially very successful."

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