Maturation in "Death of a Salesman"

English > Analysis
Literature > American

Examines the character, Biff's maturation from material values to spiritual values in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman".

875 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", Willy Loman causes his son Biff to go through the three stages of an initiation and to learn that a person's worth is not based on material values but on spiritual values. This paper presents a brief analysis of Biff's maturation.

From the Paper:

"Finally, in the third and final stage of Biff's initiation, Willy causes Biff to become enlightened. Biff looks up and sees "the sky" and asks himself, "what the hell am I grabbing this [pen] for? Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself . . . ?" (1943). He understands that Willy's teachings and set of values will not work because he has tested them and they all fail. He realizes that he and Willy are both "a dime a dozen," that he is not "a leader of men," and that he is regu-lar and that is alright (1943-1944). He says, "I'm nothing!" and breaks down and cries to Willy (1944)."

More papers on Maturation in "Death of a Salesman":

View more related papers »

Cite this paper

APA Citation:

Maturation in "Death of a Salesman" (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 13, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Analytical-Essay-Maturation-in-Death-of-a-Salesman/60398

MLA Citation:

"Maturation in "Death of a Salesman"" 15 January 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Analytical-Essay-Maturation-in-Death-of-a-Salesman/60398>