"Death of a Salesman"

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the characters and the main theme of Miller's play. The author explains that the salesman's lot is to deal with rejection. A good salesman can deal with a customer not liking a fabric, that is to be expected. But, having to give up a salary to work only on commission, having the best portion of his territory given to a younger person, realizing that he can't carry his weight any more, that is the real death of a salesman. The paper reflects that a tragedy is made out of an ordinary man's life.

From the Paper:

"And yet there is no resolution, as Biff shouts out that he knows his Father is a fake, "and he doesn't like anybody around who knows." (p. 444) To which his mother gently and sadly and calmly replies: "He's dying", and tells about Willy trying deliberately to smash into the guard rail of that bridge and the other accidents that were not accidents. And we know from the way she says this in her matter-of-fact way, that his death is now preordained, and that she has accepted it as much as any wife of more than 35 years can accept getting older, and weaker, and the mind and reflexes going, and the memories of a life that was never happy. Perhaps that was why they nick-named their youngest Happy. To create something happy in that dreary home with the husband gone so frequently."

More papers on "Death of a Salesman":

• Analytical Essay # 59181 : "Death of a Salesman"
• Analytical Essay # 120692 : "Is "Death of a Salesman" a Tragedy?"
• Analytical Essay # 125007 : "Biff and Happy in "Death of a Salesman"
• Analytical Essay # 63384 : "Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: