Death of a Salesman

A detailed Summary of Death of a Salesman


Death of a Salesman is play that portrays a quest for an American dream. Miller shows this through Willy Loman, he represents the primary target of this dream. Willy is like most milled class workingmen, he struggles to make himself a huge financial success, provide financial security for his family, and to be well liked to make it big.

After many years of working as a traveling salesman Willy only has an old car, an empty house and a defeated spirit. "Gee whiz! That's really somethin'. I'm gonna knock Howard for a look, kid. I'll get an advance, and I'll come home with a New York job. Goddamit, now I'm gonna do it." (55) A contradictory role is given to the wife, Linda, who is the family's financial manager. "Well there's nine-sixty for the washing machine. And for the vacuum cleaner there's three and a half due on the fifteenth. Then the roof, y


Willy's illusions do not fit his reality. The reader can realize at the end of the play he was in the wrong profession for his American dream. Willy liked to work with his hands but did not believe it would make it big. "WILLY: Did you see the ceiling I put up in the living room? CHARLEY: Yeah, that's a piece of work. To put up a ceiling is a mystery to me..." (30) Miller adds in little hints of him working with his hands. Even at the end of the play Willy is gardening before he commits suicide.

Willy falsely believes he needs nothing more than to be well like to make it big. He tells his kids how well liked he is in certain towns and how well appreciated he is with is job. "...I am known! Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey- I am known, Ben, and he'll see it with his eyes once and for all..."(100) But unfortunately Willy ends up in a paradox of bei

Some common words found in the essay are:
Goddamit I'm, Willy Loman, Jersey- Ben, CHARLEY Yeah, Death Salesman, provide financial security, provide financial, i'm gonna, financial success, financial security, commits suicide, dream willy, american dream,

Approximate Word count = 577
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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