Death of a Salesman
The business world is the most crucial stage in one's life. During this period, one may start to get a false impression on how to succeed, and how to be liked as well as accepted. Most people think that they will flourish if they emphasize their peripheral values. To an extent, that statement is true. Let's say two people are applying for a job, and they possess similar qualifications; the one that looks more presentable and good looking will land the job. In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, we can create a line that separates those who care more about their superficial values, and those who care more about their inner values. On the "superficial" end of the line, we find Howard and Willy. On the "true to themselves" end of the line, we find Linda. Howard represents the superficial business world, and Willy, the consequences of being a superficial person. However, we also learn that being true to one's self does not necessarily result in a happy life or future. Arthur Miller tries to warn us not to obliterate our good inner qualities in order to obtain better superficial values, with the usage of Howard, Willy and Linda.Howard definitely cares more about his exterior values rather than his interior values.
We can tell by his actions that he lacks respect for himself and cares only about what is best for him. He fired Willy, a dedicated worker for many years, in an instant. He could not care less about Willy's situation, and he lacks total sensitivity for him. He obliterated his inner qualities of guilt and sensitivity, in order to be rid of Willy and be liked better by his other younger employees. " I don't want you to represent us. I've been meaning to tell you for a long time now." (83). Howard was unkind to Willy, in that he told him, straight forward, to take a hike. "I 've got a line of people to see this morning. Go home, will ya? I need the office." (84). Howard did not even give Willy a chance to recover his composure, he basically kicked him out of the office. Howard appears to be almost cruel when firing Willy. It's funny that he got off so easily, Willy didn't even put up a fight, he just left. There doesn't seem to be any negative impact on Howard for firing Willy. It's ironic that Howard told Willy he had a false sense of pride, when in reality it was the opposite. The only reason Howard is so well off is because of his father's success. By using a character like Howard, Arthur Miller tried to demonstrate to us just how corrupt a person can become, when he destroys his inner qualities. He also tried to show us that one does not always get caught when obliterating one's inner qualities, sometimes one gets away with it. I know someone who is at that end of the line as well. I shall call this person Mr. X. In high school, there are two types of crowds, the cool kids and the non-cool kids. One day Mr. X realized he was able to fit in with the cool kids. He immediately dropped his old, non-cool friends like a bad habit. He lost total respect for himself, and I had no respect for him. His sudden "fame" was all because he dressed in the cooler clothes, and emphasized his superficial values. But, if, god forbid, those cool kids drop him one day, he'll be left with no one. Mr. X is the opposite of Linda. Howard, Linda and Willy, demonstrate to us, what superficial values can do. E
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Approximate Word count = 1417
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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