Literary Analysis on Death of a Salesman Essay

In wipeout of a Sales adult male by Arthur Miller, the conflict between a engender and intelligence shapes the overall meaning of the work and explains all of the adverse scourts that occur throughout. The sources of Willy and Biffs conflicts, which include Biffs delusional perception of the world as a result of ideas pose in him by his pose, Biffs find of his fathers affair, and Biffs overleap of billet success all accumulate and result in the ultimate rivalry between the father and son. Altogether, these contribute greatly to the formation of the concept that personal dreams and desire to achieve success can practically negatively interfere with personal family relationships, and causing people to loose sight of what is important in our lives, as Willy and Biff exemplify. end-to-end the play, there are flashbacks to Biffs childhood as a prosperous athlete and motivated individual. Willys pride in his sons accomplishments is apparent, as he continuously praises him sayi ng, Good work Biff (1561), yet Willys neglect of acceptance of earthly concern are as well. Frequently Bernard, a studious young boy, appears and reminds Willy of Biffs unsatisfactory grades, yet Willy refuses to recognize these downfalls and does not accept the reality of his sons situation. Willy tho tells Bernard, Dont be a pest, Bernard What an anaemic (1560), and dismisses the negative statements made about Biff. Bernard constantly reappears almost as a symbol of Biffs conscience, telling him to study or else he entrust not graduate. Willy does not help the situation and solely combats Bernards feats by filling Biffs head with lies and selling him on the idea of the American Dream as something that is easily achieved, by giving simple advice such as, Be liked and you will neer want (1561).It is apparent that Willy weighs the importance of being well-liked and socially accepted more heavily than essential hard work and success, a negative reflection of his character. Wi lly preaches his philosophy that, the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead (1561). This is purely ironic due to the fact that Willy is the man who creates a personal interest in the business world with men of high status, but when all of his friends bechance away he is left with nothing but a glorified past to remember. This false reality that Willy paints for Biff fosters the conflict between father andson due to the fact that Biff fails as a result of the way he was raised. Biff follows his fathers ways and words, and by the time he takes his first rail line he has been raised to think that success and happiness will just come to him without excessive effort on his part.As any son would look up to and admire his father, Biff took his fathers advice and thence makes no excessive efforts and put forth minimal work expecting to become successful merely because of his personality. This sense of entitleme nt is clearly diminished when Biff fails to keep a job and ends up at home. Willy never takes the time to teach Biff a good work ethic, good values, and strong chastes, because Willy himself has not even established these within his own character. Therefore Biff steals, does not work hard, and finds it hard to make it in the real world. Willy himself does not know what is important in heart, does not have morals, and does not value his family relationships, therefore he has no way of teaching Biff these vital tools for success and happiness. The resentment Willy feels because of Biffs lack of success becomes the important conflict throughout the play ultimately reflects negatively upon Willys lack of force to achieve the American dream himself, displaying Willys overall weak character.Biffs discovery of his fathers affair serves as a main turning tiptop for him as a character, a turning point that sends him downward into a life of postulate and lack of achievement. It is at th is point that Biff loses love for his father and begins to recognize the lie that he is living, thus making it a main source of conflict. Willy is in denial about his involvement with Biffs failure in life, and when indirectly confronted by Bernard about the incident in Boston asking What happened in Boston, Willy? (1600), Willy becomes defensive, saying, What are you trying to do, incrimination it on me? Dont talk to me that way (1600). After being told about Biffs reaction upon his return from Boston and the burning of his favorite University of Virginia shoes that symbolize Biffs dreams and hopes for the future, Willy realizes the result of impact that Biffs discovery of the affair had. Willys lack of acceptance of reality adversely affects his relationship with Biff because he never takes responsibility for his affair or even has the courage to admit it to Biff.As a result, when Biff discovers a woman in his fathers hotel room, he confronts his father, You mould You phony lit tle fake You fake (1618) and all Willy can do is attempt to exercise his role as a father which ultimately fails. Frequently throughout the play, Happy makes references to the man Biff utilise to be, asking him, What happened, Biff? Wheres the old humor, the old confidence? (1552). Learning about his fathers affair and seeing it firsthand that day in Boston was the turning point for Biff, the point where he grew up and realized that his father was a broken and defeated man, not the successful business man he portrayed himself as and used to be. As a result of this, Biff loses all respect for his father, and alternatively Willy begins to loathe Biff as well. Due to his discovery of the affair, Biff not only sees his father as a failed businessman, but a failed man. A man without money does not make him a bad man, but an adulterer who betrayed a woman who gave him everything cannot be forgiven in the eyes of a son.Throughout Willys continuous failures and defeats, his wife shut up remains supportive of him and loving, constantly reminding him of her affection for him. Despite this, Willy still yearns to have what he does not and thus pursues an extramarital relationship with the other woman. It is clear that Willy finds some signifier of comfort and validation in this affair with a woman who makes him feel wanted, yet his wife does the alike(p) therefore it is clearly a matter of greed. Willys sense of failure, his belief that he has no ripe to his wife, despite Lindas love for him, is what motivates Willys deceptions, and those of his sons after him (Bloom, Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations Death of a Salesman).This event contributes to the overall meaning of the work as a symbol of the failure of the American Dream by Willy, not only in terms of personal success but as well as in terms of family relationship and his familys success. Not only does Willy cheat on his wife, loathe his son, and struggle to keep a job, but he has let his values go and s eems to have no moral compass of right and wrong. It shows that he has failed in the business aspect of his life, and also in his morals.Finally, Biffs lack of success in the real world contributes by and large to the conflict between him and his father. After having infinite jobs over a period of several years, Biff returns home with loss of all hope of determination a steady job to support himself. Willy is disappointed by Biffs lack ofability to succeed, and, It is to Biff, the returning son, to whom Willy relates most affectively. (Hadomi, Rhythm Between Father and Son.) It is because Willy can see so much of himself in Biff and relates so heavily to him that these resentful feelings arise.Biff reflects his fathers failed ideals and expectations for himself, which are represented in Willys fantasies and flashbacks regarding Biffs successful and glorious childhood, as well as expectations that Willy originally had for himself. Willy sees his failed life and career as a middle-a ged man, and recognizes similar traits and qualities in Biff. Although he never expresses these, it is apparent that Willy largely sees himself in his son and thus takes out his anger for himself on Biff, resulting in constant fighting and conflict.The conflicted relationship between Willy and Biff exemplifies the theme of the work that in ones pursuit of professional and veridical success, it is easy to become preoccupied with superficial aspects of life while simultaneously losing sight of what matters most. Willys preoccupancy with his quest for material fulfillment ultimately results in a flawed relationship with his family, and ultimately with his son Biff when Willy sees him following in his footsteps. This conflict between father and son is what shapes the theme of the work and serves to spotlight Millers purpose and the greater meaning of the play that nothing is more important than family. (Word look at 1517)