Themes: The Changing Mores of Post-War America
The historical context of the play, which was written in 1948 and first staged in 1949, is crucial in understanding Willy’s misguided expectations and consequent disappointments. The Second World War brought about many changes to the American business landscape, which had previously favored masculine virility, aggressiveness, and gregarious personalities. The environment of pre-war America is represented by Dave Singleman, the salesman who inspired Willy to pursue a career in sales. When Howard Wagner refuses to honor his promise to find an office job for Willy, Willy laments the coldness of modern business by reflecting on Singleman’s career:
He’d go up to his room, y’understand, put on his green velvet slippers—I’ll never forget—and pick up his phone and call the buyers, and without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living. And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people? . . . When he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral. . . . In those days there was personality in it, Howard. There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it’s all cut and dried and there’s no chance for bringing friendship to bear—or personality.
Singleman epitomizes a business world where deals were brokered on the backs of lifelong friendships, and family businesses relied on the loyalty of their customers and workers in order to thrive. However, the corporate world Willy finds himself in no longer considers anything other than profit and exponential growth. The amorality of capitalism has taken hold and is on full display when Howard fires Willy, who has worked for the company for over thirty years and was a personal friend of his father, without any thought of supporting Willy in his old age.
Expert Q&A
What is the role of modernity in Death of a Salesman? Has it altered the American dream?
What do Willy's pawned diamond watch fob and Biff's radio correspondence course, paid for by the pawned fob, signify?
Willy's pawned diamond watch fob represents his willingness to sacrifice meaningful relationships and values for the distorted American Dream of wealth and success. The watch fob, a symbol of his brother's affection, is exchanged for Biff's radio correspondence course, illustrating Willy's hope that Biff will achieve business success. This transaction signifies Willy's prioritization of material success over familial bonds and genuine values.
In Death of a Salesman, why don't Biff and Happy settle down or get married?
Biff and Happy do not settle down or marry because they lack the emotional tools and reality-based perspective necessary for a successful marriage. This stems from their upbringing; they witnessed their parents' superficial and unhappy marriage, marked by Willy's affair and the family's tendency to live in a dream world rather than confront real issues. Consequently, Biff and Happy are ill-prepared for stable, committed relationships.
In Death of a Salesman, how does the American Dream reflect American ideals? What differentiates materialistic and idealistic values?
The American Dream in Death of a Salesman reflects both materialistic and idealistic American values. Materialistically, it emphasizes climbing the economic ladder and achieving success through hard work. Idealistically, it aligns with Emersonian self-determination, suggesting greatness comes from being true to oneself. Willy Loman embodies the materialistic view, equating success with wealth, while Biff embraces the idealistic side, valuing personal fulfillment over material gain. This contrast highlights the tension between these values in American culture.
What can be learned about human behavior from the historical aspects of Death of a Salesman? Does the play's commentary on American consumerism resonate with today's society?
The play highlights how the pursuit of the American Dream can lead to self-deception and personal ruin, as seen in Willy Loman's fixation on wealth as a measure of success. This commentary on consumerism still resonates today, with modern parallels in credit card debt and the belief that material possessions lead to happiness. The play suggests the importance of staying true to oneself and making authentic career choices.
The importance of "being liked" in Death of a Salesman
In Death of a Salesman, the importance of "being liked" is a central theme that drives Willy Loman's actions and beliefs. Willy equates personal success with being well-liked, believing it ensures business success and social acceptance. This misguided notion leads to his downfall, as he overlooks the value of hard work and integrity.
In either Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby or Miller's Death of a Salesman, how do the authors depict the impact of an individual's attempt to live unconstrained by convention or circumstance?
Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Miller's Death of a Salesman explore the impact of individuals attempting to transcend conventional life. Willy Loman leads a delusional life, constrained by societal norms, believing in superficial success. In contrast, Jay Gatsby, once James Gatz, reinvents himself to pursue the American Dream, driven by his obsession with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby's transformation and ambition highlight the extreme lengths one might go to escape conventionality and redefine identity.
"Death of a Salesman" and the American Dream Critique
In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, the American Dream is critiqued as an elusive and destructive force. Willy Loman embodies the flawed pursuit of success based on likability and superficial charm, rather than hard work and skill. His obsession with this distorted dream leads to his downfall and strains his relationships with his family. The play suggests that the traditional American Dream is unattainable for many, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll of chasing unrealistic ideals. Ultimately, Miller questions the value and accessibility of the American Dream.
"Death of a Salesman" Title and Historical Context
The title "Death of a Salesman" reflects both the literal death of Willy Loman and the metaphorical decline of the American Dream he embodies. Willy's life as a salesman, marked by futile aspirations and materialism, culminates in his tragic suicide, highlighting the emptiness of his pursuits. The play diverges from traditional tragedies by focusing on an ordinary man's downfall. Set post-World War II, during economic prosperity, the play underscores the Lomans' misguided dreams amid societal changes, emphasizing the futility of their pursuits.
How do Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby use deception in their pursuit of the American Dream, making it unattainable?
Quotes that illustrate how Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby demonstrate that deception of appearances is part of their pursuit of the American Dream are "I'm not dressing to advantage, maybe" and "I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd."
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