OPPapers.com

Death Of Salesman

Blood Is Thicker Than Water in Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
Eastern and Western society have a different definition of kinship. In Eastern society, although young boys grow up, they live with their family until they get married. In some traditional Chinese families, even though sons already have their own families, they still live with their parents to take care of them because it represents a kind of kinship with their parents. In Western society, unlike Eastern, children frequently live with their parents on until eighteen years of age, and then they will live alone. However, they are still bound to their family.
In the play “Death of a Salesman,” by Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005), Willy Loman is a tragic character because he lives between reality and illusion. He is a salesman, and he believes that the great accomplishment of his life is being a salesman. He uses his mistaken belief about perfect success, which is respected and supported by everybody, to educate his sons, Biff and Happy. Willy is living in his delusional world. He regards illusion as reality and always says that he is a very important salesman for New England. He cannot accept the truth that his merchandise is unwelcome. Nevertheless, he exaggerates to say that his sales are very high. Eventually, he uses suicide to secure his family’s economic independence because they can obtain twenty thousand dollars from the insurance company. In addition to Willy’s false concepts, this play also explores the relationship between father and sons. Inheritance, conflict, and forgiveness are the main concepts that define the relationship between Willy and his sons, Biff and Happy.
Although Willy’s idea, which is success in which a person is loved by everyone, is not true, his sons inherit this notion. Biff regards his father as an exemplary person and idealizes him. Willy places all his thoughts on his sons and wishes them to succeed. Biff and Happy believe Willy’s illusions, and they...