Theme Of Materialism In Death Of A Salesman

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The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a play where the most unexpected of a tragic hero arises from the abyss that is the problems of Willy Loman and his family. Willy Loman is the Sun of the novel’s solar system, therefore all conflicts and key moments revolve around him. In the tragic play, Willy goes to an outrageous extent in order to fulfill some of the family’s needs and wants, it is that decision that forever changed the Loman family. There are flashbacks that Willy has throughout the novel that encase many emotions that will lead to his eventual demise. These various moments of failure, materialism, depression, and the “American Dream” are all things that drive the plot of the play and allow for the development of Willy’s …show more content…

Willy relives a moment where he met with his brother Ben to just have a casual conversation about life. This moment should stand out to the audience due to what was discussed in this conversation, throughout the conversation it is revealed that Ben left to Africa and became wealthy while finding success in the diamond mining business. Ben represents the life that Willy wishes he could eventually see himself or his sons living with all the money they can possibly want. In Act one during this conversation Ben states “ BEN: Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into jungle and when I was twenty-one I walked out. [He laughs] and by God I was rich! WILLY [To the boys]: You see what I been talking about? The greatest things can happen!”(Miller, Death of A Salesman) It is also this success of Ben that Willy holds as physical evidence of his family’s worth. Willy’s materialism is also what blinds him in thinking that riches are just down the street. Although he displays the positive image to his children that they should take risks in order to do what they want in life, that imaged is fueled by the fact that Willy believes that his sons will eventually become rich and live life with a bank vault at their disposal. It is this desire for material things that leads Willy to a deeper and darker …show more content…

His sons failed in trying to curate a new business venture, and Willy got fired for trying having with his boss. It was during a dinner with his sons that all these events and emotions came to the forefront. The failure and materialism all led to this depression and Willy has now realized that his life was a life full of lies and illusions. The last flashback/episode that Willy has was at the dinner and this episode revealed that Willy had been cheating on his wife with a mystery woman. With the sons now infuriated with this newfound information, they leave their father alone at the dinner. This abandonment that leads to his depression becoming more severe, Willy now having thoughts about how he can make things right for his family, his thoughts eventually lead him to the conclusion that he should commit suicide, consequently with this suicide, his wife can take out his life insurance policy and finally pay off their

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