The Obsessive Search For Identity Of Willy Loman
The obsessive search for identity of Willy Loman 'Why dreams turn into obsessions and cause the failure of the individual '
Introduction
It is the human incentive to reach for a fuller, better ,and richer life; a slogan that would also fit in, to the description of the American Dream. Willy Loman, an ambitious but over optimistic salesman from the East Coast, chases the dream of success and money his whole life. The “Death of a Salesman” is not a stereotypical story of an American citizen who reaches the American Dream, it is rather the story of the search of identity that turns into an obsession of success. The term obsession means; a preoccupation with a feeling or idea; in psychology: an obsession is similar to a compulsion. This term paper will discuss the historical context under which the book was written, as well as the definition of the American Dream which is still controversial. The author, Arthur Miller plays an important role, his life situation was not identical to the life of Willy Loman, but some commonalities are noticeable. Furthermore, Willy 's expectations concerning his career and family life and his obsessive behavior to reach a more successful life will be considered. The American Dream itself has always been rather a myth than reality; the way to success and appreciation is much harder than it seems. Willy Loman knows how difficult it is, but still stays positive. Sooner or later, optimism turns into obsession and by being way too
Willy Loman Foreshadowing
613 Words | 3 PagesThis “false” American Dream made him have issues in his life and didn’t have strong enough support to sustain in his life. He depended on his family to support him but they didn’t. As they always say, it comes down to family support when one struggling, but in this case, he didn’t get any support hence Willy’s
Epitaph For The American Dream In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
1794 Words | 8 PagesThe play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is known by many Americans as an epitaph for the American dream. It is about the life of Willy Loman, an aging and failing salesman, chasing after his ambitions to become the most popular and successful individual in his field of work. Surprisingly, the story set behind the curtains also mirrors the lives of many modern Americans today. The play, performed in the 1940s, dealt with how people’s expectations for perfection were insubstantial and impractical, and how these expectations bred dissatisfaction and doubt. Unfortunately, this mentality still persists in the current American society.
The Professor's House By Willa Cather Analysis
2509 Words | 11 PagesThe concept of an American Dream has been around for a long time. The way people live their lives should be based on their passions, but many times people form false passions around objects and money. In The Professor’s House, by Willa Cather, a situation is given of a man who lives in a society built up by a 1920s American chase for money and success. This way of life eventually leads the Professor to become dissatisfied with his life despite achieving the perceived elements of success in 1920 America. Cather provides a solution to the problem the Professor faces inside the character Tom Outland.
Of Mice And Men And The American Dream Analysis
834 Words | 4 PagesEveryone aspires to achieve the American Dream: an opportunity to be successful by working hard. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the American Dream brings hope for a better life for those who hold onto it. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, traveling ranch workers called bindle stiffs, dream of owning their own piece of land where they create the rules. They are not the only characters with hopes and dreams. But Steinbeck shows the American Dream is, in fact, sometimes just a dream through the hopes and actions of Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife.
Analysis Of Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
1581 Words | 7 PagesIn his seminal work, Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller portrays wretched conditions inflicting the lives of lower class people amid class-struggle in 1940s America. Miller sets the story during the great financial depression in the US , in between times after World War I and around World War II, though his characters hardly speak about the trauma of two World Wars. Miller earns an enormous success by putting an ordinary salesman as the protagonist in his play instead of putting a man of social nobility. In the play, Miller depicts his central character, Willy Loman as a destitute salesman struggling to rise up the social ladder in a capitalist society, who remains deluded by a 'dream of success ' and takes on a relentless pursuit of happiness that eventually brings his tragic demise. Though some critics speak in favor of the popular account of the cause of his death being his excessive obsession with so called the American dream and the 'capitalist oppression ' ; however, many still refuse to ascribe the cause of his death to capitalist oppression, which I will use synonymously with American dream here.
Essay On Foil Characters In Death Of A Salesman
1210 Words | 5 Pages“The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (33). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses foil characters to elucidate Willy’s flaws that ultimately prevent him and his family from succeeding. The contrast between Charley and Willy and Bernard and Biff serves to highlight how Willy’s obsession with achieving his version of the American Dream impacts both his life and his children’s. His poor values are passed on to his children producing even more failures. ¬¬¬¬Both Charley and Willy work as salesmen, however Charley represents what Willy desired to become – successful.
A Raisin In The Sun And Death Of A Salesman Analysis
1018 Words | 5 PagesThrough Biff Loman, Miller illustrates the failure of the American dream through the paradoxical relationship between him and his father, Willy Loman, presenting the notion that the secret to true happiness and success lies outside of the confines of the typical American dream of wealth and materialism. Molded by his father’s unrealistic ambitions, it became near impossible for Biff to assimilate as a functioning member of the
The Great Gatsby Outline Essay
871 Words | 4 PagesI. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is depicted as a mirage due to its ultimate lack of fulfillment, outsider’s inability to obtain it, and the corruption it causes. A. Those who have achieved their idea of the American Dream are ultimately unfulfilled emotionally even though they possess tremendous wealth. B. The American Dream is a mirage, and thus unattainable as it limits success of an individual by their class and ethnic origin. C. Not only is the American Dream exclusive and unfulfilling, but it also causes corruption as those who strive for the American Dream corrupt themselves in doing so and the old rich hide behind their wealth in order to conceal their immoralities.
Antigone And The American Dream Essay
924 Words | 4 PagesLinda defends Willy and insists that Willy, as a traveling salesman, merely exhausts himself rather than become crazy. Even if Willy’s financial reality reveals the fact that he can never come true his American dream, Linda still refuses to break his fantasies and see through his lies. Instead, she supports Willy’s American dream and believes in Willy’s idea that success is possible for anyone. Even though Willy is often rude to her and ignores her opinions, she protects him at all costs. She loves Willy, so she can accept all of his shortcomings.
Compare And Contrast Willy And Biff
741 Words | 3 PagesAna Oceguera 12. 19. 16 AP English Death of a Salesman Character Compare and Contrast In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the audience follows the dynamic between the members of the Loman family. The father of the family, Willy Loman is a self-deluded traveling salesman whose dreams of success do not match his reality. Prompted by his frustration due to the discrepancy between his unrealistically ambitious expectations and his reality, we watch as his mental health takes a turn for the worse, and his story eventually ends in suicide.
Ambition In Willy Loman's Death Of A Salesman
549 Words | 3 PagesEven when his neighbour Charley offers him a job with a salary, Willy declines because he is too proud to work for Charley. He rather blames his failure on the superficiality of the business world and fixates himself on the idea that personality, not hard work, is the key to accomplishment. Perhaps, this is because Willy is living in a world where the pursuit of the American Dream is a predominant part of people’s lives, and the materialistic pressures of the superficial were beginning to permeate its actual values. Under this particular pressure, Willy has been fighting his entire life to achieve "the dream," but unfortunately, no one ever explains to him what its true values are or how to really make it. Therefore, Willy manages his life based on his overwhelming sense of pride and ambition, and in this way, Miller seems to criticize the idea of compromising happiness for success-- even though Willy truly believes that happiness is achieved through success.
Comparing 'Death Of A Salesman And' The Tragedy Of
243 Words | 1 PagesIn “Death of a Salesman” & “The Tragedy of Macbeth” by Arthur Miller, the character Willy Loman on the modern america, in the 1940’s as cars and appliances ar be made willy is constantly to maintain the best in family as he slowly starts to lose his mind in the world it’s clear that willy only cares about one thing is that it’s keeping up with the people around him. In the book Death of a Salesman Willy hallucinates about his brother and about his family in the past when they were doing so good with money. Willy Loman has a hard time between reality and illusion, so does lady macbeth’s husband.
Death Of A Salesman Character Analysis
1537 Words | 7 PagesWilly finds out his dream of being an popular, well respected salesman is impossible and takes his own life. Linda supports Willy despite the abuse and confusion he puts her through with his various attempts to take his own life, with his delirious ramblings and hallucinations, and with his constant deception. Happy still sees his father as a hero and Biff finally begins to grasp the truth of the “American Dream”. When Willy kills himself, all of the Loman family, including Willy, break free from the web of false dreams he spun and begin to understand Willy’s failings. They also realize their own flaws.
Tragic Hero In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
930 Words | 4 PagesMiller depicts Willy as a tragic character in his willingness to preserve his dignity. Additionally, Willy’s dignity is tainted in the story because of his flawed philosophy of the American Dream. This along with unjust comparisons leads to Willy’s death. Based on how Willy Loman evaluates himself unjustly, he is a tragic hero because he must do anything to preserve his dignity, and his false impression of the American Dream, which leads to his downfall.
Willy Loman A Tragic Hero Essay
978 Words | 4 PagesFrom an outsider perspective, Willy Loman lives a normal life. He is a traveling salesman with two grown up sons, and a beautiful marriage. But is that really the life he has? No, it is not. One of the first disappointments Willy experiences is with his son.
More about The Obsessive Search For Identity Of Willy Loman
Willy Loman Foreshadowing
613 Words | 3 PagesEpitaph For The American Dream In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
1794 Words | 8 PagesThe Professor's House By Willa Cather Analysis
2509 Words | 11 PagesOf Mice And Men And The American Dream Analysis
834 Words | 4 PagesAnalysis Of Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
1581 Words | 7 PagesEssay On Foil Characters In Death Of A Salesman
1210 Words | 5 PagesA Raisin In The Sun And Death Of A Salesman Analysis
1018 Words | 5 PagesThe Great Gatsby Outline Essay
871 Words | 4 PagesAntigone And The American Dream Essay
924 Words | 4 PagesCompare And Contrast Willy And Biff
741 Words | 3 PagesAmbition In Willy Loman's Death Of A Salesman
549 Words | 3 PagesComparing 'Death Of A Salesman And' The Tragedy Of
243 Words | 1 PagesDeath Of A Salesman Character Analysis
1537 Words | 7 PagesTragic Hero In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
930 Words | 4 PagesWilly Loman A Tragic Hero Essay
978 Words | 4 Pages