English 2: Critical Analysis of Death of a Salesman Essay

This essay offers a critical analysis of Arthur Miller's play, 'Death of a Salesman'. It examines the central character, Willy Loman, a salesman grappling with disillusionment and self-denial, living in an illusionary world, and struggling with his relationships. The essay explores key themes such as the human need to reconcile the uncertainties of the past with the present, the impact of societal pressures, and the consequences of mental trauma, leading to depression and suicidal tendencies. It discusses Willy's self-deception, his relationship with his sons, particularly Biff, and the eventual tragic outcome. The analysis also references the play's exploration of the American Dream and its impact on individuals. The essay supports its arguments with textual evidence and scholarly sources, providing a comprehensive understanding of the play's complexities and its enduring relevance. The essay also points out the suicide of Willy at the end of the play could be linked to the increased level of stress and guilt cycle faced by an ordinary individual.

RUNNING HEAD: ENGLISH 0
CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY
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ENGLISH 1
Thesis statement-
The human need to reconcile the uncertainties of the past with a new or present
situation.
Title- The critical analysis of the essay is based on play “The death of sales man” and
the author of the essay is Arthur miller who is an American Playwright and produced
highly successful plays in his writing career spanning over 50 years.
Life of self-denial
Point-
Willy is salesman who lived quite a happy life with his wife Linda and children Happy and
Bliff. He lives in an illusional world where he believes that he is living a successful life and
shares good relations with his children but on the face of reality, he is marginally successful...
Proof-
In the play, Willy lied about his success to the people so that he can make his son to achieve
success in life in the best manner possible. He had faked his success throughout his life to the
family members so that to prove himself the model father, husband and highly successful
sales man to the world.
Discuss-
The story focuses on the suicidal tendency of an individual like Willy who are engrossed in
the cycle of mental trauma and pain thus leading to depression. He lived in the life of self-
denial throughout his life where it was very difficult for him to accept his reality thus
resulting in high level of depression in him
Willy’s son Bliff getting exposed to his affair
Point-
Initially, in the play Willy shares the good relation with his son Bliff where he was the model
father for him which was suggestive that Willy succeeded in convincing his family of the
falsehood of his character (Santoro). But as the play progresses, Bliff loses respects about his
father when he gets to know about his affair thus leading to the bitter relations between them.
Proof-

ENGLISH 2
The bitter relations between them was suggestive of the fact that it was difficult for Willy to
accept the reality of his situation thus resulting in high disputes between them. In the play, his
wife Linda tries to keep up with the illusions of Willy so that he does not become emotionally
exaggerated as she was aware of his Husband’s nature. The attitude of Linda towards Willy
was suggestive of her careful attitude so that the positive attitude can be achieved.
Suicide of Willy
Point-
The suicide of the willy at the end of the play could be linked to the increased level of stress
and guilt cycle faced by an ordinary individual. The play focused on how an individual gets
trapped into the cycle of guilt where he gets affected in the negative manner (Wilson).
Proof-
It became really tough for him to cope with it thus leading to increased level of anxiety and
stress among them where they find it the end of road. The play overall suggest that the
situation faced by them willy is not unique, many individuals get mentally victimised with
the false identity where it becomes difficult to leave them thus resulting greater mental
struggle leading high level of trauma in them (Wilson).
Discuss-
Although situation of many ordinary people resembled with the situation of willy but the
extremity to which willy lived his life is quite rare as not everyone goes for the attempting
suicide when things get gloomy. The large percentage of people have different means of
dealing with it in a positive manner.

ENGLISH 3
Bibliography
Santoro, N. "Teaching Culturally Diverse Pupils: How Ready Are Scottish Student-
Teachers?. In Teacher Education for the Changing Demographics of Schooling."
springer cham 30.2 (2017): 55-8830. <https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-
3-319-54389-5_9>.
Wilson, M. "Understanding the attainment gap through social closure: implications for
Scottish education policy." Scottish Educational Research Association Annual
Conference: Educational Futures in a Changing Landscape: Bridging Boundaries
or" Mind the Gap 78.2 (2017): 55-77.
<https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/publications/understanding-the-attainment-gap-
through-social-closure-implicati>.