Critical Analysis Essay on Death of a Salesman

Critical Analysis Essay on Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller’s 1949 play, Death of a Salesman, portrays a family’s financial difficulties. Arthur Miller considered this work as one of his most outstanding achievements. The play is often considered timeless due to its relevance to contemporary issues. Following the conclusion of World War II, the Loman family is compelled to confront a range of adversities. The paternal character of Willy Loman harbors aspirations of attaining renown and wealth and solicits the assistance of his firstborn offspring, Biff, to aid him in realizing this objective. Despite facing the harsh realities of life, Willy’s unwavering determination to achieve success remains unchanged, even though he is aware that attaining the “American dream” is beyond his reach. Biff believes that his father’s preoccupation with misguided aspirations has led to his harboring of inappropriate dreams, as he asserts that “he had the wrong dreams.” According to Miller (111), “All, all wrong” is incorrect. Multiple factors contribute to the manifestation of Willy’s ego and id in his sales profession. The psychological and contextual lenses highlight the modest but significant acts of resilience that Biff and Willy displayed in the face of complex social circumstances and their increased self-awareness during this time in history. Arthur Miller employs the American Dream as a metaphor to illustrate the socio-economic dangers of excessively prioritizing one’s aspirations, as Willy exemplifies, and the resultant impact on familial relationships, particularly with his spouse, Linda. She exhibits supportive behavior from a gendered perspective as a spouse.

According to Ackerman, Sigmund Freud, a prominent psychoanalyst, proposed a well-known theory that classifies personality into three distinct types: the id, the ego, and the Superego. Upon analyzing Death of a Salesman, it becomes apparent that the work is heavily concerned with themes of sexual and aggressive impulses and memories and recollections. Willy’s ability to disregard the reality of his financial and social situation can be attributed to the interplay between his id and ego. Willy exhibits various characteristics of narcissism, such as a feeling of entitlement and a lack of capacity to handle criticism. An individual who possesses an overemphasized id may demonstrate an abundance of aggression, despite the benevolent intentions of those in their vicinity. This particular line serves as a prime example of Willy’s aggressive behavior. What is the basis of your perceived superiority over others? According to Miller (2019), the cited information can be found on page 68. Charley, the neighbor of Willy, engages in a conversation with Willy regarding his recent experience of unemployment. The scenes presented in the work showcase numerous recollections from Willy’s history, exemplifying his coping mechanisms in the face of perceived inadequacy.