A Psychological Reading of Death of A Salesman Essay

A Psychological Reading of Death of A Salesman Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman can be seen as an eulogy of a dreamer, which depicts one mans tragic life and death as he tries to bring his family into grace. Miller does, however, also uses this play to express underlying themes and ideas. Reading Death of a Salesman from the starting point of a Marxist results in the perception that miller uses his play as a means to demonstrate the effects of a changing capitalist society. On the other hand, a psychological reading of Death of a Salesman allows the play to be seen as one mans flight from shame and his own weakened self image. The Marxist perspective is a viable reading of this†¦show more content†¦And when this man died at the age of eighty-four people came from all over to attend his funeral. This is the type of man Willy aspires to become and this is why he chose sales as his occupation. Ben, Willys older brother, is another symbol of the ruthless success Willy tries to reach in his life. There was the only man I ever met Willy says, Who knew all the answers(Meyer 1734). Willy has treasured up the memory of Ben until it is more real to him than any of the people in his life. The character of Ben materializes again and again in the play as Willy savors his favorite brag: When I was seven-teen I walked into the jungle and when I was twenty-one I walked out. and by God I was rich(Meyer 1732). The statement ,Rich, echoes throughout the play as Willy is railroaded by a capitalist system as he strives to reach his dreams. Willy Loman desperately want to believe that he has succeeded, that he is well likedand a great salesman. But at the age of sixty- three and nearing retirement, Willy is seen as a man who gave all of his life to a business, only to be thrown in the scrap-heap and as a house holder whose pattern of life was interwoven with installment plans with which he could hardly catch up. In another time, Willy Loman might have been a happy carpenter. He can put up a ceiling whichShow MoreRelatedDeath Of A Salesman As A Tragic Examination Of The American Dream1015 Words   |  5 PagesSince Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman first appeared on the Broadway stage in 1949, Willy Loman has become one of the most icon and over-analyzed characters in all of American literature. In the play, Loman is an aging New York salesman who is facing both personal and professional problems. In fact, when the play begins Loman is suicidal. On the surface this is due to his failure to make enough money to support his family in his old age. 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