1990. Choose a novel or play
that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a
son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of
the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning
of the work. Avoid plot summary.
The Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, is play generally about the conflict between Willy and Biff and the failures of the family. Through the play Willy has false beliefs about life and has a false reality of his sons. Miller uses the conflict between Willy and Biff to criticize the unrealistic American Dream.
Willy is convinced that Biff is destined for greatness, even though he is actually a failure. Willy thinks that all that matters in the world is that you are well liked, which will make you successful. Biff comes back every spring because he thinks that he need to get an "actual" job and be successful, like Willy wants him to be. In the play Biff realizes that he really just wants to work out on a farm in the west. Willy does not want to realize that Biff isn't suited for the business world and thinks that he fails to spite him. Willy himself is never actually really successful. This forces the question of what it means to be successful. Biff finds himself the happiest when he was working on farms in the west and realizes that he has been a failure in the business world, which is contradiction to the standard American Dream.
At Willy's funeral, very few people showed up: his family, Charlie and Bernard. By no one showing up it shows that Willy did not have a legacy to leave behind. Biff remarked that there was more in his house than his whole career. Willy loved working with his hands and being a carpenter. Instead of pursuing what he wanted to do, he went to follow the "American Dream". Biff realizes this and does not want to end up like him. Their differing views on one's occupation is a fuel for their conflict. Despite all of this Happy wants to continue on Willy's legacy and show the corporate world that the Lomans amount to something. This continues on the legacy of the failed American Dream.
The majority of the plot is driven from conflicts between Biff and Willy. Willy's inability to see reality shows the superficiality of the American Dream.
Willy is convinced that Biff is destined for greatness, even though he is actually a failure. Willy thinks that all that matters in the world is that you are well liked, which will make you successful. Biff comes back every spring because he thinks that he need to get an "actual" job and be successful, like Willy wants him to be. In the play Biff realizes that he really just wants to work out on a farm in the west. Willy does not want to realize that Biff isn't suited for the business world and thinks that he fails to spite him. Willy himself is never actually really successful. This forces the question of what it means to be successful. Biff finds himself the happiest when he was working on farms in the west and realizes that he has been a failure in the business world, which is contradiction to the standard American Dream.
At Willy's funeral, very few people showed up: his family, Charlie and Bernard. By no one showing up it shows that Willy did not have a legacy to leave behind. Biff remarked that there was more in his house than his whole career. Willy loved working with his hands and being a carpenter. Instead of pursuing what he wanted to do, he went to follow the "American Dream". Biff realizes this and does not want to end up like him. Their differing views on one's occupation is a fuel for their conflict. Despite all of this Happy wants to continue on Willy's legacy and show the corporate world that the Lomans amount to something. This continues on the legacy of the failed American Dream.
The majority of the plot is driven from conflicts between Biff and Willy. Willy's inability to see reality shows the superficiality of the American Dream.
Mohan,
ReplyDeleteVery good essay. As soon as I read the prompt I knew you would use DOS. One thing I noticed about your essay was that there was a lot of plot summary. I know that you need some of it, but see if there is anything you can take out. Maybe you can add things about the evidence (plot summary) that you are giving, that way the proportion of plot to warrant becomes heavier on the warrant side.