Death of a Salesman a Different Perspective - 1210 Words

Death of a Salesman: A Different Perspective Jeanne Gordon Shawnee State University IDST Civilization and Literature November 21, 2011 In Death of a Salesman, a play written by Arthur Miller, Willie Loman is a salesman! In the introduction of the play, we can see exactly how Miller feels about a person being a salesman by the reply he made to a comment and said he sells what a salesman has to sell, himself. As Charley insists , the only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. As a salesman he has got to get by on a smile and a shoeshine. He has to charm. He is a performer, a confidence man who must never lack confidence. His error is to confuse the role he plays with the person he wishes to be (as cited in Death†¦show more content†¦Willies fixation both in his dementia free moments as well as his past recollection of his son Biff is apparent, starting in the initial scenes of the play and carried out throughout the play. Willie is also fixated on his deceased brother Ben the difference is he is only fixated on Ben in acute episodes of dementia. We are aware of this because he sees and c onverses with Ben in the past, and relives his desired encounters with him as if they are happening in the present. Young Biff and Ben are both the main objects of Willies fixation throughout the play. An impairment in being able to perform mental arithmetic problems or counting money and making change are problems in which many with Alzheimers experience. Willie specifically experiences this problem when trying to give the waiter Stanley his tip, and ends up giving him all of the money in his hand. Difficulty in managing finances and paying bills is a problem for those suffering from Alzheimers. In Death of a Salesman it is Linda, Willies wife who is seen handling the finances. For the doubters that may be saying but what if Linda has always managed the finances? Maybe, just maybe this has been a fairly recent event. Are you one hundred percent sure she has always been the one that handles the finances? The ability to dress and undress oneself without difficulty is another common problem faced by many suffering from Alzheimers. There are several incidences inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman1581 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Arthur Millers p lay Death of a Salesman was a hit nearly from its debut, and its importance to American literature and theater has not diminished in the over half a century since its first performance in 1949. However, the specific areas of the play that have most intrigued critics have changed over time, as different historical, social, and literary concerns lead critics to come up with different interpretations. By analyzing three different critical responses to Death of a Salesman, it will be possibleRead More A Comparison of the Dream in Death of a Salesman, Ellis Island, and America and I1328 Words   |  6 PagesThe Dream in Death of a Salesman, Ellis Island, and America and I   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The American dream is as varied as the people who populate America. The play The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the poem Ellis Island by Joseph Bruchac, and the poem America and I by Anzia Yezierska illustrate different perspectives of the American dream. All three authors show some lines of thought on what the freedom inherent in the American dream means. The authors clarify distinct ideas on the meansRead MoreThe Myth of the American Dream Exposed in Death of a Salesman1218 Words   |  5 Pages Millers work on â€Å"Death of a Salesman† is an example piece of work furthering the social protest involving totalitarianism and the American Dream. 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