1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.
The setting of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is crucial to understanding the play. In Death of a Salesman, Miller places Willy Loman in the middle of New York City, where the societal practice is to beat ceaselessly into the future, ignoring nostalgia and the “good ol’ days”. Willy Loman is directly at odds with this philosophy, spending most of the play day dreaming about the past (and usually bending the facts). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller creates a discrepancy between Willy Lowman and the society that surrounds him to show the America’s shift in values, and Willy’s character flaws.
Willy spends a significant amount of the play caught up in day dreams of his happier past. Even in his daydreams Willy is stuck in the past, constantly asking his brother Ben to tell him stories of his father and family history. Miller indicates a flute melody to be played many times during the play, which seems to act as the instrument of a pied piper, drawing Willy into the past. Willy’s preoccupation with the past is directly at odds with his society. His boss is obsessed with his new recorder, an instrument of the future, which Willy is terrified of. Biff eventually realizes the meaningless of his high school football glory, in a world where it has done him no good. Willy is stuck in the past, confused and unable to understand his memories, while the world around him moves forward.
By placing Willy, the old, deluded hero, directly at odds with his society, Miller shows America’s shift in values. Willy has many traditional American values; dedicated, hardworking, self-made, but has unfounded visions of grandeur and pride. Throughout the play he is pitied by those around him who are reluctant to let their old friend die out, yet he is eventually osticised by even his own family. It is Miller’s commentary on the fact that certain aspects of the American Dream are unsustainable and have died out.
Good job revising this essay! Your point is very clear and your strong argument answers the question well. I didn't really like how your intro begun talking about the play right away and did not start with an opener. Also, it seemed a little short to me. Most of my open prompts had at least two body paragraphs along with an intro and conclusion. If you feel that you can say everything you need to in this space, then I guess it's fine!.
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