Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay - 1386 Words

â€Å"The present and the past coexist, but the past shouldnt be in flashback† -Alain Resnais. The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller follows the life of a man named Willy Loman, and his family life with his two sons; Biff and Happy Loman, and wife, Linda Loman. Throughout the play, Willy has delusional episodes of past events in life, which he believes he is reliving, and these flashbacks are providing him an escape from dealing with the obstacles he is facing in life. The reader discovers that Willy is having an affair with a mistress titled The Woman, and he retreats to memories of their time together for an ego boost, though in reality he is arguing with his sons. Willy has an encounter with his brother Ben at the same time that†¦show more content†¦He leaves his sons and escapes to the restaurant washroom where his delusion continues. This scene shows how these fantasies in Willy’s mind take over his sense of reality and he cannot maintain the norma l habits expected of a sixty year old man. The Woman fuels Willy’s superciliousness with her admiration and attention: †¦ I’ve been sitting at that desk watching all the salesmen go by, day in, day out. But you’ve got such a sense of humor†¦ you do make me laugh†¦ you’re a wonderful man†¦ you’re so sweet. And such a kidder. (Miller 38-39) Previous to his encounter with the woman, Willy is feeling low about himself during a conversation with Linda, â€Å"I’m fat. I’m very - foolish to look at†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Miller 37). The flashbacks with the woman come at times when Willy is feeling unsatisfactory. She gives him the surge of self-confidence. Charley, a neighbour to the Loman family, enters into the Lomans’ kitchen to check to see if Willy was alright after hearing shouts. Charley offers Willy a job out of pity for Willy, which Willy refuses then proceeds to play cards with Charley. During their conversation, Ben begins to appear to Willy, though Ben had died weeks prior: BEN: Is Mother living with you? WILLY: No, she died a long time ago. CHARLEY: Who? BEN: That’s too bad. Fine specimen of a lady, Mother. WILLY, to Charley: Heh? BEN: I hoped to see the old girl. CHARLEY: Who died? BEN: Heard anything from Father, have you?Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Arthur Millers Death Of Salesman 1548 Words   |  7 Pages Research paper on death of salesman Arthur Miller created stories that express the deepest meanings of struggle. Miller is the most prominent twentieth-century American playwrights. He based his works on his own life, and his observations of the American scene. Arthur Asher Miller was born 17 October 1915 in Manhattan, New York city. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. His parents had a prosperous clothing company. 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