Experience in Reading the Play "Death of a Salesman"

Playwriting Assignment
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Playwriting assignment
“Death of a Salesman” is a play by Arthur Miller that is seemingly educative on how people can trigger their frustrations and, when they become unbearable, opt for suicide. Willy Loman is one of the characters in the play and emerges as the protagonist and antagonist. He is a man who paints a false picture of himself to his family and friends, and he ends up losing his identity, hence being unable to accept change. Willy bases his success on being assertive and attractive. As a result, he is disappointed when he fails to achieve these traits. However, despite being incapable of appreciating his achievements, he angers and loses the trust of Linda, his wife, and Biff, his son, due to his affair (Miller, 1949). Diverse themes unveil themselves in the play, one of them being the American dream which is the central premise. It describes how Loman hungrily wanted to live the American dream, considering he was a salesman and would use likeability to his advantage.
However, when he failed to achieve the dream due to mediocrity and obsession with money and fame, he became a failure, suicidal, and eventually tarnished his family’s lives. According to Miller (1949), betrayal is another theme in the play. Willy betrays his wife when the family comes to learn of his affair. Biff, his son, was hurt and changed his perspective toward his dad by perceiving him as a liar and untrustworthy. This act of unfaithfulness was the start of Willy’s misunderstanding with Biff and Linda. It is ironic how the protagonist is sixty years old and has not achieved his goals when according to society, by sixty, he should be stress-free and enjoying success, however small or big.
I chose to review this play since it is a piece that vividly depicts what happens in society and mirrors how people’s mistakes can catch up with them and cause harm to their lives and loved ones. The book is popular and written by an author who loves to write stories inspired by personal experiences and reality. Moreover, such stories educate on most of the lessons one should learn about life’s dynamics and the importance of appreciating every individual in society. The author’s inspiration was also a motivating factor in choosing the play due...