"Death of a Salesman" and Motifs

While searching for relationships to an in-class text, I uncovered a few motifs that recur over the course of Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman." These ideas play a crucial role in the development of characters and their relationships with one another. As the characters grow and interact, the plot unravels according to their actions and contact with one another. Two of the most influential motifs in the play are denial and the American dream. Both of them can be seen in the development of Willy, the father in the Loman family, and Biff, one of his sons.

The Lomans as a family live in constant denial. Willy Loman lives in fantasy world where he achieves ultimate success that he had always dreamed of as a child. In his head, he is "well liked" (21) and a renowned man in the business world. Willy often returns home bragging, having "sold a nice bill there" (19), further emphasizing and defining his natural ego. However, his optimism and false confidence live a short life. His wife, Linda, is the voice of reality, reassuring him that he has not succeeded through subtle comments that are not too direct. She may remind him that the payments on the mortgage or household utilities have left them "a little short again" (51) in terms of money. Willy also accepted a donation from his neighbor Charley, treating it as a paycheck for his efforts. Throughout the play, he experiences reality and quickly tucks his head away from the truth, hiding in his dreams of denial. This also applies to Biff, his son. Biff, as seen by his father, is useless. He is a 34 year old man who still does not have a stable job. He believes in happiness over wealth and patiently waits for fate to come, denying his failure. However, near the end of the play, Biff breaks down and accepts his failure, claiming that he is "[a] buck an hour" (98). Denial is clearly a recurring theme throughout the story and is merely a product of the family's differing interpretation of the American dream. The American dream is also a motif in the story, and is responsible for the family's numerous disputes. Having associated success with wealth, Willy is discontent with his son's laid-back, calm approach to life. He calls him a "lazy bum" (8), claiming his inability to make money is the source of his failure. Biff enjoys the safety of simplicity and happiness in leisure, which is his idea of the American dream. These two, controversial interpretations lead to conflict within the house and the development of both characters. As seen in the text, both denial and the American dream serve unique purposes in the progression of Willy and Biff.

"Death of a Salesman" and In-class Text

Over the course of this (second) quarter, the English II class has thoroughly discussed the many defining characteristics of romanticism. We have explored a variety of pieces, ranging from the detailed beauty of "Billy Budd" to the drunken slumber of "Rip Van Winkle." Romantic writing, as discussed before, is characterized by its exaggeration of nature, whimsical fantasy, and strange interest in sentiments; the literature's foundation lies within the author's ability to perceive reality through a scope of distortion and imagination. Frequently seen in the form of fiction, romanticism is normally conveyed through a poetic tone and ornate writing style to further enhance the supernatural feel. On the other hand, realistic writing focuses on accurate depictions of life, paying heavy attention towards the dull truth behind society. Its writing often reflects common, shared troubles or ideas universal to the population. As a result of its clear, visible intention, realism is often presented through the simplicity of vernacular diction, countering the romantic's dramatic styles. In "Death of a Salesman," Arthur Miller explores the lives of a middle-low class family, drawing emphasis towards their intricate relationship and recognizable problems. In general, realistic writing is far more upfront and obvious than the decorated and complex ideas of romanticism.With such differences, finding a relative romantic piece was far more than a simple task; it became a daunting challenge. I revisited the texts, skimmed through the pages, delved deeper into the text, and tried to uncover themes and potential similarities. Despite my effort, I came out of the anthology, for the most part, empty-handed. At first, the styles of literature were evidently opposites. Realism was a movement in response to romanticism, completely countering its behavior in writing. However, as I spent more time with the stories, I began drawing connections between "Death of a Salesman" and "Rip Van Winkle."

Rip Van Winkle is popular among his fellow villagers, renowned for his good intention and willingness to help. Irving describes him as "a great favourite among all the good wives of the village," (457) as well as a man of interest, children "hanging on his skirts, clambering on his back" (457). He is characterized by an aura of camaraderie and overwhelming charm. However, his wife, Dame Van Winkle, burdens him greatly with her relentless scoldings and berating. She was a villainous character in both the eyes of Rip himself and the community. One day, her spiteful attitude and aggressive demeanor "routed" (458) Rip Van Winkle from the village into the wilderness. Rip, having escaped the pressure of civilization, immersed himself in nature's beauty, soaking in the serenity of the forest. Drowned in isolation, he steps away from reality and spends twenty years at rest.Willy Loman, a middle-aged salesman, is delusional, lost in a sea of dreams, consumed by overwhelming feelings of guilt and failure. He is also a victim of fantasy, although his comes in the form of a mental disorder (schizoaffective disorder). Characterized by his narcissistic, egotistical personality, Willy wallows in his fake success. He believes he is both "well liked" (21) and a successful salesman. He would return home having "sold a nice bill there" (19), lying to both his family and himself. Willy lives in constant pursuit of success and is not willing to accept his fate. His condition  is merely an outlet, in which he can escape the harsh realities of his failure. Willy is aware of his incompetence (because he is constantly reminded by his wife), but uses his fantasy to liberate himself from the guilt and unfortunate truth. Both Rip Van Winkle and Willy Loman use the false hope in fantasy as a means to escape the burdens of reality, whether it be in the form of a wife or the guilt of failure.

"Death of a Salesman" and Definition of American Literature

For several years, English scholars have explored the elusive definition of American literature. The topic is constantly pursued by a collection of talented people, all eager to conquer such a formidable task. However, the mystery of western literature remains shrouded in a darkness of uncertainty, hidden away from the light of knowledge. To this day, philosophers have failed to draw conclusions and leave the "void" with merely speculations. Its inscrutability is attributed to vague lines that outline and restrict the vast boundaries of American literature; when and where does western literature truly begin? Does it begin during the prehistoric era, when oral tradition was popular among the natives? Is it characterized by where it was written (location) or by its content relating to American ideologies? The ideas leave many scholars and historians stumped, unable to continue their pursuit. In order to conquer these questions, a number of solutions have been asserted by the population, often found in constant debate with one another. With all this controversy, western literature emerges as one of the few words that remains undefined and without a complete, distinguishable identity. Reasons for such discrepancy lie within the rapidly evolving, highly dynamic American culture. Using history as the foundation, western literature can, to a certain extent, be defined by tracking and exploring the literary movements. Puritanism, Rationalism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism are six that have reigned over the American culture once before, each shaping the literature in its own unprecedented way.

"Death of a Salesman" is an classic, renowned for its great representation of realism during a time of social reformation. It remains popular among scholars and students, having earned a firm standing within the American canon. The book reveals a multitude of characteristics that hint towards the realism style of writing. The Loman family, a main focus of the play, struggle to stabilize themselves both financially and emotionally. Monetary distress, as addressed by Willy, the father, is a universal dilemma that controls his life. Plagued by his mental condition, he believes that he is "well liked" (21) and a successful salesman altogether. He would return home having "sold a nice bill there" (19), further reinforcing his false confidence. However, his triumph and deceptive optimism lived a short life. His wife, Linda, is the voice of reality, pulling him back "down to earth" and revealing the unfortunate truth. Payments on the mortgage or household utilities left them "a little short again" (51) in terms of money. Having associated success with wealth, Willy is discontent with his son's calm, laid-back approach to life. Biff enjoys the safety of happiness and warmth of simplicity--it is his "American Dream." Biff bluntly compares himself with his father, identifying an obvious distinction between "what [his father] [is] and what [Biff] [is]" (91). Both Willy and Biff have contrasting ideas about the "American Dream," resulting in a broken relationship and conflict within the family. Financial distress and  relationships are just two realistic problems that the average family experiences on a "day-to-day" basis. Arthur Miller, in this book, immerses the audience into an elaborate story, highlighting common troubles the normal man must overcome.

"Death of a Salesman" and Romanticism

Barely into the 19th century, the young western nation underwent several dramatic adaptations in response to the overwhelming force of industrialization during a time of both technological and social reformation. Literary scholars and authors began transitioning away from the artistic era of romanticism into the truthful realm of realism. Romantics saw life through a lens of distorted beauty, full of deep emotion and detailed scenery. Its writing is frequently characterized by the exaggeration of nature, whimsical fantasy, and strange interest in sentiments. Realists, on the other hand, depicted life as it was through a "realistic" perspective. They perceived life with the utmost accuracy, paying heavy attention towards the dull truth behind society. Its themes and motives often explore concrete and common ideas or troubles shared by the population and are expressed through prosaic stories. Renowned for its ideal representation of these ideas, "Death of a Salesman" is an American classic, effectively reflecting the realistic characteristics and contending against its predecessor, romanticism. Despite being on opposite ends of the spectrum, both romanticism and realism (in this book) share some common ground, both found within the main character.

Willy Loman is an insecure man, lost in a sea of fantasy, motivated by false romantic standards disguised as success. He lives his life endlessly chasing happiness through the comfort of wealth, misinterpreting his goals and failing to approach them from the right angle. Plagued by vanity, Willy refuses his social standing and denies reality as it exists around him. He believes that he is both "well liked" and a successful salesman. He would return home having "sold a nice bill there" (19), ultimately reinforcing his false confidence. However, his victory and enthusiasm live a short life. Linda, his wife, often pulls him away from his "success," reassuring him that, with the payments on mortgage and household utilities, they are "a little short again" (51) when it comes to finances. These moments pull him away from his dreams briefly, knocking the air out of him, merely a blow to the ribs. Of course, being the moody man he is, Willy quickly returns to his illusions, using them to mentally block his failure. The narcissism in his personality is reflected by his many actions and dialogue, especially when talking to his children: "Go to Filene's, go to the Hub, go to Slattery's, Boston. Call out the name Willy Loman and see what happens! Big shot!" (43). As the truth seeps into Willy's mind and the voice of reality whispers to him, he falls further into mental deterioration. Now in Willy's head, everyone surrounding him has become a failure, victim to their own poor decisions and actions. Charley, his neighbor and one true friend, is a respectable business owner, embodying his many ideas of success and the American dream. Willy, once again, immerses himself in a fake pride, arguing that Charley is "liked, but he's not -- well liked" (19). Bernard, Charley's only son, is both intelligent and diligent, expressing true characteristics of an efficient businessman. However, he lacks the social fluency and the friendly personality that both Biff and Happy possess. For this reason, Willy defends his children's future success: "That's just what I mean. Bernard can get the best marks in school, y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y'understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him" (21). But of course, his ideas are fairly short lived. As it turned out, Bernard breezed through school, achieving great success, ultimately becoming a well-known, fortunate lawyer. When he next talks to Willy, he is preparing to present a case to the Supreme Court.Contrasting Bernard with his own children, he is sent into a deeper depression, coming to the realization that his family shares failure. Faced by both truth and this failure, Willy succumbs to the pressure and loses contact with reality, spiraling into hallucinations and delusions. Though perceived in a much darker light, these dreamy illusions can be related to the dramatic fantasies of romanticism.

"Slaughterhouse Five" and In-Class Readings

I have truly struggled to compare "Slaughterhouse Five" to any in-class texts we have studied thus far. Puritanism and Rationalism are on the complete opposite end of the American literature spectrum. Despite the fact I have identified a few biblical allusions, I have encountered difficulty directly relating "Slaughterhouse Five" to specific texts such as "Prologue" by Anne Bradstreet, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Taylor Edwards, or "The Autobiography [Part One]" by Benjamin Franklin. I somewhat made a mistake picking a postmodernism book for the first quarter.

Puritanism, which I commonly associate with religion, is highlighted by the first two texts listed above. "Prologue" addresses the female inferiority within her community. On the other hand, "Slaughterhouse Five" rarely mentions any females within the book. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" argues that unconverted people will be punished. "Slaughterhouse Five" does not emphasize any religion. "The Autobiography [Part One]" highlights Benjamin Franklin's life and his reasonable/logical decisions. "Slaughterhouse Five" is quite the opposite -- there is very little logic involved. Nobody expects a time-traveling soldier to explain his experiences with aliens. It is very strange and out of order.

"Slaughterhouse Five" and DAL (Definition of American Literature)

Over the course of many years, talented scholars have delved into the depths of writing to unravel the mystery of western literature. As a result of a number of factors, the concept is very elusive and tends to stay in the shadows. For example, boundaries limiting its time period and region are vague and undefined. When and where does American literature truly begin? It's questions like these that stump the many philosophers who pursue the identity of western literature. Faced with a multitude of obstacles, historians and scholars often conflict on the matter at hand. With all this debate, western literature has emerged as one of the few words whose definition is not set in stone. Reasons for such discrepancy lie within the rapidly evolving American culture. However, using history as a foundation, we can track literary movements and, to a certain extent, define western literature. Puritanism, Rationalism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism are six that have shaped and molded the literature over the course of hundreds of years.

"Slaughterhouse Five", my independent reading novel, is a great representation of the last American literary movement so far, postmodernism. The book reveals a multitude of characteristics that directly correlate to the postmodernist style of writing. It becomes especially evident when the themes are recurring.

Right off the bat, Kurt Vonnegut's writing proves to be extremely self-reflexive. Often times, the text would refer to itself. Before the story actually begins, he writes "I've finished my war book now" (28), and "This one is a failure..." (28). By writing in this manner, Vonnegut addresses his own writing to create this sense of self-reflexivity. Over the course of the entire book, the phrase "So it goes" appears a large amount of times, often found following a dramatic scene. "So it goes" is short line conveying the feeling of resignation and ease. In my eyes, this phrase is merely comic relief in the face of dark, death-plagued humor. "Slaughterhouse Five" is also characterized by heavy fragmentation over large chunks of text. Billy Pilgrim, the main character, is "unstuck in time." From what I have deduced, he might have a mental condition that influences his memory, causing him to experience his life again. This is perfectly exemplified in his introduction: "He has walked through a door in 1955 and come out another one in 1941." His sporadic, unpredictable time traveling leaves the reader off-balance and somewhat confused.

There are a handful more reasons "Slaughterhouse Five" is a postmodernist piece of art, far too many to mention in this blog.

"Slaughterhouse Five" and Puritanism

Before you pull out your red pens, understand that I too hesitated to title this post what it is now. How could an antiwar book, notorious for its representation of postmodernism, relate in any manner to one of the first American literary movements? Puritanism was religious reform movement caused by many European immigrants in order to "purify" the Church and minds of the people. They valued true faith and argued against the very temporal lifestyle the New World had adopted. On the other hand, Postmodernism is a literary movement in which skepticism was incorporated into the writing. Pieces would be fragmented, disorganized, or just awkward to read in general. Despite being on the opposite ends of the spectrum, both Puritanism and Postmodernism have some common ground in which I can use as my blog's foundation: biblical references.

Throughout the book, readers can identify a number of biblical allusions such as the stories of Lot's wife, Adam and Eve, the Crucifixion, and the Garden of Eden.

Kurt Vonnegut, the author of "Slaughterhouse Five," was addressing the quality of his book when he mentioned the first reference: "This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt..." (28). In the bible, an angel told both Lot and his wife to not look back towards the destruction of Sodom. Unable to resist the temptation, his spouse turned into the wrath of God and solidified into a pillar of salt. In this line, Vonnegut is referring to himself; he is the "failure" looking back on his years as a veteran.

Only forty pages later, Vonnegut makes another reference to the bible when he says, "But, lying on the black ice there, Billy stared into the patina of the corporal's boots, saw Adam and Eve in the golden depths. In the following lines, Billy Pilgrim, the character, addresses the beauty and innocence of the first two humans and the world they lived in. Vonnegut contrasts this with the despair and guilt involved in Billy's situation -- he thirsts for contact with peace and chastity.

As a prisoner of war, Billy was faced with a multitude of worsening conditions. His worst was when he and other men were trapped in a boxcar traveling towards another camp for ten days. Disease and depression spread like a plague. His fellow American soldiers were irritable and disliked him greatly. Consumed by these conditions, Pilgrim helplessly plunged into a moribund state. Faced by imminent death, Vonnegut compares Billy to Jesus in the line: "Billy Pilgrim was lying at an angle on the corner-brace, self-crucified, holding himself there with a blue and ivory claw hooked over the sill of the ventilator" (101). The word Vonnegut used, "crucified," evokes the idea of Jesus spread over the cross, dying slowly with every breath.

Nearing the end of the book, Billy Pilgrim and a handful of his fellow soldiers were trapped in a Slaughterhouse, when one day, a man visited them. Howard W. Campbell, Jr., a former American soldier, had come to preach in favor of Nazism with pure intention of converting Billy and his friends. Plagued by starvation and a number of other conditions, the soldiers were sleepy and struggling. Despite his audience's state, Campbell continued talking, advertising the German name, until Edgar Derby stood up. "Derby raised his head, called Campbell a snake." This line, though very subtle, relates to a biblical story. Vonnegut directly identifies Howard, the American traitor, as a snake, the devil in Genesis. It is a strong metaphor that effectively convinces the audience of his Campbell's hostility.

Symbols: Final Draft

Akbar Zamin

Mr. McElveen

English II

28 August 2013

Symbols

Certain experiences and education shape the development of every person – morally, intellectually, and physically. These different traits result in a personality unique to the individual to whom they belong. There are some influences that affected me as well; these stand out as landmarks in the development of my being.

Toys have a strong reputation and presence in the life of children; a wide variety of cars, dolls, and blocks keep the young population occupied and satisfied. Stuffed animals have always taken up a significant portion of the toy market. Their soft, friendly appearance must look comforting in the eyes of parents. As a child, I was very fond of these toys and saw them as a flexible version of Legos. Even though my plush animals were simply a shadow of my Lego collection, I still valued their existence as toys. I spent a number of days playing with the animals, creating my own scenes and feeding my imagination.

Looking back, I can now easily relate my shy personality to one of my favorite stuffed animals, the turtle. Socializing with other students was a difficult process; only a handful of words came to my attention after searching the boundaries of my mind. For a while, my head was in the shell, protected from the fear of humiliation and isolation. However, as I continued to force out phrases, I became familiar with people and words came easily to my lips – I had managed to poke my head out of the shell. Since then, my timidity has, for the most part, diminished, and is only slightly reflected in my personality today.

During my transition from a young child to a boy, technology was a growing focus amongst the community. Commercials enthusiastically advertised the arrival of the newest, most advanced device around. My fellow classmates armed themselves with the latest gadgets and boasted of their function. They soon had become engulfed in the internet world, exploring the vast space of social media and search engines. I felt abandoned in the ages of physical play, waiting impatiently to find a bridge into technology. When I was ten years old my parents gave me an LG Vu, a dinosaur of a phone. It was a device far past its prime that operated at the bare minimum. It was nothing special, not a smartphone, not a futuristic gizmo that I could “show-and-tell,” but it was a phone nonetheless. As it turned out, it was the bridge I was looking for. Technology had piqued my interest and gave birth to a new curiosity.

Before I knew it, I had fully adapted to technology: physical play became virtual play – writing on paper became typing on a keyboard – talking face to face became talking to a monitor. Cars and vehicles offered new accessories that guaranteed a more luxurious commute. Even schools began incorporating more technology into its various activities and lessons. The entire world around me had become captivated by technology, bound by a multitude of functions and the simplicity that accompanied it. The dinosaur of a phone had pioneered my passion for science and technology.

Unlike the small, mysterious electronic box which allowed nearly telepathic communication, school never appealed to me as a child. Countless hours of work with no visible outcome convinced me it was just a chore. Homework’s sole purpose was to consume hours upon hours of my personal time. I was losing interest and my grades were paying the price. However, in seventh grade, upon receiving a new backpack, I decided to concentrate on my future.  Homework was no longer for my parents or teachers, but for myself; I understood that my actions at school affected my entire life as a whole. My focus had drastically shifted from play to work. I soon realized that education was going to drive my pursuit to a happy, successful life.

From that time onwards, my backpack has been filled to the brim with binders, books, and notepads. I still remember struggling to heave my bag onto my back, aching to slip underneath the straps. In high school, the physical weight was slightly lifted, but the weight of my future became heavier. Classes and teachers emphasized the importance of a hard work and diligence. My backpack represents the moment of my educational epiphany and newly developed attitude towards school. Within a matter of weeks, education became a priority in my life and a new sense of ambition was forever engraved into my personality.

These three traits are clearly visible in my personality and reflected in my behavior. The plush turtle, old phone, and backpack were all accompanied by stories that, in some way, affected my life. Even today, the effects of those stories can be seen in my communication skills, interest in technology, and concern for education.

Three Sources

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/postmodernism/

This article emphasizes postmodernism's history in the world of literature and touches on its few characteristics that make it unique.

http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp

This source gives a very basic, easy to understand view of postmodernism.

http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/postmodernism/modules/introduction.html

The author of this article divides postmodernism into a number of categories, each accompanied by an example and a definition.

Rough Draft: Symbols

Certain experiences and education shape the development of every individual, morally, intellectually, and physically. These different traits construct a personality unique to whom they belong. Throughout the course of my lifetime, I have discovered a handful of features of my personality that stand out from the others. Only a few of these can properly be associated with symbols and a story.

Toys have a strong reputation and presence in the life of children. A wide variety of cars, dolls, and blocks keep the young population occupied and satisfied. Stuffed animals have always compromised a significant portion of the market; their soft, comforting appearance looks promising in the eyes of parents. As a child, I was very fond of these toys and often considered them to be a flexible version of Legos. Even though my plush animals were simply a shadow of my Lego collection, I still valued their function as toys. I spent a number of days fiddling with the animals, creating my own scenes and feeding my imagination.

Looking back, I can now easily relate my shy personality to one of my favorite stuffed animals, the turtle. Socializing with other students was a difficult process; only a handful of words came to thought after scraping the boundaries of my mind. For a while, my head was in the shell, protected from the fear of humiliation and indignity. However, as I continued to force out words, I became familiar with people and words came easily to my lips – I had managed to poke my head out of the shell. Since then, my timidity has, for the most part, diminished, and is slightly reflected in my personality.

During my transition from a young child to a boy, technology was a growing focus amongst the community; commercials enthusiastically advertised the arrival of the newest, most advanced device around. It never sparked my interest until I got a phone. It was an LG Vu, an old phone, but a phone nonetheless. At its prime, the company boasted about a number of features we would consider basic today. Despite the fact that it functioned at the bare minimum, I enjoyed the idea of having such a device.

Before I knew it, I had fully adapted to technology. Physical play became virtual play – writing on paper became typing on computer. Education began incorporating the usage of computers into their activities and lessons. The entire world around me had become captivated by technology, bound by its multitude of functions. The dinosaur of a phone had pioneered my passion for science and technology and dramatically changed the course of my life.

Unlike the small, mysterious electronic box which allowed nearly telepathic communication, school never appealed to me as a child. Countless hours of work with no visible outcome convinced me it was just a chore. I was losing interest and my grades were paying the price. However, in seventh grade, upon receiving a new backpack, I decided to focus on my future.  Homework was no longer for my parents or teachers, but for myself; I understood that my actions at school affected my entire life as a whole. Both my mindset and attitude shifted from play-oriented to work-oriented. Education was going to drive my pursuit to a happy, successful life.

To this day, I still use that backpack for its basic uses, to carry my books. However, I quickly came to the realization I was carrying not only the weight of my class materials, but the weight of my future as well. It represents the moment of my epiphany and newly developed mindset towards my education. Within a matter of weeks, schooling became one significant priority in my life and was forever engraved into my personality.

These three traits are clearly visible in my personality and reflected in my behavior. The plush turtle, old phone, and backpack were all accompanied by stories that, in some way, affected my life. Even today, the effects of those stories are seen in my communication skills, interest in technology, and concern for education.