New Criticism

Death of a Salesman

In his play, Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller employs overstatement, as well as a biased point of view in the character of Willy Loman to reveal Willy’s skewed view of reality as well as his need for affirmation from his sons, emphasizing that in his mind, the success of his sales is directly linked to his personal worth.

Willy Loman, by the world’s standards, is not a good father; he tries excessively hard to set an example of perfection for his sons, but is only able to do so through a series of lies. In a flashback, Willy brags about his success in sales to his sons saying, “I’m tellin’ you, I was sellin’ thousands and thousands, but I had to come home” (Miller 21). Later, when it is only Linda and Willy left in the room, Linda remarks, “Well, that makes it seventy dollars and some pennies. That’s very good” (Miller 22). Willy desires so much to be liked and admired by his boys that he lies to them about his success. Because in Willy’s unstable mind, they will love him once he brings home the big bucks. Miller often allows Willy to make such remarks to reveal how broken Willy is; Willy is not satisfied with mediocre results, because in order to be worth anything, he feels he must be the very best. When in all actuality, his boys would rather he were honest with them. In his explosion before Willy dies, Biff finally shares his feelings as to what kind of a father Willy should have been for him and Happy: “…I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody” and later, “I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you” (Miller 97). Biff’s whole life was full of Willy’s exaggerations, forcing Biff to believe lies about himself. Biff grew up believing his father was a successful business man, well liked and a leader of men; when he finds out the truth, his life falls apart. Miller is very good about showing how lies and exaggerations can lead to temporary gain but will ultimately result in broken lives and crushed dreams, as is the case with the Loman men.

Miller writes from Willy’s point of view, a biased and often unreliable narrator; but he uses this unreliability to point to Willy’s instability and emphasize even more the brokenness within the Loman household. All throughout the play, point of view is important. Willy gives the information and tells the stories from his memory. Because his memory is deteriorating, it is highly likely he is remembering the events in the flashbacks in a very fabricated way. For example, every flashback including Ben, Willy’s mind portrays as perfect and ideal. Ben remarks, “William, you’re being first rate with your boys. Outstanding, manly chaps” (Miller 35). Now whether or not Willy is actually a good father, this statement reveals something about Willy. Willy wanted Ben to be proud of him all his life, because he didn’t want to regret not going with Ben. His memory recalling this observation of his fatherhood is Willy’s way of affirming his role as a father from the eyes of his ideal older brother. The point of view changes in the Requiem and Linda’s last lines reveal the very first trustworthy line from the play. Linda looks down at Willy’s grave and says, “I made the last payment on the house today. Today dear. And there’ll be nobody home. We’re free and clear. We’re free. We’re free…we’re free…” (Miller 103). Willy, in all his thoughts throughout the play never mentioned anything about freedom; Linda however, in her short moments after his death recalls a free feeling. This is important because Miller is revealing how trapped Willy has become in his lifestyle and his thought process. Willy’s point of view offers the view of a caged life that requires success for worth, but Linda’s point of view offers what Willy has been searching for, freedom.