Death Of A Salesman Illusion In An American Tragedy Essay

When the realities of life become too harsh, humankind has a natural tendency to choose the most convenient solution to his problem: illusion. They build dreams and fantasies to conceal the more difficult truths of their lives. In his play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller portrays the hold of such illusions on individuals and its horrible consequences. Through the overly average, overly typical Loman family, Miller shows how dreams of a better life become, as Choudhuri put it, â€Å"fantasies to the point that the difference between illusion and reality, the Loman’s dreams and the forces of society, becomes blurred† (Choudhuri 70). The Loman family created dreams and illusions that were far better than their reality. In Death of a†¦show more content†¦Choudhuri explains that the mood of the play begins with dreams and longings of the heart, but ends with sorrow and disillusionment (Choudhuri 69). The play opens with, â€Å"A melody is heard, played upon a fl ute. It is a small and fine telling of grass and tress and the horizon†¦an air of the dream clings to the place† (Miller 1, 1). This set the mood of happiness surrounded by fantasy and illusion. In the end, the mood completely changes with, â€Å"Only the music of the flute is left on the darkening stage† (Miller 139, 2). These words complete the play with a darkened environment of disillusionment which perfectly accompanies the disillusionment of the characters. Choudhuri also points out that a certain irony also sets off the theme of disillusionment, projecting Willy’s idealism and then the starkness of his situation (Choudhuri 73). Linda tells Willy, â€Å"Will, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the world,† (Miller 31, 1) but she is interrupted by the laughter of Willy’s mistress. Willy gives his mistress stockings, and shortly after, Linda is seen mending some stockings of her own. Yet another example of this irony is in Act II. Willy expresses his opinion that Biff is spiteful and ruining himself, and then Miller shows Biffs’ shock at discovering his father’s adultery. The most apparent symbol of Willy’s fantasies and his eventual disillusionment is Miller’s use of flashback. Choudhuri describes that at first there is a distinction between reality and illusion (theShow MoreRelatedEssay about The American Dream in Death of a Salesman1371 Words   |  6 PagesArthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ is an examination of American life and consumerism. It relates the story of a common man who portrays this lifestyle. Other issues explored in the play include: materialism, procrastination and alienation. The play was set in 1948, in a time where The American Dream was highly regarded, despite the Depression. 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