Post by tarah07 on Mar 19, 2008 22:04:44 GMT -5
TH
Period 7
WC: 697
The Transcendence of the Success/Failure Relationship in America
Capitalism, like any other aspect of American society, has inevitably undergone numerous changes as our nation continues to develop economically. With each new decade comes a new measure of triumph in the business world, and a new degree of the classically American competitive drive. As capitalism continues to readjust to the continually fluctuating economical state of the county, Arthur Miller’s famous play Death of a Salesmen examines the presence of success and failure in a society as a factor that transcends all the changing technicalities of America. Through its juxtaposition of Willy Loman, the societal definition of “failure,” and his successful counterparts, such as Dave Singleman and Uncle Ben, Death of a Salesman creates a universal theme that addresses the evidently fixed existence of failure in the presence of success as a perpetual element of human nature in a capitalistic society.
Because he is established early on in the play as an unsuccessful man, Willy’s seemingly pathetic attempts to identify himself with Dave Singleman, a renowned success in the business world, shows a stark contrast between the steady success/failure partnership in America. Unlike his own pitiable excuse for a funeral, Willy describes with deep admiration how “when [Dave] died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral,” (Miller 81). Willy’s childlike reverence for Dave shows the immense difference in the two character’s levels of achievement, and therefore creates a better developed picture as to why Willy is constantly striving to reach such an unattainable goal. Unbeknownst to Willy, for every “Dave Singleman,” America’s capitalistic Darwinism naturally sets out to create human stepping stones in order to uphold the business world’s success stories, however few and far between. Unfortunately for Willy, his development as an ineffective salesman, and as a result, a man who finds little, if any, happiness in his life, portrays this harsh economical system. The thematic representation of failure as a gateway to success in the play is not solely applicable to Miller’s mid-19th century America; it carries significance throughout America today as it develops a theme that employs aspects of society’s eternal nature.
During the play, Uncle Ben fittingly takes on the role of Willy’s subconscious, constantly reinforcing the fact that he has become a successful businessman, while Willy is in the same place he began decades ago. This conscious/subconscious relationship between these two characters creates an even more intricate representation of the lop-sided partnership between success and failure. As Willy helplessly argues with his son, Biff, at the end of the play about his son’s choice of career, Ben’s voice is heard, reminding Willy about “a perfect proposition all around,” that Willy passed up in his earlier years. The scene of Willy trying to persuade his son to take on the obviously unfulfilling life that he did because of its connotation as the American way, coupled with Ben’s voice, show once again the physical and emotion difference between Willy and Ben. Willy’s inability to accept his role in society forces him to become a depressed individual: an overall failure in society as well as in his personal life. There is an undeniable gap demonstrated in the play between success and failure in American society: a timeless archetype of an economical playground that bases its manifestation on the cycle of the success and failure relationship.
Miller’s Death of a Salesmen’s thematic examination of the success/failure correlation in American society through characters such as Willy Loman, Uncle Ben, and Dave Singleman shows the play’s multi-generational malleability and its ability to relate to modern America. Miller’s constant reminder to the reader that Willy is an unsuccessful businessman who suffers at the cost of wealthy achievers can be seen all throughout our nation today. For every CEO, there are multiple Willy Lomans: people living below the poverty line struggling to climb the ladder of success while constantly being pulled downward by failure’s metaphorical gravitational pull. Unfortunately, it is natural for a capitalistic nation to see these polar extremes. Whether through the eyes of Miller’s 1950s play, or through the lens of a contemporary societal microscope, the presence of failure as a way to manifest success in a society is a universal and permanent aspect of society.
Period 7
WC: 697
The Transcendence of the Success/Failure Relationship in America
Capitalism, like any other aspect of American society, has inevitably undergone numerous changes as our nation continues to develop economically. With each new decade comes a new measure of triumph in the business world, and a new degree of the classically American competitive drive. As capitalism continues to readjust to the continually fluctuating economical state of the county, Arthur Miller’s famous play Death of a Salesmen examines the presence of success and failure in a society as a factor that transcends all the changing technicalities of America. Through its juxtaposition of Willy Loman, the societal definition of “failure,” and his successful counterparts, such as Dave Singleman and Uncle Ben, Death of a Salesman creates a universal theme that addresses the evidently fixed existence of failure in the presence of success as a perpetual element of human nature in a capitalistic society.
Because he is established early on in the play as an unsuccessful man, Willy’s seemingly pathetic attempts to identify himself with Dave Singleman, a renowned success in the business world, shows a stark contrast between the steady success/failure partnership in America. Unlike his own pitiable excuse for a funeral, Willy describes with deep admiration how “when [Dave] died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral,” (Miller 81). Willy’s childlike reverence for Dave shows the immense difference in the two character’s levels of achievement, and therefore creates a better developed picture as to why Willy is constantly striving to reach such an unattainable goal. Unbeknownst to Willy, for every “Dave Singleman,” America’s capitalistic Darwinism naturally sets out to create human stepping stones in order to uphold the business world’s success stories, however few and far between. Unfortunately for Willy, his development as an ineffective salesman, and as a result, a man who finds little, if any, happiness in his life, portrays this harsh economical system. The thematic representation of failure as a gateway to success in the play is not solely applicable to Miller’s mid-19th century America; it carries significance throughout America today as it develops a theme that employs aspects of society’s eternal nature.
During the play, Uncle Ben fittingly takes on the role of Willy’s subconscious, constantly reinforcing the fact that he has become a successful businessman, while Willy is in the same place he began decades ago. This conscious/subconscious relationship between these two characters creates an even more intricate representation of the lop-sided partnership between success and failure. As Willy helplessly argues with his son, Biff, at the end of the play about his son’s choice of career, Ben’s voice is heard, reminding Willy about “a perfect proposition all around,” that Willy passed up in his earlier years. The scene of Willy trying to persuade his son to take on the obviously unfulfilling life that he did because of its connotation as the American way, coupled with Ben’s voice, show once again the physical and emotion difference between Willy and Ben. Willy’s inability to accept his role in society forces him to become a depressed individual: an overall failure in society as well as in his personal life. There is an undeniable gap demonstrated in the play between success and failure in American society: a timeless archetype of an economical playground that bases its manifestation on the cycle of the success and failure relationship.
Miller’s Death of a Salesmen’s thematic examination of the success/failure correlation in American society through characters such as Willy Loman, Uncle Ben, and Dave Singleman shows the play’s multi-generational malleability and its ability to relate to modern America. Miller’s constant reminder to the reader that Willy is an unsuccessful businessman who suffers at the cost of wealthy achievers can be seen all throughout our nation today. For every CEO, there are multiple Willy Lomans: people living below the poverty line struggling to climb the ladder of success while constantly being pulled downward by failure’s metaphorical gravitational pull. Unfortunately, it is natural for a capitalistic nation to see these polar extremes. Whether through the eyes of Miller’s 1950s play, or through the lens of a contemporary societal microscope, the presence of failure as a way to manifest success in a society is a universal and permanent aspect of society.