Extended Essay Mkremin Bekir CAN 003280-011 (4) Duzeltilmis

Extended Essay Mükremin Bekir CAN 003280-‐011

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IN WHAT WAY SYMBOLISM REFLECTED

TO CHARACTERS AND THEMES IN DEATH

OF A SALESMAN

EXTENDED ESSAY PRESENTED IN

English B1

By

Mükremin Bekir CAN

Candidate number

003280-011

In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA from Prof. Dr. Mümtaz Turhan Social Sciences High School, Turkey


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Index

Abstract……………………………………………………………….....3

Introduction……………………………………………………………...4

Themes of Death Of A Salesman………………………………………..6

American Dream Through Symbols…………………………………...12

Character Analysis Through Symbols…………………………………14

Conclusion……………………………………………………………..16

Bibliography…………………………………………………………...17


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Abstract

Word count: 309

In this extended essay, I studied on themes and symbols in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Main things I have worked on themes such as American Dream and Delusions or dreams

blended with reality. I have chosen this play because Play won both Tony award and Pulitzer

award of drama. Another reason is I watched play in a local theatre .It was very interesting to see

such a theme that is given with a complex structure between dreams and reality.

The research question that I have intended to give: what is the effect of symbolism to characters

and theme in death of a salesman? To examine these facts, my start points are American Dream

and reality with flashbacks through turning points in the life of Willy Loman.

My method consisted on focusing false dreams that the main characters are trying to live. In my

essay, I wanted to give that idea researching symbols. These symbols represent some plots in

order to give a proper message. I realized that the writer intended to give us some clues about

characters life via symbols. After founding these symbols, I united them with characters.

The writer gives the message what people can do about his dreams via symbols and themes, especially

American Dream, which makes the play more interesting. While analyzing the symbols and characters, I

have also understood that using contradictory characters for example willy and biff and themes such as

honesty and dishonesty, the author intended us to comprehend what we should do as to be happy in

our lives. If someone tries to live others life, dreams then he will not see what he is really capable and he

became unsuccessful in life and look back with regrets. Writer wants to give us a message “is you” and

he gives us a way to how to do it.


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Introduction

Word count: 521

“Theatre is a branch of the performing arts. Any performance may be considered theatre; however, as a performing art, theatre focuses almost exclusively on live performers creating a self-contained dram a performance qualifies as dramatic by creating a representational illusion. By this broad definition, theatre has existed since the dawn of man, as a result of the human tendency for storytelling. Since its inception, theatre has come to take on many forms, utilizing speech, gesture, music, dance, and spectacle, combining the other performing arts, often as well as the visual arts, into a single artistic form.”1

Theatre based on live performances but most of the plays are written for giving an idea,

making critics or defending writers own claims about life, society and their world view.

Therefore, theatre is not just a live performance of an actor/actress with it also works as a

manifesto of the writer.

Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. The

play ran for 745 performances, winning both the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

One of the reasons why this play is thought to be a remarkable work is the character Willy who

is an ordinary salesman captured by false dreams and killed himself. Miller gave the characters

life using the technique called symbolism.

In this play, there are many symbols and themes that are used to explain the situation in

that era. We can see the American dream as the main theme but the theme of American dream is

given by symbols not with the script. If we want to understand play, we must examine what the

American dream is.

If you are an American and if you have a family, a house and a car, a good job with a

wealthy salary and if you are a man who is with people who respects you for who you are, you

can be said to have reached the American Dream. The idea of the American Dream became a

popular in the nineteenth century when millions of people immigrated to America in search of

better lives. At that time, a better life could mean a cottage or perhaps a house, some cattle and a

piece of land to live and farm.

1 En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre


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Historian James Truslow Adams popularized the phrase "American Dream" in his 1931

book The Epic of America:

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, also too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”2

Themes of Death of a salesman

Word count: 1810

Miller's, Death of a Salesman the main character, Willy, is greatly obsessed with

dreaming his deepest desires that are believed that dreams are real. He is not honest with himself

and he can’t see the truth in his life. Honesty is an important attribute in having a good family

life. And with its absence it can lead to betrayal and eventually, it leads you to guilt. Also, it is

necessary to be grown up mentally as behaviors in order to be positive in life, if maturity is not

reached, it is impossible to learn from your mistakes and become stronger. In every one’s life

there is always that feeling of performing for others but it not possible to live in real world if you

are always trying to be someone who you are not. All of these themes are related to one another

which make the story more composite and affective

There are many themes that are shown in the play that are very important for it. They

produce a more complex and interesting character, environment and community. Themes seem

to repeat in game. It is because writer wants to underline the message that he wants to give.

There are some themes that show themselves more. The main theme is containing others but

every theme has meanings by themselves.

Maturity is an important theme that is worked on in the play. It is vital to be mature in life

in order to achieve things. All the Loman men tries to act like boys because they do not know

what is to be growing up. Willy’s relationships Show his maturity, for example, Willy is the little

brother to Ben and like a son to Linda. Even his name is suitable for a little boy. When Charley 2 Adams James Truslow, The epic of America; Simon Publications; 1 edition (November 2001)


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offers Willy a job working for him, Willy will not accept because he thinks that it would be harm

to his pride. Charley tired of his attitude and he says "when the hell are you going to grow up"3

Willy replies like a child would reply, "you big ignoramus, if you say that to me again, I'll rap

you one! I don't care how big you are!"4

Happy is also immature. He is still living his bachelorhood, the age between child and a

man but believes he is ready for a serious marriage.

Performance is a fact of life but can change one's sense of reality. Everyday people are

found performing for an audience whether they are acting on a stage, saying a speech or even

living their daily lives. In the play performing is in conflict with reality. Willy is the biggest

performer in the play and Biff take up his father as a role model. Willy performs when he returns

home from work and Biff does like this also. They are like acting in a theatre in their lives and

performing their lives.

“BIFF: Did you knock them dead, pop"

WILLY: Knocked 'em out cold in Providence,

Slaughtered 'em in Boston.”

Its well-known Willy cannot sell anything now but he acts like he did. Also Biff performs

his dreams to his brother like they can really achieve something. He theatralizes the situation and

makes his family to believe him again.

“Two brothers, see? The Loman Brothers.

Displays in the Royal Palms - all the hotels.

And banners over the ring and basketball

Court: 'Loman Brothers.' Baby, we

Could sell sporting goods!”5

On the other hand, honesty is the biggest quality that is need for having good

relationships. In this play, there are great examples of stealing, cheating and lying. Most of this is

3 II, p.76 4 II.p.76 5 I, p.50


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dishonest but some of it is not made on purpose, for example, Willy tells lies about the amount of

sales he makes. However, Biff is more questionable; he steals Bill Oliver's fountain pen but he is

more aware of his dishonesty. "I stole myself out of every good job since high school!" (II.p104)

Biff is kicked out from every job because of stealing things. Happy realizes his dishonesty about

taking bribes from manufacturers. He thinks that he is honest because of the girl that he does not

want to steal from his boss.

“Like I'm not supposed to take bribes. Manufacturers offer Me a hundred-dollar bill now and then to throw an order

Their way. You know how honest I am, but it's like this

Girl, see. I hate myself for it. Because I don't want the girl,

And, still, I take it and - I love it!”6

Willy often listens to his older brother Ben for support who is not an honest person,

Charley often advises Willy of Biff's stealing but Ben agrees with Willy rejecting his worries.

“CHARLEY: Listen, if that watchman -

WILLY: I gave them hell, understand. But I got a couple

Of fearless characters there.

CHARLEY: Willy, the jails are full of fearless characters.

BEN: [clapping WILLY on the back, with a laugh at

CHARLEY] and the stock exchange, friend!”7

Ben explains the fact that the world is dishonest place and that honest people are the real

brave ones. Willy agrees with Ben's point of view because he admires him. Willy continually lies

during the play making his boys believe that there is nothing wrong being dishonest. Willy lies to

the boys about meeting the mayor of Providence. He wants his sons to believe that he is an

important man but in fact is just an average guy. Willy often finds himself trapped in his lies as

he has been telling himself them for years.

6 I, p.19 77 I, p.39


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The belief that life is like a dream is the dominant and the biggest idea that Miller uses

throughout the play. It overrides all other themes with this dream-like play. Willy is constantly in

a dream that is controlled by continuous changes in time and environment. In the introduction of

the play Miller proves to his audience that dreaming is evident in Death of a Salesman. "An air

of the dream clings to the place, a dream rising out of reality." The dream starts into the play as

escaping reality and continues to illustrate the house as "fragile" and closed places are called "a

solid vault of apartment houses." This description makes the dream itself fragile because it is

attached to the house. Miller continues to describe Willy's dreams as “massive” that propose size

and force. Because he has dreams that he cannot reach. This creates a relationship between Willy

and the dreams. They are both breakable but also they think that they are strong. Dreams show

his deepest desires. He knows that they are not real but he still believes them as an immature

character, Willy always insists on his dreams. He desperately tries to make his dreams real like a

child. In the first scene Willy returns home exhausted explaining to Linda about his trip to

Yonkers and how he was repetitively going off the road. He continues to explain how beautiful

the scenery is and gives an example of a dream rising out of reality.

“I'm tellin' ya, I absolutely forgot I was driving. If I'd've

Gone the other way over the white line I might've killed

Somebody. So I went on again - and five minutes later

I'm dreamin' again, and I nearly - [He pressed two

Fingers against his eyes.] I have such thoughts, I have

Such strange thoughts.”8

Willy works as a salesman throughout the play and calls himself the "New England man"

even though he is a disrespected salesman. Willy proves himself to be unskilled, unprofitable so

the sales company lets him go. Willy challenges his boss Howard and accuses him. "You can't

eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit."9 Willy feels that Howard

has gone back on his father's word by failing to help him out. He thinks that he is really a hard-

working, successful salesman and he behaves like an orange that is ate and throw the peel away.

Willy is unable to bear with the changing of times and live in reality. He blames his misfortune

8 I, p.9 9 II, p.64


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on other people. He never seeks the mistakes can be from him. Willy's son, Biff suffers from

dreaming, which shows everything as evident in his misfortunes. Miller explains in a stage

instruction:

“BIFF is two years older than his brother, HAPPY, well built,

But in these days bears a worn air and seems less self-

Assured. He has succeeded less, and his reams are stronger

And less acceptable than HAPPY's.”10

It is Biff at the end of the play that realizes Willy had "the wrong dreams. All, all,

wrong."11 This is amusing when we consider that how Biff's dreams are like his fathers and he

failed. They dream about beauty, escape, and strength. It is Happy who believes his father "had a

good dream. It's the only dream you can have - to come out number-one man." 12 This is the

wrong conclusion, though because Happy doesn't comprehend his father's dream. His character

isn't large enough. Happy's dreams are too easy. He is just lying about his feelings about his

father Biff becomes more of a positive character when he tells Willy to "take that phoney dream

and burn it before something happens" Biff realizes that his father's dreams are "phoney"

meaning that some dreams are appropriate but they are fake. Fake is not means not real but it

means it is not suitable for Willy. Biff finally realizes that he has "been talking in a dream for

fifteen years."13

.

All of the themes mentioned are blended around each other to create a complex and

interesting play. The dominant theme that overrides the others is dreams. Willy's dreams are his

desired beliefs that he performs in his life unaware of the present. This is evident when Willy

explains his drive to Yonkers and how he could not keep his eyes on the road because of his

excessive dreaming that he knows he cannot control. These similar events repetitively occur

showing the meaning of Death of a Salesman. Honesty is another important theme that ties in

10 I, p.14 11 Requiem, p.110 12 Requiem, p.111 13 II, p.82


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with Willy's strange dreams because they continue to approach him for reasons of his dishonesty

and guilt to his loyal wife, Linda. Maturity is another theme addressed that is definitely

unavoidable in growing stronger as a person; however, the characters are still shown as children

not yet able to mature. There are performers everywhere you go and this is how the population is

entertained daily. On the other hand, it is crucial not to believe your own life is a performance it

can be acceptable to dream and desire; however, if your dreams are above us, unrealistic then

they give just pain to you instead of making you happy.

American Dream Through Symbols

Word count 461

Willy shows all these standards that American dream requires. He wants to be respectable

guy in his business, an idol father to his sons and the best husband. But when he feels losing his

control on his bigger son, Biff, he becomes aggressive and eventually Willy refuses his own son.

He cannot bare the idea of losing control on his delusion life. Biff was an idol; football captain, a

leader and good-looking boy that can conquer American dream. But when he loses control of

him, he rejects his own son. He tries to kick him from his life, so he will have any delusions

about him. At first, Will was an idol for Biff but when he finds out Willy has an affair with a

woman, his idol and his idolism about his father gets lost. He does not want to be a salesman or a

job that makes him like his father. Because he is not like he tells and he saw the true Willy; an

unsuccessful and a liar person. Then he escapes from his house and he works in a farm

There are some examples for Happy, Will and Linda’s little son. He is an example to how

American dream affects people in that era. He is just a shop assistant’s assistant but he sees

himself as a salesman. He waits for death or retirement of the shop manager. His eyes on the

managers seat and even death “if it is a way to earn higher level on job” he does not care if

someone dies or retires because it can make him promote. Another fact about him is he is trying

to steal his co-workers girlfriends and fiancées to prove him that he is more capable, successful

and powerful than them, which shows us that he is so stuck to the lies about himself that he will

never see the truth about him.


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Also, there are some object symbols represent American dreams such as seeds. Seeds

show us that Willy wants to prove his value both as a salesman and as father. His attempt to

grow vegetables shows us his failure and shame about barely bringing food to house and nothing

to leave his children when he passes. He feels that he worked so hard and yet he has not got any

chance to help his sons; he cannot give anything more than his abandoning father helped him.

And seed also represents Willy’s feeling about failure of Biff. Despite the American Dream’s

formula for success, which Willy considers infallible, Willy’s efforts to cultivate and nurture Biff

went awry. Realizing that his all-American football star has turned into a lazy bum, Willy takes

Biff’s failure and lack of ambition as a reflection of his abilities as a father.

Character Analysis Through Symbols

Word count: 811

The tennis racket Willy observes when he was talking with Bernard in Charley’s office is

a symbol of Bernard’s success and Biff’s failure. While athletic Biff and Happy hoped to make a

fortune selling sports equipment, it is Bernard, who in high school stood on the sidelines while

Biff played sports, that now owns the tennis racket. The boy who Willy does not respect,

Bernard became successful but Biff an admirable student went down.

To Willy, diamonds represent wealth and, hence, both validation of one’s labor (and life)

and the ability to pass material goods on to one’s offspring, two things that Willy desperately

craves. Correlatively, diamonds, the discovery of which made Ben a fortune, symbolize Willy’s

failure as a salesman. Despite Willy’s belief in the American Dream, a belief unwavering to the

extent that he passed up the opportunity to go with Ben to Alaska, the Dream’s promise of

financial security has eluded Willy. At the end of the play, Ben encourages Willy to enter the

“jungle” finally and retrieve this elusive diamond—that is, to kill himself for insurance money in

order to make his life meaningful.

The rubber hose is a stage prop that reminds the audience of Willy’s desperate attempts at

suicide. He has apparently attempted to kill himself by inhaling gas, which is, ironically, the

thing that we use most. Basic elements with which he must equip his home for his family’s


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health and comfort—heat. Literal death by inhaling gas refers to the death that Willy feels in his

struggle to afford such a basic necessity.

Willy’s strange obsession with the condition of Linda’s stockings his later flashback to

Biff’s discovery of him and The Woman in their Boston hotel room. The teenage Biff accuses

Willy of giving away Linda’s stockings to The Woman. Stockings assume a weight as the

symbol of betrayal and sexual infidelity. New stockings are important for both Willy’s pride in

being financially successful and able to provide for his family and for Willy’s ability to ease his

guilt about, and suppress the memory of, his betrayal of Linda and Biff.

Play occurs in New York and Boston but when Willy sees dreams or illusions he

remembers things from past and they were always about Alaska and Africa this means Willy

feels that opportunities that take him to success are in New York but his failure is also here. He

could not find success in here and he remembers his life’s turning points. His brother Ben; who

is an adventurous person and a man who becomes rich in Africa jungles offers him to go Alaska

together to find their father. He is always thinking about him because he is nothing in New York

and he thinks he would be a rich man if he accepted his Brother Ben’s offer.

Biff’s losing his father as an idol wasn’t like losing himself. He escaped from Will’s

reality about his life and he saw the true will, as a low level salesman, affair with women and not

successful at all when he saw that he didn’t want to be like him and he escaped from that world

to his way. But he couldn’t and he came to home confused. This is a dilemma about American

dream. It’s the way to say there is no escape through American dream for Arthur Miller.

As stated previously, Biff is in a conflict inner himself. He wants to follow his father’s

dream but also he knows his affair and does not want to be like him and instead of working in

city being a capitalist and pursuing the American dream, he wants to work outdoors and use his

power, his hands

Biff explains to his brother both the appeal and the angst of working on a ranch:

“BIFF: There’s nothing more inspiring or – beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new colt. And it’s cool there now, see? Texas is cool now, and its spring. And whenever spring comes to where I am, I suddenly get the feeling, my God, I’m not getting’ anywhere! What the hell am I doing, playing around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week! I’m thirty-four years old. I ought to be makin’ my future. That’s when I come running home” KAYNAK


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But, in the end of the game he realizes that his father lived for just an empty and wrong dream.

He understands that his father was great with his hands, his man power. Willy builds their garage

and puts up a new ceiling. Biff believes that his father should be a carpenter but instead of it,

Willy sells nameless, unidentified products, and watches his American Dream fall apart. And in

funeral, he decides that he will not allow that to happen himself he turns away from Willy’s

dream and go to countryside where he is good at his work.

Conclusion

Word count: 363

I want to repeat my research question in order to give my message clear: “What is the

effect of symbolism to characters and theme in Death of a Salesman?”

It can be seen that themes in this play are used perfectly to dramatize the situation to us.

Themes such as false dreams, honesty, immaturity, shows us the main issues of that era. And

behaviors like this lead us false dreams and destroy our lives. American dream may have been

seen as an opportunity to who immigrated to America but when you have faced with it, or you

misunderstood it like Willy Loman and Chase the false dreams, then you will not be able to

succeed in it.

Also, symbolism through symbols is used to describe characters and environment. The

Effect of American dream to that day’s America is also the main issue of the play. If Miller had

not used these symbols which made the play easy to understand, it would not have given the real

and proper message. But using symbols like seeds, flute, stockings etc. he gave us what he

intended to give.

Also writer uses opposite situations for giving us what is the true way for being

successful. For writer success means happy with family, a comfortable job. And doing what you

really want to do. Writer uses opposite situations like Bernard’s success and Biff’s failure, Ben’s,

Willy’s big brother who pursuit his dreams, success but Will’s failure. Good relationships

between Bernard and Charley that is Willy always wanted. But instead a son who hates him most


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in his life. With these situations, Arthur Miller wants to show how Willy’s life cans like if he

take the right dreams.

As a general look Arthur miller made a perfect mix with themes and symbols in order to

give us the dark side of the American dream. Flashbacks and dreams of Willy Loman make the

play interesting and affect the audience with the complex structure of dreams and reality. It

shows the dilemma of an American salesman who is not aware of the real world. It can be said it

is a wakeup call to who’s under effect of American Dream.

Total Word: 3970


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Miller Arthur, Death Of A Salesman Penguin (Non-Classics) (January 1, 1996)

Bloom Harold, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations);

Chelsea House Publications (January 1988)

Scheidt Jennifer L., Death of a Salesman (Cliffs Notes); Cliffs Notes (December 12, 2000)

Adams James Truslow, The epic of America; Simon Publications; 1 edition (November 2001)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman

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