... that individual. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is an excellent example of how one's will to achieve can affect themselves as well as those around them. Willy Loman's drive for success affects his family, his friends, and most importantly himself. Many factors can contribute to an individual's success. Ben, Willy's deceased older brother has a major impact on Willy's drive for success. Ben is a shadowy figure who functions more as ... Ben appears. Ben functions as a character that Willy can rely upon in a moment of severe depression. When Willy can't face the pressing problems of ...

• Word Count: 1216
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... child early in the play that is used and intimidated by Biff. As Bernard and Biff grow up, Bernard is the one that studies in school and works for his grades while Biff plays sports and cheats off Bernard. Willy also makes comments about the frail and seemingly boring kid Bernard is. The irony to those perspectives is that Bernard represents the view for success in America with those qualities. The irony is visible late in the play when Willy goes into Charley's office and Bernard is also there. Bernard is now ... uses Bernard to show being ordinary and not doing anything special are th...

• Word Count: 1159
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... his life to be salesman on the belief of the honor of such a career, having too much pride to admit that his own destiny was in a simple career like a carpenter. Wearing a white collar then a blue one. Instead he looked up to his bother Ben, a figment of his imagination who told him that money was the true path to happiness. Now out of options, he decides that suicide is his only exit, so ... is completely true, Willy was never meant to be a salesman. Biff was able to recognize that his father chose the wrong path and had all the wrong beliefs. Charley and his son Bernard are the only t...

• Word Count: 1248
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... in life (Encarta 1). The main themes of this play are the idea of the American dream and what it takes to success, the struggle to distinguish between reality and illusion, and the emotional problems of the family. "Death of a Salesman" is the story of the Loman family, especially Willy, trying to accomplish the American dream, but with no success. Willy Loman is married to Linda, and his two sons are Biff and Happy. Other characters as Ben, Charley, Bernard, and the women in the hotel play a major role in Willy's downfall through the ... story. Willy has always wanted to be successful ...

• Word Count: 792
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School