Check out Shmoop's visual take on what it's all about. DEATH OF A SALESMAN BY ARTHUR MILLER FREE ONLINE STUDY GUIDE / BOOKNOTES THEMES - THEMES ANALYSIS . It helps showcase the American dream that society tends to strive for even in the early 1900’s (the play is set in the 1940’s). The play ‘Death of a Salesman’ has many themes and conflicts. Recurring themes of his major works involve the overwhelming importance of personal and social responsibility and the moral corruption that results from betraying the dictates of conscience. Death of a Salesman study guide contains a biography of Arthur Miller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Disciples of the American dream were firmly convinced that hard work is a … Themes American Dream: The American Dream plays a pivotal role in the novel, it is the central cause of Willy Loman’s downfall and the reason for the Loman family's unhappiness.Willy steadfastly holds on to his corrupted version of the American Dream, he believes that business and life will go well as long as he is “well- liked” and has “personal attractiveness”. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller: Themes Failure of the American dream is the crucial theme of Death of a Salesman. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's dream is to be a great salesman. The Theme of Confusion. Death of a Salesman – Quotations and Analysis Quotations and Analysis “And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. This essay will briefly discuss the main ideas and conflicts depicted in the play. This is a theme that Miller exploited so well. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a play revolving around the themes of betrayal, desperation, failure, denial, and abandonment. Miller's masterpiece, Death of a Salesman (1949; Pulitzer Prize), is the story of a salesman betrayed by his own hollow values and those of American society. The play Death of a Salesman greatly portrays a specific ideology in regards to values, dreams, goals, and success in our consumer-driven society. It is a tragedy that shows the striking contrast between the Loman family’s dreams and the reality of their lives. In Death of a Salesman, there are recurring themes or motifs that unify the play and blend together in the last act to give a paradoxical or ironic comment on the drama. Death of a Salesman study guide contains a biography of Arthur Miller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a … Themes, Motifs, and Imagery to Look For & Discuss The American Dream. By American dream we mean a promise of freedom and opportunity for all. Trying to imagine Themes in Death of a Salesman? The Depression put a great strain on his family, and to help them financially, he briefly became a salesman, although shortly quit because of the poor pay. The play was a big success - written in 1949, and was inspired by Miller's experience of The Depression, which he said 'is my book'. Explore how the characters Willy, Ben, and Biff define that dream. The 'American Dream' is one of the key themes in Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman.' The American Dream is the idea that no matter a person's background, anyone can achieve their goals through hard work and determination. There is confusion all over the play; the main characters are engulfed in turmoil.