Sierra Casola

Dr. Douville

ENG4U

July 24, 2021

ENG4U: Critical Analysis Essay on “Death of a Salesman”

The use of literary lenses vastly influences the interpretation the reader has on the

particular work of English. When readers are interpreting a work with the psychological lens,

they are looking into the characters motivations, behaviours and feelings. Using the

socio-economic lens to interpret a text will cause the reader to focus on the roles of power,

money and social class. It is important that readers use literary lenses when examining themes in

the work they are studying, such as the theme of resilience. Resilience is highly affected by both

psychology and socio-economics, which is why using these lenses to interpret work will help

readers analyze resilience. When viewing resilience from a physiological lens perspective,

readers will be able to identify the motivations behind the resilience, as well as the behaviours

and feelings that portray the character’s resilience. However, when readers are examining

resilience through the socio-economic lens, they will be able to identify how the roles of power,

money and social class affects the character’s resilience. If a reader has failed to inspect the

resilience of a character through the physiological lens and the socio-economical lens, they will

be unable to fully understand the resilience the character has. The psychological lens explains

how Willy is resilient, while the socio-economic lens demonstrates why Willy must be resilient.

Willy’s resilience is evident throughout his feelings, motivations, desires and behaviours.

In particular, he is resilient towards his desire of achieving the American Dream. The

psychological lens helps readers understand how Willy displays resilience through his feelings,
motivations, desires and behaviours, which is why it is crucial to view Willy’s resilience through

the lens of psychology. Willy’s revisitations to his past are apparent because of the psychological

lens; these revisitations lead to Willy’s desire to achieve the American Dream, as well as how

Willy feels towards himself on this journey. “God! Why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother

Ben that time! Ben! That man was a genius, that man was success incarnate! What a mistake! He

begged me to go.” (Miller 57) This quote is an example of one of Willy’s revisitations to his past,

in which Willy is feeling regretful about his decision to stay in New York years ago. Willy

endures this regretful feeling because his brother Ben, became a very successful man due to his

journey to Alaska and therefore achieved the American Dream, while Willy has not. This quote

perfectly illustrates how Willy’s feeling of regret displays his desire to fulfill the American

Dream. Throughout this play, Willy becomes aware by his revisitations that these crucial choices

have impacted his ability to accomplish the American Dream, as well as, demonstrate the feeling

of regret. The psychological lens really indicates how Willy is resilient through his revisitations

due to the regretful feelings and choices that overcame him.

Willy’s also resilient due to his knowledge of the role of power, money and social class.

Willy affiliates the American Dream with success and wealth. The socio- economic lens portrays

the reasons why Willy is resilient in his desire for the American Dream; it is a must. Willy’s

attitude towards those of other social classes is portrayed by the socio-economical lens— he

often looks up to individuals that are considered successful and wealthy. Willy’s desire to

achieve the American Dream is because of his admiration towards those of a high social class. It

is evident that Willy is determined to reach a high social class to feel acceptance in himself,

however, he is not on the path to achieve that. “A hundred and twenty dollars! My God, if

business don’t pick up I don’t know what I’m gonna do!” (53) Willy states this after Linda lists
off everything they have to pay to repair; the fan belt, washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, and

the roof— thus proving that Willy and his family are struggling financially. The family's financial

struggle is wearing Willy down since he is determined to succeed the American Dream and this

struggle makes it evident that he will not. Overall, the socio-economical lens proves that Willy

must be resilient in his desire to achieve the American Dream— he must overcome his financial

struggles in order to succeed.

Willy's resilience towards the American Dream is proven by both the psychological lens

and the socio-economical lens. The psychological lens is important to show the resilience Willy

holds since it highlights the ways in which Willy is resilient through his motivations and

feelings. For readers to analyze the resilience a character has, it is crucial to understand the ways

in which the character is displaying resilience. The socio-economic lens is also extremely

important for the readers to identify and understand since it best explains the reasoning behind

why Willy must be resilient. It is important that readers understand why a character is acting a

certain way or pursuing a certain dream, the socio-economic lens perfectly displays this. “A man

can't go out the way he came in, Ben, a man has got to add up to something” (129) This quote is

stated when Willy is having an imaginary conversation with his brother Ben, it is significant to

his psychological lens because of his revisitation and it is also significant to the

socio-economical lens because it confirms the fact that Willy must be resilient. By this quote,

Willy means that a man must finish his life with success and wealth, a man enters life poor and

unsuccessful, but they ‘add up to something’ when they achieve success, proving Willy’s main

motivation towards the American Dream. The psychological and socio- economic lenses are

similar in the way an individual views themselves and others, which is Willy’s main motivation

to achieve the American Dream.

 While Willy’s resilience is displayed by both the psychological lens and socio-economic

lens, it is crucial that the readers understand how each lens is demonstrating resilience

differently. The psychological lens proves Willy’s resilience by providing insight on how Willy is

resilient. The socio-economical lens shows why Willy must be resilient to achieve his dreams.

Both the psychological and socio-economical lens confirm Willy’s main motivation towards

accomplishing the American Dream; his admiration towards the higher social class. While Willy

has not succeeded in his desire, his resilience is further shown in his suicide. Willy could not

handle the fact that he was unsuccessful or financially struggling and figured suicide would be

best, as it would give Linda the money she needed to pay the bills. In conclusion, Willy has

failed to achieve the American Dream and success, however, his resilience along the way was

proven through the socio-economical and psychological lenses.

Works Cited
“Death of a Salesman Quotes.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/lit/death-of-a-salesman/quotes.

“Death of a Salesman: Study Guide - Quotes.” SparkNotes, SparkNotes,

www.sparknotes.com/lit/salesman/#Quotes.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts

and a Requiem. Penguin Books, 1998.