Convocation: November 2023

Word count: 1500

Concept: Transformation
Student code: kqy875

The main plot of this story is based on Willy's last 24 hours in which the audience is
given to know why he ended up in such a way due to the decisions made regarding his life,
taking into account his desire to achieve the American dream, explaining his relationship with
his older brother, Ben, his “Incident” with his lover and multiple discussions with his eldest
son, Biff, and finally his economic problems lead him to a dead end where he chooses to
commit suicide, so his family can collect his life insurance.

There are themes which mainly focus on the achievement of the American dream and
what this represents, in this opportunity Miller offers the spectator to see the other side of the
coin making use of the representation and transformation concept, in this way of ideas the
reader can notice that in a “superficial” way the concept of transformation is implicit in the
work due to the internal conflict that the main character of the work has, as the novel
progresses he finds himself with identity issues which makes him generated awareness in
himself about his failed dreams and excessive ambitions, and its thanks to this reality shock
that Willy clearly represents the concept of transformation as it changes the perspective of
how he sees himself, thanks to this authorial choice to see that one of the main implications is
that Willy becomes a man “sure of himself”. Even the transformation is represented in the
work in its structure, since the author makes use of a technique called “memory theater” to
contrast the different situations or moments of Willy's life through flashbacks that show the
past, making those changes that have arisen in the life of the main character that have led him
to the present day of his life more evident.

Now, taking all this into account, the literary work produced by Arthur Miller led me
to consider the following statement: Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” is not the result
of the American Dream, but a representation of the consequences of his own personal
shortcomings and bad decisions, being used by the author to express the destructive effects of
the American Dream through the use of symbolism, to generate a critique of American
society which mainly prioritizes appearances over identity, relying on the continuous contrast
between the present and the past to demonstrate how the American Dream directly transforms
those who wish to achieve it.

In death of a salesman, Willy represents the ambition of those Americans who dream
of being successful and make bad decisions in order to pretend to have a life.

A concrete example of this is when Willy is in his boss's office to ask him to please
move him to an office closer to his home due to his financial and health problems. However,
despite having worked for the company for many years, Howard fires him instead of helping
him, demonstrating the lack of empathy and solidarity in the materialistic success culture.
 This incident supports the thesis by criticizing the false representation of success in
American society, where appearance is valued more than substance, since when Willy tries to
express his desires to his boss by trying to generate pity in him by saying that he is not in
good health or financially, the boss decides to fire him since he perceives that Willy does not
have the capacity or qualities to be useful to the company. This therefore demonstrates how
people are discarded if they are no longer considered “useful”. Furthermore, the
disillusionment and rejection of Willy's values, who has always believed in the American
Dream, reveals the emptiness of a culture that equates success with material things, and how
people are sacrificed on their way to success.

In addition, it could be said that the American dream has transformed his identity by
making him feel insecure and unappreciated due to his lack of financial success. Instead of
focusing on his relationship with his family and himself, Willy has spent most of his life
trying to impress others, gain their respect and admiration through hard work and ambition.
This has led Willy to develop a masked personality, full of deception and false appearances to
maintain the image of someone successful, when in reality he feels empty and purposeless.
Ultimately, Willy's identity has transformed into a desperate, aimless and regretful person,
unable to understand his true value beyond the parameters of material success.

Another concrete situation that supports the thesis is Willy Loman's constant interest
to the illusion of success through the figure of his oldest son, Biff.

Willy has instilled in Biff the idea that success is guaranteed and that he is a
promising young man.

But when Biff discovers his father's infidelity and witnesses his deceit and lack of
integrity, the idealized image that he had of his father breaks in pieces. This illustrates how
the symbolism in the play criticizes the false representation of success and happiness in
American society, showing how appearances can hide a lack of identity and morality.

Also, the contrast between the present and the past in the play also supports the thesis by
critiquing American society's failure to recognize the importance of having more dreams that
are not related to material stuff and also to find joy in little things. And Willy Loman
constantly falls into his own memories of success and popularity, where he was admired and
respected. However, in the present he finds himself alone and misaligned and unable to make
meaningful connections with others. This gap between his idealized past and his disillusioned
present reflects the lack of appreciation for true happiness and emotional fulfillment in the
culture obsessed with material success.

A clear example that demonstrates the destructive effects of the American dream is
the fact that throughout the play
 Willy's concern revolves around the concept of achieving a prosperous career as a
salesman, and it is in this context that the representation of the symbolism that is inherent to
the sales profession is identified,

Through which the author reflects the illusion of prosperity and status establish by
society as the key to success. However, as the story progresses, it becomes evident that Willy
fails to achieve the recognition and wealth he so desired. This argument is supported by the
fact that despite years of hard work, Willy has only managed to make ends meet financially,
and his lack of success leads him to become increasingly frustrated and desperate. Even this
situation also demonstrates the misrepresentation of success and happiness in American
society, as Willy clings to the idea that having a successful career will automatically make
him happy, thereby resolving all of his problems. But his obsessive pursuit of success and
recognition at work only leads to disillusionment. Nevertheless, “critique of the American
Dream” is put in a stronger way thanks to the contrast between the present and the past
implemented by the author, because in the flashbacks Willy is shown as a man with hopes
and ambitions, but in the harsh reality he is a victim of a life that does not satisfy him and is
full of disappointments.

Even the author makes the decision to tragically represent his main character, making
the reader question how worthwhile it's to try to achieve the American dream, since in the
novel the author shows us with facts that desperately seeking the approval of others through
appearances leads people to a life full of lies and illusions that end in failure for whom tries to
achieve it.
On the other hand the author raises view point about the American dream through his
character exposing how the bad decisions taken leads him to use wrong methods that prevent
him from achieving his goal, finally Miller raises a moral to the reader, which encourages
them to rethink the decisions they make along the way in pursuit of their goals.

In conclusion, Arthur Miller's “Death of a Salesman” uses symbolism to critique

American society's obsession with appearances and the false portrayal of success and
happiness. While Willy Loman may not be a direct result of the American Dream, his
disillusionment and rejection of its values highlight the emptiness of a culture that equates
success with material gain. The play's contrast between the present and the past underscores
the importance of human connection and self-awareness, which are often overlooked in a
society that prioritizes individual achievement over communal well-being. Miller's work
offers a poignant critique of the American Dream, revealing its shortcomings and
emphasizing the need for a more meaningful and authentic way of life.

We can see the transformation, through the passage of time, taking into account that
it's a play that moves back and forward in time, and highlights the transformative power of
time and the ways in which experiences can shape and change individuals. Specifically, with
Willy's memories and flashbacks reveal how he has transformed over the years, from a young
and ambitious salesman to a disillusioned and broken man.