Resumo de Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" relies heavily on the material historical conditions of Willy Loman's life. Willy has been a relatively successful salesman for thirty-six years and has spent much of his working life with the same company. Suddenly he finds that because of changing economic conditions the company has no further need for his services.
Willy is devastated and is unable to understand how his employer could just cast him aside after so many years of faithful service. In Act 1, Willy states his work ethic clearly when he says that a man who makes his appearance in the business world is the man who gets ahead. Willy?s old boss has died, leaving his son the company. The new owner sees Willy as having outlived his usefulness to the company. Willy is terminated and soon discovers that he is unable to find other similar employment.
This play is a commentary on the type of society we have created. In this type of society there is no allowance made for individuals like Willy that are unfortunate and find themselves falling between the cracks. The material and economic conditions of Willy?s life have deteriorated to such a degree that his very survival is threatened. Willy?s family watches helplessly as the man is gradually reduced to a shadow of his former self.
Willy continues to offer fatherly advice to his sons, Biff and Happy, throughout the play encouraging them to realize the American dream. Willy Loman refuses to admit that the great American dream has abandoned him. His wife Linda is supportive of her husband in this economically reduced state. She tells him repeatedly that tomorrow will be better, and he bravely accepts her advice as he slowly disintegrates. Willy?s mental state becomes increasingly precarious as the play progresses. Miller?s audience has a birds-eye view of the inevitable destruction of Willy Loman.
Willy?s neighbour Charley is a life long friend that attempts to help by loaning Willy money when the chips are down. This character acts as a foil for Willy because he is more grounded and more successful. Willy?s dead brother Ben is featured in the play as well. Willy daydreams about his brother often and sees him as the only man he ever met that knew the answers. Ben was extremely successful, and was the man that Willy secretly wished he could be.
Willy?s troubles begin when Howard Wagner, his new boss and son of his former employer, puts Willy on straight commission. Willy is unable to make enough of an income under this new arrangement to survive. Everything in Willy?s life was turned upside down and to top it off his sons offer him little to be proud of. Happy, the younger of Willy?s boys has achieved modest success in life. He has his own apartment and a steady job working at a department store. Unfortunately, Happy feels rejected by his father who, in his mind, has always preferred Biff. The older of the two brothers is Biff, who was popular and successful in high school and during his formative years. However, for more than a decade he has steadily spiralled downward into an abyss. Biff can find no meaning in life and continually struggles to seek direction.
Willy is clearly the central character in this play. At the age of 63 he is too old to begin again. Willy?s depression gradually becomes worse in spite of Linda?s valiant efforts to revive his sinking spirit. For Willy, the job was everything. This was what kept him grounded and solidly rooted in his deep faith in the American dream.

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