The use of symbols as literary elements has told the world’s stories in clearer, better depicted, and more real ways than perhaps any other literary medium ever before. We study them, learn the meanings that they foreshadow, and sit back in awe at how they are able to give us insight into stories and characters like we could have never imagined gaining from simple words on a page. The use of these tools does not go without notice in Arthur Miller’s The Death of a Salesman. The symbolic elements, and the ways in which Miller was able to bring characters to life, as well as give them meaning through the use of this medium, in his creations were often the center of wide spread critical attention, as stated in the following quote from Meredith Broussard, a renowned literary scholar, “Miller writes ingeniously, conveying the message that ‘if the proper study of mankind is man, man’s inescapable problem is himself’”. In general, the essence and plot of The Death of a Salesman is widely reliant on the use of symbolism to tell the tale the way it was meant to be told, and to truly understand the messages that the author is portraying. The use of symbolism in Arthur Miller’s The Death of a Salesman, specifically regarding the authors use of seeds, diamonds, & stockings, allows for the author to portray a sense of urgency over the psychological & behavioral strong suits and flaws of his characters.
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The use of seeds as a literary symbol in The Death of a Salesman give light to the importance of the element of success to the play and broadcast an impactful presence of the emphasis placed on improvement of Willy’s labor’s worth as a salesman, father, and more. It is needless to say that the reader observes that Willy is not highly successful in his line of work. He completes mediocre business trips, and is found in the play to be significantly upset at the fact that he is unable to pay all of his expenses, due to this lack of success and, in return, income. Due to this, it can be found in the use of the symbol of seeds that he is signifying his lack of ability to provide for his family and make ends meet. According to Susan Smith, featured in The Arthur Miller Journal, “The most immediate and overwhelming response of the business world to the failure and death of Willy Loman was to try and erase it from the public’s consciousness”. This describes the urgency and tragedy of just how bad this failure was in terms of current society at times of composition. This symbol can also be seen as a metaphor at Willy’s despair at having nothing to pass onto his children when he dies; this conclusion can be drawn from comparing the ways in which Willy is planting seeds to the common phrase of modern society, “put down roots”. When someone uses this phrase, they typically mean to build a life, establish wealth, and to start a family or legacy somewhere.
The following quote illustrates Willy’s urgent nature and concern with the fact that he has nothing to leave with his family through his sudden interest in seeds, “’I’ve got to get some seeds. I’ve got to get some seeds, right away. Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground. ’” The irony and similarity behind this common phrase and Willy’s actions of planting seeds in the play are no coincidence. Willy, by planting his seeds, is showing his desire for having something to leave his family with when he passes. The element of this event taking place at night is insight that he is regretful of being without his great desire, as the darkness is often portrayed as a place of sadness or uncertainty and fear. The symbol of seeds can also be manipulated into broadcasting light on the ways in which, just as the American Dream failed Willy, despite the bulletproof enigma it may have, Willy failed at raising Biff to be the successful child he had always hoped and believed he would be.
The following quote, in the words of Willy Loman, the ways in which Biff’s father’s disappointment at the success of his son, and regret that he did not mend the issue, is apparent, “Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world, a young man with such -personal attractiveness, gets lost” (Miller, Act I). The ways in which Biff goes from a well-liked all-American football star to an ambition-lacking free-rider, per say, show this awry outcome contrary to everything Willy had planned for his child. Willy, in a highly narcissistic manner, takes Biff’s failure to reflect upon himself as his own. The use of stockings as a literary symbol in the Arthur Miller play The Death of a Salesman enlighten readers to the impact of infidelity, pride, and betrayal on the narrative being told. The nature of Willy’s odd fetish over the condition of his wife’s stockings can be traced to his ties and relations with sexual infidelity within his relationship, and his guilt regarding the betrayal of Linda and Biff. The ways in which Willy obsesses over whether or not Linda’s stocking are in an acceptable state broadcast a flashback of Biff’s discovery of his father’s flawed loyalty and infidelity with The Woman in their Boston hotel. Evidence of this is found when Biff accuses Willy the discarding of, the devoted wife and mother, Linda’s stockings to this mistress that Willy was involved with in that moment. The following quote shows this previously discussed event, “I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!”. Regardless if Willy was to have, in fact, given the stockings to the woman with whom he shared his night with, the metaphorical impact of this event carries heavy significance as it shows the unfortunate betrayal of his family that Willy had concurred. The ways in which Willy shows insubordinate nature with Linda repairing her stockings and insisting that she just discard them and purchase new ones also symbolizes a great importance placed on pride for Willy.
The overall idea that Miller was portraying to his readers is that the stockings assume a metaphorical weight as the symbol of betrayal and sexual infidelity. As stated by Terry Nienhuis, this particular use of family involvement is not at all atypical of Miller’s creations, “Using family relationships as a starting point, Miller’s plays confront contemporary moral dilemmas and focus on people’s responsibility to be true to themselves as well as their responsibility to be a part of the human race”.
New stockings are important for both Willy’s pride in being financially successful and thus able to provide for his family and for Willy’s ability to ease his guilt about, and suppress the memory of, his betrayal of Linda and Biff. Diamonds as a literary symbol in The Death of a Salesman, allow for the author to give an elemental approach to representing his character, Willy Loman, with a strong sense of pride and importance placed on wealth and labor. This symbol, like those previously discussed, also bring to the table an underlining sense of anxiety surrounding the fact that Willy is getting older with no material wealth to pass onto his children or wife. This symbol arises multiple times, but most prominently when discussions involving Ben are brought up. The fortune-making discovery of Ben, which is likely the person Willy most envious and jealous of from clues the author gives in context throughout the play, allows yet another way for Willie to embrace his monumental failure as a salesman. This jealousy described previously comes from the missed opportunity presented to Willy to have taken part in the Alaskan trip that made Ben so wealthy. Due to this fact, and his general failure in sales, he feels excluded by the American Dream that is capturing so many fellow Americans around him. The diamond also symbolizes Willy’s suicide. “Willy leaves the house and drives the car to his death. In the play’s last scene, in the cemetary after Willy’s funeral, Linda talks to Willy over his grave and reflects on the irony that he killed himself just as they finished paying for their house”. The reason this event occurred, and the meaning behind it and the involvement of the symbol of diamonds, is because of the ways in which Ben encourages Wily to go into the “jungle and get his elusive diamond”, essentially telling him to kill himself to be able to retrieve his “diamond”, which is representative of his life insurance money. Thus, the symbolism present behind the use of diamonds in The Death of a Salesman, is just as apparent as it is clarifying to much of the authors purpose in composing this play.
The impact of symbolism and motifs in the renowned play The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, is nothing short of monumental. The ways in which the author is able to give his character’s feelings and depth through his use of symbols are some of the most valued literary elements of his compositions, and this play is no exception. The use of seeds, diamonds, and stockings as insights into his character’s nature and, in fact, their minds allows for readers to better connect with the characters and gives a personified, real idea of just who these figures are. Overall, the use of symbols and their impact on the progression of the plot in The Death of a Salesman makes the play what it now is, a literary staple and gem, and without the use of this element the Willy, Biff, Linda, and Happy we have all come to know and love, just wouldn’t be the same.
15 April 2020
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FAQs
What is an example of symbolism in Death of a Salesman? ›
Diamonds. To Willy, diamonds represent tangible wealth and, hence, both validation of one's labor (and life) and the ability to pass material goods on to one's offspring, two things that Willy desperately craves. Correlatively, diamonds, the discovery of which made Ben a fortune, symbolize Willy's failure as a salesman ...
What are the symbols in Death of a Salesman essay? ›In his play, Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller employs many symbols to illustrate the themes of success and failure. They include the rubber hose, the tape recorder, and the seeds for the garden. These symbols represent Willy's final, desperate attempts to be successful and the failure he cannot escape.
What are the major symbols in Death of a Salesman what do they symbolize? ›- Rubber Hose. The rubber hose is a symbol of Willy's impending suicide. ...
- Stockings. During his affair with The Woman, Willy gives her the intimate gift of stockings. ...
- Seeds. "I don't have a thing in the ground!" ...
- Flute.
Here is an analysis of symbolism in the play: Willy Loman's character, including his salesman career, symbolizes an ordinary man in American society. He acts as a representation of the ordinary man leading a fruitless life in a flourishing nation.
What are examples of symbolic death? ›In Europe, the skull and crossbones emerged as a symbol of death about 600 years ago.
What are the symbols used in the story? ›A symbol is anything that stands for, or represents, something else. In a story, a character, an action, an object, or an animal can be symbolic. Often these symbols stand for something abstract, like a force of nature, a condition of the world, or an idea.
What is the symbolism of the jungle in Death of a Salesman? ›In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, the jungle symbolically represents the world of business. Willy has a conversation with his dead brother, Ben, and Ben tells Willy that he was in the jungle for four years before he came out a successful businessman. Ben was in Africa, mining for diamonds.
What is the significance or symbolism of the name Loman? ›The name Loman is boy's name of Irish origin meaning "small bare one or delicate".
What does the woman symbolize in the Death of a Salesman? ›Not only does she function as the plot device that disillusions Biff Loman about his father's identity, she also serves as a ghost of truthfulness throughout Miller's play.
How is the flute a symbol in Death of a Salesman? ›The flute made and played by Willy's father evokes the phallus passed by him to Willy, and by Willy to Happy and Biff, through procreation. It is a constant reminder of Willy's lin- eage. No other instrument or (for the father) occupation was appropriate. Willy refers frequently to death.
What does the rubber hose symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›
Rubber Hose Symbol Analysis. The rubber hose is a symbol of Willy's impending suicide. Linda finds it hidden behind the fuse box in the cellar, and the "new little nipple" she finds on the gas pipe of the water heater leads her to the conclusion that Willy had planned to inhale gas.
What is the main lesson of Death of a Salesman? ›The play demonstrates how a person's self-perpetual denial can impact those around him, and include them. Ultimately, Willy's tragic end is the failure to realize the American dream (and a really bad case of sales burnout).
What is Miller's message in Death of a Salesman? ›He knew that not everyone had equal opportunities to succeed. What does it mean to live in a society that promises a lot but guarantees nothing? Miller wrote Death of a Salesman with that question in mind. It's a play about the struggle for success and disappointment of the American Dream.
What is the major theme of Death of a Salesman? ›The American Dream is the dominant theme, or main idea, in Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman's notions of the American Dream equate success with being well-liked. Likeability is an important quality for a salesman like Willy, yet he is unable to achieve the success he desires.
What is an example of symbolism in a sentence? ›Examples from Collins dictionaries
The scene is so rich in symbolism that any explanation risks spoiling the effect. The symbolism of every gesture will be of vital importance during the short state visit.
- pictogram.
- ideogram.
- icon.
- rebus.
- phonogram.
- typogram.
- logo (trade mark)
For example, the color white stands for purity, black represents evil, roses stand for romance, a butterfly symbolizes transformation and a dog can represent loyalty.
How do you write a symbolism paragraph? ›- Begin with story and characters. ...
- Balance small-scale and large-scale symbolism. ...
- Don't just use common symbols. ...
- Use symbolism to add emotional resonance.
Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion.
What is an example of symbolic character? ›Character Symbolism
You can use a character, or character arc, to represent themes and ideas within your story. A great example of a symbolic character is Two-Face in The Dark Knight. Shortly after half his face is burnt he becomes corrupted and ultimately turns into a villain. For one, he symbolizes the fallen human.
What does the garden symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›
In the play Death of a Salesman, the garden symbolizes growth and hope. Early in the story, Linda Loman criticizes Willy's desire to plant a garden because the apartments surrounding their house will not allow enough sunlight for a garden to grow.
What do cars symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›So, the car that was once a positive aspect of Willy's life (freedom, popularity, income) has now become an obstacle. So much so, it ends up being the death of him. The car also symbolizes his view of himself and his surroundings.
What is the symbolic significance of? ›If you describe an event, action, or procedure as symbolic, you mean that it represents an important change, although it has little practical effect.
What does Biff symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›Biff reminds us that the American Dream is not every man's dream. Rather than seeking money and success, Biff wants a more basic life. He wants to be seen and loved for who he is. He wants his dad to stop being such a deluded twerp.
What does Linda symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›Linda and Charley serve as forces of reason throughout the play. Linda is probably the most enigmatic and complex character in Death of a Salesman, or even in all of Miller's work. Linda views freedom as an escape from debt, the reward of total ownership of the material goods that symbolize success and stability.
What does happy symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›What does Happy represent in Death of a Salesman? Happy in Death of a Salesman represents the worst aspect of Willy's American Dream. He has learned from his father's idea of self-image and how people think of you as a person. He wants to be well-liked and does not cultivate good character.
Does the flute symbolize death? ›The flute is also used to symbolize symbolic death.
What does the color gold symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›gold is a color that represents success, prosperity, happiness, wealth, power etc.
What does the flute symbolize? ›Not only the shapes but also the sounds of traditional instruments are often rich in symbolism. The sound of the flute, for example, is widely associated with love magic.
What does the tennis racket symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›The tennis racket Willy observes when he chats with Bernard in Charley's office is a symbol of Bernard's success and Biff's failure.
What does debt symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›
Debts, such as the mortgage and insurance payments, burdened Willy Loman all his life. These reappearing images enhanced the meaning of this play by acting as a unifying tool within it. With these troubles appearing frequently, they only caused the Lomans to learn from them and to understand them.
What does Biff burning his sneakers symbolize? ›His sneakers represent how angry Biff was at Willy (when he got home from catching Willy creating on his wife, he throws them away in the furnace) They also represent Willy's dream, not Biffs. By burning the shoes he thought that it would show Willy that he doesn't care anymore about what Willy wants.
What is a short summary of Death of a Salesman? ›Death of a Salesman, one of Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, narrates the last 24 hours in the life of 63-year-old Willy Loman, a failed salesman who had a distorted idea of the American Dream and work ethic. The play also explores his relationship with his wife, his sons, and his acquaintances.
What is the conclusion of Death of a Salesman? ›Finally, Willy decides that the insurance money can be beneficial for his family so he kills himself. At the end of the death of a salesman summary, we see Linda having troubles dealing with her husband's death. She does not accept his death and keep waiting for him to return from his business trip.
What happens to happy at the end of Death of a Salesman? ›Death of a Salesman Ending
Happy, on the other hand, is the son that chooses to live his life more like his father did. Willy's loving and supporting wife, Linda, is still oblivious to the fact that Willy was not the successful and well-liked man he portrayed himself to be.
The three major themes within the play are denial, contradiction, and order versus disorder. Each member of the Loman family is living in denial or perpetuating a cycle of denial for others. Willy Loman is incapable of accepting the fact that he is a mediocre salesman.
What does the American Dream symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›The American Dream in Death of a Salesman
Willy has acted on the belief that charisma guarantees prosperity. He has been a true believer in the American Dream and the notion that success is available to every American. Success to Willy is more than the ability to provide for himself and his family.
Betrayal is the only truth that sticks. Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets. A child's spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after it; you must stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back.
What are the tragic elements in Death of Salesman? ›Death of a Salesman has many aspects associated with dramatic tragedy, including a flawed hero, a 'fall' into despair and events that arouse pity and fear. However, unlike traditional tragedies, the play tells of the demise of an everyday domestic figure who could represent any man – or any low man.
What is the major dramatic question of Death of a Salesman? ›In Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, first premiering on Broadway in 1949, the dramatic question that is posed is: what happens when dreams fail to materialize? Willy Loman has lived his thinking that if he is successful and well-liked, he will be able to get a piece of the American dream.
What is the tone of the story Death of a Salesman? ›
Answer and Explanation: The tone of the Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman is serious. The play is a tragedy where the protagonist, Willy Loman, commits suicide in the end. Throughout the play, Willy, Linda, and Biff grow increasingly desperate.
What is an example of symbolism in a story? ›For example, a storm brewing on the horizon must be a symbol of the emotional turmoil that the main character is going through; or, the black car that the main character drives is a foreshadowing of his death; and so on. It's important to remember that sometimes a storm on the horizon simply represents bad weather.
Which situation is an example of symbolism? ›In other words, the term symbolism simply means that something is being used to convey meaning associated with something else. When a symbol (like a heart) is used to symbolize something (like love), that's a real-world example of what symbolism is.
What is the symbolism of flute in Death of a Salesman? ›The flute made and played by Willy's father evokes the phallus passed by him to Willy, and by Willy to Happy and Biff, through procreation. It is a constant reminder of Willy's lin- eage. No other instrument or (for the father) occupation was appropriate. Willy refers frequently to death.
What does Ben symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›Ben. Willy's wealthy older brother. Ben has recently died and appears only in Willy's “daydreams.” Willy regards Ben as a symbol of the success that he so desperately craves for himself and his sons.
How do you write symbols in a story? ›- Begin with story and characters. ...
- Balance small-scale and large-scale symbolism. ...
- Don't just use common symbols. ...
- Use symbolism to add emotional resonance.
Examples from Collins dictionaries
The scene is so rich in symbolism that any explanation risks spoiling the effect. The symbolism of every gesture will be of vital importance during the short state visit.
Using symbols can create a powerful story that uncovers universal truths. Three key types of symbolism in literature are religious, romantic, and emotional symbolism.
Why is symbolism important in a story? ›In literature, symbolism is used to produce an impact, which it accomplishes by attaching additional meaning to an action, object, or name. Symbolism takes something that is usually concrete and associates or affixes it to something else in order to give it a new and more significant meaning.
What does the football symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›Biff stole the football, so its a symbol of deceit and lies. It is a symbol of Biff's hopeful future, he burnt it after seeing his father's affair because he no longer believed in him, thus did not have a parent figure to assist him to his hopeful future.
What does the jungle symbolize in Death of a Salesman? ›
In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, the jungle symbolically represents the world of business. Willy has a conversation with his dead brother, Ben, and Ben tells Willy that he was in the jungle for four years before he came out a successful businessman. Ben was in Africa, mining for diamonds.
Is Ben dead in Death of a Salesman? ›Ben is Willy's adventurous and lucky older brother. Of course, he's dead, so he only appears in the play as a character in Willy's troubled imagination. Willy totally idolizes Ben because he was an adventurer who escaped the world of business and got rich quick by finding diamonds in the African jungle.