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Dramatic Irony In Death Of A Salesman

Decent Essays

Since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Americans believed that the United States is the place for opportunity and all citizens were able to go from nothing to something. Though few people have actually obtained success, citizens continue to cherish the idea that one day they will be acknowledged as one of those few. As the decades changed, so did the objective of the American dream. At first, the American dream was inspired by the desire to be free from an oppressive government. Then at one point, the dream morphed by the people craving to become the “number one man” in a more business-minded fashion. One explanation of the modern American dream could be found in the drama, Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller implements …show more content…

Throughout the drama, Willy, for some unknown reason, fills Biff with abhorrence. Biff looks up to his father as if he is God and is driven to get into the University of Virginia for football. However, as soon as Biff left for Boston to talk to his dad about his failing math grade, his demeanor changes. Biff more or less gives up on his life. The reader learns that Biff catching Willy cheating on his beloved mother is the cause. Instead of running and telling everyone, Biff keeps the secret, thus allowing dramatic irony to be implemented. The other characters do not know and distinguishes Biff as a lazy bum who could not surpass a math course in high school . For example, Linda, blindly supporting her husband, assumes that Biff is just disrespectful towards his father. Whereas, Biff is trying to protect her from the truth and attempting to express his true sentiment. In this instance, the dramatic irony is used to reveal that Willy, again, is not who the other characters surmises. It highlights that even though one might have enough to get by, there is still a want for more. Equally, Willy’s hatred for Linda mending stockings indicates dramatic irony in the drama. In various points in the drama, Linda's mending of stockings initiates Willy to demand her to stop. One time Willy harshly exclaims, “I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out”(Miller …show more content…

Since the beginning of the novel, Willy imagines that he is a successful salesman. Through various interactions with other characters, the reader is able to piece together the truth about Willy. That in fact, Willy is a fraud. One of these encounters occurs when Linda congratulates Willy for selling a great quantity and earning “Two hundred and twelve dollars” (Miller 21) in commission. With the excessive praise, Willy soon withdraws his previous statement and modifies it to a significantly lower sum. This goes to prove that Miller is attempting to reveal the extent someone will go to make sure they portray as successful. Linda’s ignorance of Willy’s lying allows him to continue to lie and ultimately begin to believe his own lies. Moreover, another example of dramatic irony demonstrating Willy’s faults is when Howard explains to Willy the tape recorder and all of it’s bells and whistles. After his wife’s tape stops, Willy expresses how he is going to get one and Howard exclaims, . After this statement Willy continues to state how he is going to purchase one. In other words, the reader knows that Willy is actually talking to Howard to receive because he does not even have enough money to pay his insurance. This highlights Willy’s need to make a good impression on people. At this point in the story, it is Willy’s ignorance to his own problems that affects the rest of the outcome of

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