Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

In the beginning, I saw Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” as merely a play. It was simply a tale of a salesman who committed suicide after he failed to live up to his own expectations of success. While I was aware that it was considered a relevant piece of American literature, it was not until recently that I truly understood its impact. In the end, I realized that Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller has much to contribute in terms of my development; it offers insights on how I could grow as a person, specifically as a parent and worker.Initially, I did not fully appreciate Miller's Death of a Salesman.

While I understood the tragic nature of the character of Willy Loman, I cannot relate to him or his difficult life. It was not until later on that I figured there are aspects of my life which allow me to have a different perspective on the play. Willy and I have a significant similarity: we are both parents. He has two grown sons, Biff and Happy (Miller, 1994).

Meanwhile, I am the mother of a 23-year-old and a 20-year-old.This similarity caused me to better understand Willy's situation. While it is only natural for parents to have expectations of their children, there are instances when these expectations prove to be detrimental to the growth of the child. In the play, Willy forces Biff to measure up to his disillusioned notion of success, but Biff fails to do so, disappointing Willy and causing a rift in their father-son relationship (Miller, 1994).Willy fails to see that his unrealistic imposition on his son prevents him from developing a real relationship with him.

Based on Willy’s flawed character, I gained insight on how I could improve as a parent. While I do have expectations of my children, I know I must acknowledge the fact that they are now adults and would walk on the paths they have chosen for themselves. Thus, not only did I appreciate the play from a parent’s perspective, I also gained insight on how to be a better parent through the play.In addition, the play also offers insight regarding one’s profession. Willy Loman is a salesman in pursuit of the American dream (Miller, 1994).

In the play, He often has daydreams of success. In fact, he is so preoccupied with the concept of success that he fails to realize his own failures. The major reason behind Willy’s failures is his distorted notion of success. According to Willy, likeability is primarily the key to success.

He believes that a man would be successful if he is liked by many people.As a nurse working in a hospital, I know that likeability plays a crucial role in how I do my job. It is important for me to be liked by doctors and fellow nurses. In turn, it is necessary for me to be liked by the patient I am attending to.

However, I am also aware that there are other things more important than being well-liked. I know that likeability alone does not guarantee success. If I wanted to succeed as a nurse, I have to work hard and be the best in my profession. In the play, Willy Loman fails to understand this notion of success.

He builds his career as a salesman on likeability alone, and in the end, it is revealed that he is not as well-liked as he thought: No one came to his funeral except his family and his neighbors Charley and Bernard (Miller, 1994). As a nurse, I understand Willy’s need to be liked. However, I disagree with his notion of success. Hence, my profession allowed me to improve my understanding of the character of Willy and the play itself. In general, the play contributed to my present intellectual and moral state.

It appealed to me because the experiences of the main character have similarities with mine. The play widened my perspective on what should be done both as a parent and as an employee. It reminded me of things to be considered when dealing with my children, as well as co-workers and patients. The play of Arthur Miller also encouraged me to do a self-reflection and make personal improvements.

Through the character of Willy Loman, the play helped me look at things a little bit differently and make some changes. In the end, Death of a Salesman made a remarkable impact on me as a person.