Willy Loman does not see this as an opportunity to improve himself professionally, while for Wagner it is an opportunity to find new hands. That is why he sacks him without feeling any empathy. Howard Wagner knows that Willy Loman is no match to modern marketing and business innovations. Theme #4Īlthough every person tries, material luck comes to those who exploit the opportunities. Interestingly, Linda does not fall victim to this modern thinking, or she does not become a tool to be exploited. Willy Loman’s affair with the attractive anonymous woman of Boston and his son’s womanizing attitude both point to gender relationships in the capitalistic society.

With the modernity and materialism taking firm roots in the society, the female seems to replace the patriarchy and become the head of the family. Gender issues and relationships with the opposite gender is another major theme of the play. The modern objects and their presence in the play, too, points to his increased frustration. Willy Loman’s frustration of his failure in his field costs him his life. Hence, Howard Wagner starts fidgeting with the radio when talking to Willy to make it clear to him that now technological development is replacing human beings. Willy Loman’s profession was one of them. In this background, it was posing serious threats to different professions. Modernity that has kicked off during the decades of the 50s was taking firm roots in the United States, making various professionals entirely obsolete. Therefore, he commits suicide out of frustration. Seeing failure of his own desires and that of the half-hearted efforts of his sons, Willy Loman tries to follow his brother, Ben, who achieved this dream at such a young age but fails. Biff is a classic case of failure at this age, while Happy is not ambitious.

He could not become a world-class salesman and could not make his sons achieve his failed dreams. However, one person who continually faces failure is Willy Loman. Howard Wagner is one of the examples who has inherited this dream from his father, while Bernard, the son of Charley, achieved his dream in the legal profession.

Characters in this play try to reach this dream in one or the other way and feel frustrated when facing failure. The American Dream has been one of the themes of most literary works written during that time.

Death of the salesman script