Death of a Salesman

Main Ideas

• The collapse of the American Dream: The play explores the illusory and destructive nature of the American Dream, showing how the pursuit of success and material wealth can lead to personal tragedy.
• Family relationships and conflicts: At the heart of the story are the complex and strained relationships within the Loman family, especially between the father and sons, highlighting themes of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations.
• Illusions and reality: The protagonist, Willy Loman, lives in a world of illusions and memories, which prevents him from seeing and accepting reality, leading to his ultimate downfall.
• Self-worth and identity: The play addresses issues of self-esteem and identity, showing how societal standards of success can destroy a person if they become the measure of one's own value.
• Economic pressure and personal tragedy: The play demonstrates how economic hardships and pressure can lead to a person's moral and psychological collapse.