1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.
Fathers and sons don’t always get along. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Willy and Biff don’t get along at all. Miller uses their now strained relationship to further his analysis of the American dream.
Willy has a typical American Dream for his family. He wants them to have financial success. Willy’s view of the American Dream is that a person can be successful just by being liked. He tries to push this on his family by stressing popular sports like football and not caring about school and an education. Willy also uses this idea as a basis for his affairs. Bribing secretaries with stockings, Willy gets sex and quick access to the buyers. His success at being a salesman comes from the secretaries liking him. This new American Dream ideal highly favors money over values and enjoyment of ones work. On the other hand, Willy’s son Biff has a very different view of the American Dream. He finds satisfaction in going out west and working on the farms. Biff claims that he likes being out there and using his hands. Biff represents the old American Dream where making money wasn’t as important as your values and happiness.
Willy, the father, and Biff, the son, used to be a loving pair. However after Biff discovers his father’s affair, they become estranged. Their symbolism as the new and old American Dreams brings them to a head on collision of dislike for each other. Biff is unforgiving of his father’s affair because of its unethical ways in pursuit of more money. Willy on the other hand is upset with Biff ruining his potential by going out west. He thinks that Biff is wasting his time making no money and can’t see that it is what Biff wants to do.
Willy and Biff’s relationship with each other creates a deeper meaning in the commentary that Miller creates about the old and new American Dreams.
You start with a good thesis that answers the prompt. However, most of your essay is just plot summary. I can understand the point that you are trying to get across, but you need to explicitly state what the meaning is.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in your analysis I think it would be useful to mention how Willy no longer has influence over the secretaries because he is old.
I think you should also talk specifically about what Miller's meaning is, and then connect that to what you're saying.
You do a great job of analyzing the causes of conflict.
I think you could make your thesis stronger by not just saying that Miller uses the conflict to further his analysis, but specifically what is Miller's meaning in his work. The essay seems like it has a lot of plot summary. If you wrote a clear paragraph about the meaning and how Biff and Willy's relationship contributes to it, it would be stronger. Otherwise, I found that the meaning gets lost in the essay.
ReplyDeleteYour introductory paragraph is a bit short, as is your thesis statement. Why not include a better scenario than the fact that fathers and sons don't get along. The structure of your essay is a bit odd. I feel as though the first paragraph should have described how their relationship is strained and the second should describe Miller's view of the American Dream. The conclusion sentence should have been the opener for the second body paragraph. This essay is more of a plot summary than an analysis.
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