Crumbling under the pressure of his job, he tends to mood swings and also drifts away into illusions of past events. He works as a salesman and travels to Boston on a daily basis. The story is set in New York, the hometown of Arthur Miller, in the small house of Willy Loman. Growing up in a family of Jewish descent, his father owned a successful business. It is considered to be one of the best plays of the 20th century, getting Miller all achievements in the theater world.Īrthur Miller was born on the 17th of October 1915 in Harlem, New York. Later, it went on running on the Broadway for almost a whole year. It made its first appearance in the Morosco Theatre in New York on the 10th of February 1949. While planting seeds, it is possible to hope for the future compensation because Willy feels guilty due to impossibility to change the life of the family for better or to change the results of the children’s upbringing.Death of a Salesman is book written in 1949 by Arthur Miller.
Willy wants to plant seeds in order to see the real results of his activity because his focus on the American dream did not provide him with any observed outcomes (Murphy 48). Willy is seeking for relief in planting seeds because it is his response to Biff’s lost possibilities to become the prominent athlete. The image of seeds is related to the idea and symbol of the American dream shared in Willy’s family. Thus, frustrated Willy hopes to find some relief in planting seeds and in providing some food for the family when Linda focuses on the idea’s loss. Referring to this dialogue, it is possible to note that the image of seeds can play different roles with references to the main characters’ vision of the future perspectives. Linda states in response to Willy’s idea: “That’d be wonderful. However, the response of Willy’s wife provides a reader with the idea that Willy’s plans cannot be successful. Willy states, “on the way home tonight I’d like to buy some seeds” (Miller 50). Thus, the image of seeds is presented clearly in the play when Willy discusses the idea of planting with his wife. From this point, the image of seeds with the meaning of growth and prosperity and as the reflection of the main character’s hope for the better future and for the positive results of his actions is closely linked to Willy. Miller concentrates on the image of seeds because it is associated with the growth and prosperity, and Willy suffers from the lack of these aspects in the life of his family because his sons, as well as Willy himself, cannot realize their potential and achieve higher goals. The importance of this image is in its complex nature because Willy is preoccupied with the idea to plant seeds as the way to cope with the life issues and certain financial and moral difficulties in spite of the real perspectives to change the life of Willy’s family. Willy has nothing, but he uses a chance to receive something while planting seeds. I don’t have a thing in the ground” (Miller 61).
Willy states: “I’ve got to get some seeds, right away.