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.
In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, centers around the conflict between Willy and his eldest son Biff. Though there are plenty of contributing elements to their conflict, the main source of strife comes from Biffs and Willy's differing ambitions, and their difference in values. These 2 sources of conflict are important because they have the most impact on the story as a whole.
Though it is the smaller of the 2 issues, Willy and Biff's differing ambitions end up having a great deal of influence on the meaning of the play. While Willy believes that Biff was born to be a salesman, Biff himself wants to live out west and raise cattle. The life of a salesman represents in this case, the material american dream and the vicious circle that is Willy's life. Biff's ideal profession represents a more free life style. This simple conflict for the son and father represents a much larger conflict which is that between materialistic living versus a more simplistic traditional lifestyle. This conflict represents the main purpose of the book, which is to explore the way that the american dream has changed for the worse.
The other primary conflict between Biff and Willy, is their differing ideals. Willy places the utmost value in being well known, and well liked. He believes that with those 2 characteristics, nothing else matters, and one can become successful. While Biff does not have a clearly defined set of values, it is evident that he disagrees with Willy's. This again, helps to portray the conflict between the materialistic American Dream, and its older, more simplistic counterpart. By presenting the conflict between the old and new american dreams, Miller emphasizes the meaning of the entire play, which is to show the faults of the the materialistic American Dream and show its conflict with a more traditional Manifest Destiny like dream.
By choosing such sources of conflict for the relationship between Willy and Biff, Miller adds a great deal of complexity and meaning to his play.
I just have a couple of suggestions...
ReplyDelete1. This is a simple and picky suggestion, but always make sure to spell out numbers less than ten (two rather than 2).
2. Make sure that your thesis includes the exact meaning that Miller creates rather than just mentioning meaning.
3. See if you can create a structure and an organization pattern that allows your ideas to flow more effectively. Right now, you make very good points, but I think a better use of topic sentences and paragraphs can help your essay improve even more.
4. Finally, always expand on the overall meaning!
your commas are placed very awkwardly throughout your writing, and the end paragraph should make the reader feel more as if you as the reader went full circle on the topic.
ReplyDeleteLike Sarah says, it's not good to use "2" instead of writing out "two". Also, the last sentence in your first paragraph is a little awkward - it might be best to just cut off after the thesis. You have good ideas here, but it would be good for developing your ideas and convincing the reader if you used more examples from the play. You mostly use general information to back up your thesis, which doesn't quite work as well as more specific details would.
ReplyDelete