Revision of Open Prompt #5

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.

Conflict between parent and child is one of the most fascinating topics for authors to explore, possibly because they have experienced it. Arthur Miller delves into this complex issue in his play, Death of a Salesman, as Willy Loman and his son Biff struggle through a tense relationship. Miller uses detail and a nonlinear timeline to create and explore the conflict between father and son which ultimately shows his audience that Willy's so-called American Dream will not bring the happiness and success that he expects it to.

Miller uses a nonlinear time line in the play to reveal to the audience some of the sources of the conflict between Willy and Biff. The play begins in present day and often flashes back in time to some memory of Willy's. In the beginning, flashbacks show us that when Biff in high school, the two had a wonderful relationship. Present day, however, the conflict and tension in their relationship is evident. Later, Willy flashes back to a memory of Biff visiting him on one of his trips to Boston to tell his father that he flunked math where he finds a young secretary in Willy's hotel room. Willy tries to talk his way around the truth but eventually just tries to justify his affair by saying repeatedly, "I'm so lonely", to his stunned, devastated son. The nonlinear way the story is told shows the audience the original source of conflict between Biff and his father. Miller also provides details that enhance the audience's understanding of this father/son conflict. Throughout the play, details reveal to the audience Willy's idea of a successful life. In other words, his American Dream includes being involved in business, being financially secure, and being "well-liked". Details also show the audience that Biff's idea of the American Dream is much different than his father's. Many times, Biff has left his home to go out west and Miller's details tell what Biff loves about being there: baby calves being born, open air, "the time to sit around and smoke". This, being contrary to Willy's idea of success and happiness, is a major source of tension between the two. 

This conflict contributes heavily to Miller's main point which is that the American Dream, as Willy sees it, will not bring happiness or success to one who achieves it. In the end, Willy finds himself poor and forgotten in the sales world, despite how important those things have always been to him. He still has not let go of this dream, however, and kills himself so his family can have the insurance money that his death will bring them. At his funeral, which no one but his family and two family friends attend, his wife, Linda, repeats the words, "we're free". Willy, now dead, is certainly not free, nor is Linda, nor their other son, Happy, who continues on in the business world, following in Willy's footsteps. Biff, who chooses again to go out west, is the only one who is really free. He finally realizes who he is and that happiness and success comes of that, not of being "well-liked" and rich as his father always said, which is Miller's main point.

Father/son conflict is a commonly explored theme in literature. Miller uses this theme, which he creates through detail and a nonlinear timeline, to get his message across to his audience. He shows that happiness and success comes from knowing and being true to yourself, not from the American Dream that Willy couldn't let go of, the dream of wealth and being "well-liked".