Man vs. Himself: Betrayal and Abandonment Shown in Arthur Miller’s Deat

Arthur milling machines demolition of a Salesman tells the story of a man trying and failing to obtain achievement for him and his family. Willy Loman, a traveling salesman, has been trying to make it big for the majority of his manner. Millers play explores the themes of desertion and betrayal and their effects on lifes success. Willy sees himself as being abandoned by his older brother, Ben, and forever and a day views his siblings betrayal as one that changed his prospects forever. Willy, in turn, is conscience-smitten of a different type of forsaking and betrayal of his sons, especially Biff. Willy branch experiences abandonment through the actions of his brother, Ben Loman. In the first act, Willy sees Ben in his dream, walking apart down some open road I was going to invent father in Alaska (Miller 1575). Willy continues a discussion with his brother in which Ben lies and jestingly admits going to Africa. Willy regrets not going with Ben to Africa, because that is where Ben became rich. Because he was not as successful as his brother, Willy views Bens going to Africa as a betrayal. Willys issues with abandonment began at a young age. He suffered a hazard aflamely and he strived to find a role model. This emotional asymmetry and lack of a role model continued to affect Willy after in life physically, Centola makes the comment something which often surfaces in his contradictory statements and emotional outbursts (1). Willy would be vigorous, energetic, and nimble for one minute and then moody, sulky, and cheerless the next. This abandonment and self-worth continued to suffer and became evident when he started a family of his own.This motif of abandonment and betrayal is carried through to Willys son, Biff. Biff feels betrayed whe... ... in a orbitual fashion. The Loman family gets so wrapped up in betrayal that it eventually takes somebodys death for the family to finally be free. Works CitedCentola, Steven R. Family determine in Death of a Salesman. CLA Journal 37.1 (Sept. 1993) 29-41. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Dec. 2010.Martin, Robert A. The Nature of Tragedy in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. South Atlantic Review 61.4 (Fall 1996) 97-106. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. The Norton initiation to Literature. By Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, and Kelly J. Mays. New York W.W. Norton, 2005. 1556-1621 Print.Ribkoff, Fred. Shame, Guilt, Empathy, and the Search for Identity in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. Modern Drama 43.1 (Spring 2000) 48-55. Literature Resource Center. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.