Failure in a success-oriented society in the death of a salesmanIn the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the playwright focuses on the theme of failure in a success oriented society. Willy Lowman, a failed salesman, is the central character. Willy's downfall is caused by his belief in the propaganda of a society that only has room for winners. The importance of this theme, still relevant today, is reinforced by Miller's skillful use of a series of key techniques, including setting, characterization, and symbolism. The drama focuses on the life of a middle-aged salesman, Willy Lowman, who, at the beginning of the play, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He lives with his adored but overprotective wife, Linda, who acts as a buffer between her husband and their two adult sons, Biff and Happy, whose relationship with their father is constantly under strain. The play chronicles the tragic collapse of a man who cannot face his moral responsibilities in a society whose false values ​​attach dangerous importance to success measured in such ephemeral terms as income and material possessions. Living by these values ​​means that failure is also defined in economic terms. The setting of the play contributes to our understanding of the importance of this theme. Willy Lowman's house is presented as "small and fragile-looking", dwarfed by a wall of buildings whose presence contributes to the trapped and claustrophobic atmosphere. It refers to a time before the construction of this area, when there were "two beautiful elms", now cut down by the builder, and a garden in which wisteria and fragrant lilacs flowered in profusion. Willy complains about the lack of air in his apartment, despite ...... middle of paper ...... aire society. For today's audiences, Willy Lowman remains a poignant figure of failure, partly because of society's false value system, but partly because of his own inability to face life with integrity. Works cited and consulted Baym, Franklin, Gottesman, Holland, et al., ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 4th ed. New York: Norton, 1994. Corrigan, Robert W., ed. Arthur Miller. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1969. Florio, Thomas A., ed. “Miller’s Tales.” The New Yorker. 70 (1994): 35-36. Hayashi, Tetsumaro. Review by Arthur Miller. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1969. Martin, Robert A., ed. Arthur Miller. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1982. Miller, Arthur. The Archbishop's Ceiling/American Clock. New York: Grove Press, 1989.---. Death of a seller. New York: Vikings, 1965.