Death of a salesman car. Death of a Car Salesman by Collin Brantmeyer 2022-11-16

Death of a Salesman is a play by Arthur Miller that tells the story of Willy Loman, a salesman struggling to come to terms with his own failure and the disappointment of his family. One significant symbol in the play is the car that Willy owns and desperately tries to hold onto, even as it becomes clear that it represents his own decline and inability to achieve success.

Throughout the play, Willy's car serves as a physical manifestation of his identity and self-worth as a salesman. As a young man, Willy had dreamed of becoming a successful salesman like Dave Singleman, a man he idolizes for his ability to close deals over the phone and travel around the country in his car. Willy sees his car as a symbol of his own success and identity, and he takes great pride in it.

However, as the play progresses and Willy's sales career begins to decline, his car becomes a source of frustration and disappointment. It is a constant reminder of his own failure to achieve the success he had dreamed of and the disappointment he has caused his family. Willy's car also represents the gap between his own ideals and the harsh realities of the world.

Despite its symbolic importance, Willy's car is ultimately a material object that he cannot control or hold onto. It is a symbol of his own mortality and the fleeting nature of success. As Willy's mental and physical health deteriorate, he becomes increasingly obsessed with his car and its maintenance, trying to hold onto it as a way of holding onto his own identity and self-worth.

In the end, Willy's car is ultimately a futile attempt to cling to a sense of success and dignity in the face of his own failure and the looming reality of death. It serves as a poignant reminder of the fragile nature of identity and the importance of finding meaning and fulfillment beyond material possessions.