Identity Crisis

1. Identity Crisis How The Death of a Salesman uses the theme of Identity Crisis

2. Characters Willy Loman Biff Loman • The most mislead character • He deceives himself about many things, such as Biff and even himself • He never realizes that he isn’t really as awesome as he thinks he is until the end of the play • The reason for continuing his idea to commit suicide might come from realizing that he isn’t all that great. • “Willy: I can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own.” • Biff Loman is half deluded about himself, trying to believe his father, but not being able to • Willy seems to have rubbed off on him, as also seems to run away from the truth and do things that his father told him to • He realizes that he is wrong earlier than Willy, and tries to correct it • He seems to be the character that knew the answer all along, but was confused about it • “Biff: I know who I am, kid.”

3. Characters (continued) Happy Loman Linda Loman • Happy also seems to be just as deluded as his father • He never realizes that he was lying to himself like Willy and Biff do, though • He does not realize who he actually is • “Happy: He fought it out here, and this is where I’m gonna win it for him.” • Linda is the most realistic person in the whole of the play • She rarely lies to himself, always trying to be realistic • In the end of the play, Linda seems to realize the truth, but doesn’t want to believe it, or might be confused • “Linda: I can’t understand it.”

4. Key Scenes • The Florida Idea: The scene where it is shown just how wrongeveryone is, as the all believe that that can be done • The Grave: This is where Biff and Linda realize that they have been lying to themselves, and have their identity crisis; this is also where it is shown that Happy hasn’t learned from Willy’s mistake.

5. Relation to Today’s World The Audience Reaction • Identity crisis still occurs today • It can affect people in almost the exact same way • People may do the same things as Willy when they suffer from it • Often, a whole family might be affected by it Since the audience might relate to an identity crisis easier than something that doesn’t relate to today’s world (or might know it personally) they should feel: • Sympathy • Frustration • Empathy

6. What Arthur Miller is trying to say • Someone can’t be successful until they know who they are • It isn’t easy to overcome a crisis as you think • Identity crisis’s can cause much damage