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.
In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, you see a large conflict between Willy, a father, and Biff, his son. The fights and conflict betweeen these two men creates the whole play. The plot revolves around these two characters and their fights and how they interact. The main cause of the conflict is Willy's need to be successful. Because he spends his whole life trying to become successful and never does, he puts his life dream onto Biff. Biff cannot carry out this dream becasue he knows that he is not meant to be a salesman. Biff took his trip west, to opportunity and freedom, and he realized that he should be building things. And after coming across this discovery, Biff realizes this is also supposed to be Willy's life.
Another cause you see is when Biff finds Willy cheating on Linda, Willy's wife. Biff is devestated and calls Willy a liar and a fake. He cannot believe that something like this would happen. Willy tries to cover it up, but he knows there's nothing he can do to change what Biff saw. Because Biff finds out about this affair, he is unable to go to summer school to pass high school. Willy blames himself for Biff's failure. And in return, Willy feels the need to make Biff's life better.
Willy's unsuccessfulness is put onto Biff. Biff feels like he has to carry out his father's dream for him. But no matter what Biff does, Willy disapproves. So finally, Biff is fed up with all of the lies. He notices the disfunction that his fights with Willy has caused the family. He tells Willy that he knows he is a failure but that he is done with all the lies. Willy is frustrated and angry. But Biff then tells Willy he loves him, and everything changes. Willy and Biff no longer fight and Biff carries out his own dream.
In the second paragraph, you mention that the cause is that Willy wants to be successful as a Salesman. While that's true, I think that goes along more with the last paragraph. The second paragraph seems to be describing clashing views on what job to have. In the last paragraph, it seems more like a summary of the last scene between Biff and Willy, so maybe try to analyze the idea of Willy's dream of being successful being pushed onto Biff and why he did that.
ReplyDelete"Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work."
ReplyDeleteYou nailed the first part of the prompt in your second paragraph (after your introduction). Unfortunately, you fell into the trap of plot summary after that and didn't get to the second part of the prompt.
In order to show how the conflict contributes to the meaning, you need to evaluate the meaning itself. Figure out the meaning, then you can connect the conflict to it effectively.
Noah Symanzik