Death of a Salesman Essay Topics & Samples

As a Pulitzer Prize winner, Death of a Salesman deserves some attention, which is most likely the reason why you were asked to write an essay about it. Even though Arthur Miller wrote it in the middle of the twentieth century, the play is still relevant.

This Custom-Writing.org article aims to help you if you have questions or are looking for a decent Death of a Salesman essay topic or have to choose between many variants.

• The first section of it contains a list of ideas that might help you write a great essay.
• The second one contains Death of a Salesman essay samples that you are welcome to use for inspiration.

💡 Death of a Salesman Essay Topics

Miller addresses various themes, such as the American dream and betrayal, incorporated into family life. To write a killer essay on Death of a Salesman, you should first study all aspects of the play. So you don’t forget to read through our analysis of the main characters and themes!

Now you are all set up to pick a topic from the list below.

1. Analyze the main symbols of the play. There are multiple hidden symbols that Miller uses to represent one idea or another. The interpretation depends on you. There are no wrong answers. However, to set a direction, we recommend looking at such a symbol as the stockings. It is quite an obvious hint on the theme of betrayal.
2. How is Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman as a father? Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman, is far from being the employee of the month. But as a father, he is also supposed to be a role model to his two sons. However, we can see that Biff and Happy have developed their personalities according to their dad’s behavior.
3. Can Willy Loman be considered a hero? Loman tries to solve the problems which are too big for him. He cannot possibly overcome capitalism and becomes its victim. Analyze Willy’s last act and see whether it can be genuinely regarded as a good deed or it is a desperate attempt to get rid of a problem.
4. Discuss the theme of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman. Is it Willy’s fault that he failed his family? Think about how our ambitions shape the course of our lives and write an essay reflecting on it in relation to the play. Discuss the fate of the salesman as the embodiment of the American dream.
5. How reasonable was Willy’s despair in the final scenes? Look through all the details you can find about the Loman family and analyze their social and financial state. Try to write an objective opinion on whether Willy’s suicide was the only option for them. What might have caused him to exaggerate the problems they were having?
6. Discuss the statement “Be liked, and you will never want” from Death of a Salesman. This prompt is related to Willy’s life philosophy, which he passes on to his sons. Are there any reasons to claim that it doesn’t work? Why? Maybe reflect on the same idea circulating in modern society.
7. What is the meaning of Arthur Miller’s play? We suggest you answer the question, “What is the main message of Death of a Salesman?” Rereading our analysis of the main themes and characters should give you some ideas! However, remember to focus on ONE idea and present persuasive arguments.
8. Analyze Willy Loman’s career choice. What do you think about Willy’s decision to go into the sales business? Was it the right choice? Find the evidence in the play? Think about how different his life and life of his family could be if he had chosen a different occupation, which fits his natural abilities.
9. Illusions and realistic dreams as Willy Loman’s coping mechanism. Look at Death of a Salesman as a tragedy and the story about the main character’s inner fight. Write about how he retreats into the memories to escape real-life problems. Does it have anything to do with his failure to understand his ambitions?
10. Discuss the reason for Willy’s rejection of Charley’s job offer. Loman keeps turning down his friend’s job offer, and it seems to be annoying him more and more every time. But what is the reason? He might have been more well-off if he accepted it. Is it about his pride or social values?
11. Expressionist elements in Miller’s play.
12. Willy’s journey of disillusionment.
13. Linda Loman as a tragic figure.
14. Willy Loman’s Industrialist work ethic.
15. Write about the use of postmodern language in the play.
16. The theme of duality in Death of a Salesman.
17. Study Willy Loman as the slave of the outdated beliefs.
18. Willy Loman’s quest for success in the changing world.
19. Trace disintegration and isolation within the Loman family.
20. Willy Loman’s ambition and the pursuit of success.
21. “Success incarnate:” Ben Loman’s place in his brother’s life.
22. The function of the flashbacks in Death of a Salesman.
23. Research the factors that lead to Willy Loman’s mental deterioration.
24. Themes of death and fear in Miller’s play.
25. Analyze the role of flute music in Death of a Salesman.

❓ Death of a Salesman Essay Questions 

1. What drives Willy’s belief in the perfect tomorrow? 
2. How does Miller create the sense of alienation in the play?
3. How did the shift from Industrialism to suburban conformity affect the Lomans?
4. What aspects of a salesman’s job does Miller highlight to convey the play’s idea?
5. Why does Willy believe that a charismatic personality is all one needs for success?
6. How does the loss of his father affect Willy?
7. What does Willy Loman do to maintain his sense of control?
8. What is the source of the generational conflict between Biff and his father?
9. How do shame and guilt contribute to the disintegration of the Loman family?
10. How do lies and self-deception lead to the tragedy in Death of a Salesman?

🔍 Death of a Salesman Research Paper Topics 

1. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman: A semiotic analysis. 
2. Miller’s play through trauma theory: A psychological exploration of Willy Loman’s character. 
3. Social expectations and their impact on one’s identity in Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
4. Willy Loman as a tragic hero: A comparative analysis with classical literature.
5. Discuss economic struggles and social class dynamics in Miller’s play.
6. The post-war America and its influence on the thematic elements of Death of a Salesman.
7. Analysis of language and dialogue as characterization tools in Death of a Salesman.
8. How Willy Loman’s occupation as a traveling salesman impacts his family dynamics.
9. The motif of betrayal in Death of a Salesman: A comparative study of characters’ actions and consequences.
10. The connection between grief and resilience in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
11. The art of storytelling in Miller’s play.

✍️ Death of a Salesman Essay Prompts 

Prompt for a Death of a Salesman Essay: American Dream

The American Dream is the central theme in Arthur Miller’s play. We suggest you explore it in detail in your paper.

You could focus on the following points:

• Describe how all play characters pursue their version of the American Dream. You can compare Willy’s dream of being a well-liked and wealthy salesman and Biff’s disillusionment with his father’s ideals. Additionally, examine how Linda, Bernard, and others see the American Dream.
• Clarify how Willy’s pursuits affect relationships in the Loman family. Here, we suggest focusing on the tension Willy’s obsession with prosperity creates in his relationships with Biff and Linda.
• Discuss whether the author’s depiction of the American Dream remains relevant. How have people’s views on success and happiness evolved since the late 1940s? What modern examples of the American Dream pursuits can you name? How can they be compared with the examples from the play?

Death of a Salesman Symbolism Essay Prompt

Death of a Salesman contains a lot of symbols crucial to conveying the play’s themes, like Willy’s car, seeds, stockings, flute, and others. You might explore them in your paper.

Here’s what we propose you to do:

• Describe the main symbols the author presents in his play and the concepts they represent. How do they reflect the characters and internal conflicts of Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy? You can mention Willy’s fixation on his car, Linda’s attitude towards the house, and other examples.
• Analyze the role symbolism plays in developing the central themes of the story. How does it help to reveal topics like the nature of success and the consequences of self-deception? You may also interpret symbolic episodes, like Willy’s car accident.

Tragedy in Death of a Salesman: Essay Prompt

Death of a Salesman is considered a modern tragedy. Its main character, Willy Loman, is a tragic hero who meets a pathetic end due to his flaws. Your essay can study this play through the lens of classic Aristotelian tragedy.

These ideas might help you:

• What Aristotelian characteristics of a tragic hero does Willy Loman possess? What is his main tragic flaw? How does it lead to his downfall?
• How can Willy Loman be compared to the heroes of classic tragedies like Oedipus or Hamlet? You can focus on the similarities and differences between their tragic flaws, excessive pride, and pathetic ends. How do these characters respond to their fates?
• What themes and structural characteristics of the play make it a contemporary tragedy? You could write about family relationships, disillusionment, and other topics. Additionally, discuss the use of flashbacks and nonlinear narrative. What effect do they produce?

Death of a Salesman: Willy’s Dream Essay Prompt

Willy Loman’s dream of recognition and validation affects his whole life. It impacts his decisions and relationships with his family. The inability to reconcile his aspirations with reality leads to his mental deterioration and eventual downfall.

In an essay on Willy’s dream, you could answer the following questions:

• What is Willy’s perception of the American Dream? How does he define prosperity and happiness? How do his views affect his actions and relationships? Corroborate your answers with specific examples from the text.
• What symbols in the play represent Willy’s dream? Why are they significant? You could describe how symbols like seeds or the car are connected to Willy’s aspirations. Clarify their meanings as a reflection of his desired status.
• How do different critical interpretations of Willy’s dream influence the perception of the play? Is Willy’s dream a proper pursuit of success, or is it misguided and destructive? Explain how the answers to these questions change the readers’ understanding of the protagonist’s personality and fate.

Betrayal in Death of a Salesman: Essay Prompt

Betrayal is one of the central themes in Death of a Salesman. In your essay, you can examine this theme from different perspectives.

Check out a few points worth exploring:

• Analyze the cases of treachery within the Loman family. Prominent examples include Willy’s affair or Biff’s betrayal of Willy’s expectations. Does Willy’s infidelity link to his disillusionment with life? How does Biff search for authenticity and personal happiness? Try to find answers to these questions in the text.
• Discuss other cases of betrayal in the play. This essay can cover the instances of self-deception and abandonment of the true ideals to fulfill public expectations. Here, you can analyze how the characters deceive themselves about their abilities and the nature of success to fit society’s expectations.

✒️ Death of a Salesman: Essay Samples

Below you’ll find a collection of Death of a Salesman essay examples. You are welcome to use them for inspiration!

1. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
2. “The Death of a Salesman” Film by John Malkovich
3. Similarities and Contrasts between “Fences” and “Death of a Salesman”
4. Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman”
5. Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” in the Context of Modern Human Resource Fundamentals
6. The Downfall of Willy Loman in the “Death of a Salesman”
7. The Comprehension of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”
8. Plot and Characters in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
9. Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”: The Theme of the Small Man in the Play
10. Symbolism in “Death of a Salesman” Play by Arthur Miller