Open Prompt 2004

2004. Critic Roland Barthes has said, “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Choose a novel, or play, and, considering Barthes’ observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

            Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is about Willy Loman, a man aspiring to achieve the American dream. The central question raised through the play: how is this dream is actually achieved, through words or actions? The answer is actions, shown through Willy’s failures and through his neighbor’s, Charley’s, success.

            Willy’s main problem is that he doesn’t act on his goals and simply expects them to happen. He wants to be a successful businessman and tells others about his aspirations but never actually does anything to achieve them. Then, when he realizes that he’s failing he exacerbates the problem by telling his own family that he’s successful and brings home a “paycheck” of money borrowed from Charley. By the end of the play, he realizes that things couldn’t get any worse. He has financially ruined his family and feels that the only way out is to kill himself, so that his family can receive the $20,000 from their insurance company. Willy never acted on his goals and eventually felt that he was worth more dead than alive.

            Charley starkly contrasts Willy as he actually works to achieve his goal of success. Charley believes in hard work and honesty. His has instilled these values in his son, Bernard, who was always thought of as a loser by Willy, but later becomes a successful lawyer. Charley can be seen as a generally virtuous character and even as a voice of reason. Charley is loyal and is always there for Willy and even lends him money when Willy isn’t doing so well economically. Charley even offers Willy a job, but Willy is to proud to accept it. Charley works hard and has a stable, fruitful life. He has a good job and a good relationship with his son.

            The question posed by Miller’s Death of a Salesman is whether words or actions will ultimately lead to success. Both options are explored through the work, with Willy representing words and Charley representing actions. It is quite clear that the answer is actions Charley is the character that is able to succeed. Willy searches for success through words and meets his ultimate downfall: death.