Prompt Revision #3

2006. Many writers use a country setting to establish values within a work of literature. For example, the country may be a place of virtue and peace or one of primitivism and ignorance. Choose a novel or play in which such a setting plays a significant role. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the country setting functions in the work as a whole.

                  In Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman, he uses the setting to help convey certain meanings to the audience. The Loman family is based in a city like setting, surrounded by apartment buildings and other individuals. However, their house hasn’t always been like this. It was originally more in the open, and during this time the two boys, Biff and Happy, were merely men. As they were growing up, Willy had taught them that the only important thing to success was being well liked and having a good physical appearance. As soon as they were faced with life after high school, they realized this wasn’t true the hard way. The country setting helps show individualism, self-discovery, and potential.

                  After high school, Biff was forced to find a way to make a living for him self. He traveled out to the far west, and found work on a farm. Unknown to him at the time, the audience could eventually tell that on the farmlands, Biff was content with himself and free from being forced to do something he didn’t want to do by his father, Willy. When around Willy, Biff feels that he needs to lie to him in order to make him happy about what he has done with his life. While out in the country, Biff has different opportunities. He can do whatever he wants with his life. While he is out west, he realizes the importance that he has. However, all of that goes away when he finally comes back to visit Willy.

             The American West symbolizes potential and future success. Biff could have a lot going for him, yet he grew up in such a materialistic society. Miller tries to show his audience that Biff needs to find himself by leaving his hometown. Going out West is just the way to do it. His escape from Willy’s delusions and the American East’s materialism suggests how he is discovering himself. Biff needs to realize that looks and being well liked won’t get you anywhere in life, and growing up on a farm, away from material society is just the place to discover himself. When he comes back, he knows that he screwed up his life. He realizes how he grew up with such a false view of success, and that he would have to start all over again.

            To show how Willy has not moved on, the play mainly takes place in his small apartment like structure that never changes. It is surrounded by settings that have changed though. Their house used to be out in the open, but then all of the other homes were built around it. They were trapped, not being able to escape the new things around them, and not being able to escape their fate. They grew up with such a false idea of what being successful is, and now they have to accept that they will never be able to keep up with everything around them.

             By including the American West in the play, Miller helped convey ideas of individualism, self-discovery, and potential. Without these, the play would simply be a depressing story about how some people simply can’t get anywhere in life.