what is miller's message in the play 'death of a salesman'?

Answer 1

1. Life is hard, then you die.
2. I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

Answer 2

There are at least four strands to Death of a Salesman, none of which really fit together. First is the official "capitalism is bad, socialism is good" message — "Willy never put a nut to a bolt," we’re told. Second is the family drama that is the real heart of the play. For Miller, family is a suffocating web of co-dependency that nonetheless offers the one shred of defense against the utterly alien world outside. Third is the "good Jew, bad goy" message, in which Miller covertly asserts the superiority of Jewish intelligence and hard work over goyish athleticism and charm. Fourth, and most tangential, is Miller’s private obsession with adultery, which he tends to present as the root of all evil.
Death of a Salesman turns on Biff’s discovery that Dad has been cheating on Mom. This is the great, hidden secret that destroyed the trust between Willy and Biff. If only Willy hadn’t cheated! If only Biff hadn’t come unexpectedly! If only Willy had got the broad out of the room in time!
But suppose he had? Then you have no play. Biff would go on to greater things and the family would prosper. But Death of a Salesman really isn’t about adultery, or Jews and goys, or even about capitalism. It’s about Willy Loman, a shallow, blind blowhard who somehow carries the sorrows of the whole world upon his shoulders.

Answer 3

There are any number of themes in the play, among them:

1) The "American Dream" is not guaranteed. Willy counted on a lifetime of hard work to result in some peace of mind as a older man, and he never got that.

2) Business in Modern America has lost its connection with old-time concepts of loyalty and service.

3) Fathers are just ordinary people, and, eventually, every child will have to face the fact that his/her dad isn't perfect.

Answer 4

In a nutshell, that the American Dream isn't all it's cracked up to be. A fairly banal idea these days, but back in the day it was a rare idea indeed. Willy Loman works long and hard to make something of himself and provide for his family,as all good Americans should, and he gets shafted. His personal faults mean that he can't ever be close to his sons.
I still find it painful to watch.

Answer 5

Life sucks, and then you die.

Answer 6

Vacuum's suck.