Open Prompt 12/9/2012

1981. The meaning of some literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible, or other works of literature. Select a literary work that makes use of such a sustained reference. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain the allusion that predominates in the work and analyze how it enhances the work's meaning.

     According to Thomas C. Foster, when in doubt, literature is enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible, or even other works of Literature. In that case, one can assume that Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller contains allusions from one of the parables in the Bible. The relationship between Willy Loman, Biff, and Happy relate to the prodigal son. With the surface meaning from the parable, Biff resembles the prodigal son, which leads Willy with higher expectations in addition to character contrast that enhances the plot of the Death of a Salesman.

     When comparing the play with the parable, the play follows the surface story and meaning of the parable with slight changes. In the parable, the son leaves to live off on his own and comes back after facing reality. This corresponds to Biff leaving at an early age to the west and living on a farm. He arrives not because his perspective on reality was wrong, but because his father's perspective was wrong. Biff doesn't directly state that until the very end, but the audience is able to see that with Biff's arrival, Willy has mixed feelings but higher expectations for him. Willy's higher expectations, to him, references the feast that the father held for his  long lost son. Because Willy rarely faces reality, he thinks that the higher expectations will make Biff into a greater person. Through this incident, the story unfolds with Biff being forced into the business world. 

     The allusion to the parable also creates a contrast between Biff and Happy. According to the Bible, as the son arrives, the other son dares to ask his father why he's full of joy. He finds it unfair that he's been by his father's side the whole time period, but his brother gets the attention. In response, the father says that everything already belongs to the son that stayed with him. This connects perfectly to Happy and Biff. Throughout the play, it's obvious to see that Happy doesn't receive his parent's love. In fact, Happy is a very passive character who continues to joke and keep peace within his family. While Biff is gone, Willy doesn't expect much from him because he has stayed and is settled in the business environment. Moreover, When the father in the parable says that everything belongs to this son already, one can see that all the "belongings" in the play is Willy's personality itself. Happy resembles all the traits of Willy: business world, many women in his surroundings, and false dreams. With this aspect in the play, it provides the readers with deeper understanding of Willy and both his sons.

    Most importantly, the "inheritance" given to the leaving son in the beginning of the parable appears at the end of Death of a Salesman; this reference to the parable serves as an important purpose in the play. Unlike the parable, Biff never asks Willy for his inheritance but it's still given. That is because Willy leaves near the end of the play to kill himself and get his family the insurance money. In reference to the parable, Willy's "inheritance" is the price of his life. With the slight change in sequence between the two stories, Death of a Salesman ends with a powerful message. Through his death "inheritance", one can analyse Willy's character which further explains his relationship with people throughout his life.
     Although the biblical allusion isn't vividly evident, it's hard to ignore it. The correspondence between the parable of the prodigal and Death of a Salesman helps readers compare and see from the point of an outside source. Willy's relationship with people, his false dreams/ expectations, and the contrast between the Loman brothers serve as a recurring topic in the play. Willy's materialistic views are displayed all throughout the similarities from the parable. By comparing the play to the parable, it enhances the play's meaning by emphasizing the theme of  the American dream.