Tennis rackets - Ironic symbol of Bernard s success since Bernard goes to play tennis with a friend who owns a tennis court. It is ironic since it was the Loman brothers who thought sports equipment would be their success. Miller uses enhances Willy s mental state. By using flashback and reveries, he allows the audience to get into the mind of Willy Loman and brings us into a sense of pity for him. Miller also uses a lot of motifs and repeated ideas through the play to give the viewers an idea of what Willy and his situation is all about.
Personal attractiveness is an oft repeated motif.
It shows that Willy believes that personal attractiveness makes one successful, but his belief is shot down by the success of Charley and Bernard who, in his mind, are not personally attractive. Other motifs are debt which sadly the Lomans escape after Willy dies, stealing which Willy condones, even encourages, the boxed-in feeling of Willy, the idea that Willy s life is passing him by, expressed in the quote, The woods are burning, and Ben s success and the qualities that brought about his success. Dominant Philosophy Miller seems to say with this play that any man can have as great a fall and be as great a tragedy as a king or some other famous person. Just because people are common does not mean that their falls are to them less steep. Also one must find oneself to be successful in life.