As a literature expert with a deep understanding of classic works, I can provide you with an insightful analysis of the character Uncle Ben in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman."

Uncle Ben is a character from Willy Loman's past, who appears as a memory or a figment of Willy's imagination. He is portrayed as a successful, adventurous man who made his fortune in Africa through trade and hard work. Uncle Ben represents the ideal of the self-made man, a figure who achieved success through his own efforts and determination, which is a central theme in the play.

Willy often recalls Uncle Ben's life as a way to measure his own failures and to dream of a different life that could have been. The character serves as a symbol of the American Dream and the potential for success that Willy believes he has missed out on. Uncle Ben's success stands in stark contrast to Willy's own life, which is filled with disappointments and unrealized aspirations.

In the context of the play, Uncle Ben is not a character with whom the audience interacts directly; he is a part of Willy's internal dialogue and serves to highlight Willy's deteriorating mental state and his struggle with the reality of his life.

read more >>

Ben is Willy Loman's brother. He is already dead as the play begins, and he appears only in Willy's memories and reveries. Willy looks up to Ben and holds him up as an example to his sons Biff and Happy.read more >>