Betrayal And Abandonment In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

Death of a Salesman Essay Betrayal and abandonment are themes that many have encountered within their lives; but nobody can perhaps relate as much to these themes as Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. This play encompasses the life of Willy Loman, albeit not in any particular order when reviewing his younger years. The man’s memories are prompted by various seemingly insignificant moments in his life. Willy is a failed salesman, clinging onto his fabric of lies he has built up throughout his life, and attempting to pull his broken family relationships back together, all while slipping in and out of trances within his life. The man invests everything into his sons, Biff and Happy, and is constantly wondering
Eventually, when the reality that his life is meaningless and his sons are worthless comes crashing down on him, he commits suicide in a desperate attempt to prove his worth to his sons and himself. Betrayal and abandonment are themes that have reoccurred through his life, from when his father abandoned him when he was young, to when his sons leave him in a restaurant, babbling like a maniac in the bathroom. His son, Biff, in his own eyes, ironically induces the final betrayal because Biff refuses to accept Willy’s fevered, dementia-driven dream for his son. Abandonment is one of the foremost figures in Willy’s life, from his current life and even when he was young. In his introduction, he describes his current status in his sales career. “I know it when I walk in. They seem to laugh at me…I don’t know the reason for it, but they just pass me by. I’m not noticed.” (23) This describes his life currently; a man to be tossed aside in his old age and near uselessness. Here, he has not yet realized the uselessness of his current career and status; he continues his futile lies to his wife as to the income he currently makes and how much he is actually valued amongst his clients. The futile lies he continues to offer himself is also reflected within his flashback with Ben, as he
One of the most tangible combinations of both themes is within his job. “Charley, I’m strapped. I’m strapped. I don’t know what to do. I was just fired.” (75) Here is Willy talking to Charley about the betrayal of his beloved company he had worked for over 3 decades, and simply abandoned him by the side of the road. Strangely enough, within this scene, there is a path that Willy does not take (out of jealousy), which is when Charley offers him a job. In fact, within the same scene, is a statement that echoes the ideas of life, and contradicts the idealism that Willy holds. “Willy, when’re you gonna realize that them things don’t mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can’t sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you’re a salesman, and you don’t know that.” (75) This is something that Charley tells Willy in an attempt to get Willy to open his eyes to the real world, and away from the dream that has abandoned him in the end. This is significant for something within that conversation sparks the only time he tells the truth within the entire play; that Charley is his only friend. The final betrayal within the play occurs right before his death. “Ben! Ben, where do I?…Ben how do I?” (108) This is Willy calling out to his imaginary brother, right before he commits suicide. At first glance,