Willy Loman's Death
Death of A Salesman
Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman tells a sad story of a man who was too proud to admit that he was a failure. Willy Loman created a world of illusion to help him to continue with the daily drudge of living. He spent his life trying desperately to convince himself, and others, that he was successful and "well liked" until the day he died. The Requiem is the last act of Miller's play where the sad truth of Willy Loman's existence is revealed to the audience and the Loman family. The requiem serves as a place where Miller paints a picture of Willy's death as an ironic end to his tragic life.
Charley's speech during the funeral is vital to understanding Willy as a tragic character because Charley takes the blame away from Willy for his death. "Nobody dast blame this man", are the opening words to Charley's speech that depicts Willy Loman as a product of his environment and a victim of his profession. He explains that the life of a salesman is an upward …show more content…
Before Willy's death he had a conversation with a vision of his older brother Ben in which Willy described the motives behind his suicide. Willy wanted to prove to his son Biff once and for all how well known and respected he was. "Ben, that funeral will be massive! They'll come from ME, MA, VT, and NH...that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because he never realized - I am known!" Willy envisioned his final triumph where he could finally prove his worth to his family, and the only way that he could do that would be in death. Ironically, no one attends his funeral except for his family and Charley. Instead of his funeral being his final triumph it is his final humiliation. The absence of people at the funeral validates to the Loman's that Willy's entire life was an illusion; even Willy himself did not realize the fallacy in his proclamations of fame and
Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman tells a sad story of a man who was too proud to admit that he was a failure. Willy Loman created a world of illusion to help him to continue with the daily drudge of living. He spent his life trying desperately to convince himself, and others, that he was successful and "well liked" until the day he died. The Requiem is the last act of Miller's play where the sad truth of Willy Loman's existence is revealed to the audience and the Loman family. The requiem serves as a place where Miller paints a picture of Willy's death as an ironic end to his tragic life.
Charley's speech during the funeral is vital to understanding Willy as a tragic character because Charley takes the blame away from Willy for his death. "Nobody dast blame this man", are the opening words to Charley's speech that depicts Willy Loman as a product of his environment and a victim of his profession. He explains that the life of a salesman is an upward …show more content…
Before Willy's death he had a conversation with a vision of his older brother Ben in which Willy described the motives behind his suicide. Willy wanted to prove to his son Biff once and for all how well known and respected he was. "Ben, that funeral will be massive! They'll come from ME, MA, VT, and NH...that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because he never realized - I am known!" Willy envisioned his final triumph where he could finally prove his worth to his family, and the only way that he could do that would be in death. Ironically, no one attends his funeral except for his family and Charley. Instead of his funeral being his final triumph it is his final humiliation. The absence of people at the funeral validates to the Loman's that Willy's entire life was an illusion; even Willy himself did not realize the fallacy in his proclamations of fame and