Death of a Salesman
Death Of A Salesman
In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy is depicted as living in his own world.
The play centers around the end of Willy's life, when the real world comes crashing
through, ruining the false reality he had created for himself and his family. Throughout
the play, Willy Loman uses the concept of being well liked to build a false image of
reality, as shown through his teachings to his son, what he considers successful, and his
reasoning for committing suicide.
I believe that the main downfall of the Loman family was Willy's refusal to face
reality. There are many examples of Willy's inability to face reality within the novel. He
lived in a fantasy world. One of the key examples was when Howard fired Willy. Willy
was a horrible salesman who never was able to sell anything and deserved what was
coming to him. He just couldn't' see this because he wouldn't face the facts. Another
prime example of Willy not being able to face reality involved his oldest son Biff.
If Willy had faced reality he could have quit his job with Howard and the company
and gotten a job with Charlie. Charlie was always offering Willy work, but he never took
it because he was "such a good salesman." Once Willy lost his job, he was depressed,
but tried to shrug it off. He never did take a job with Charlie, even after he lost his job.
Again he could not face the reality, but in the end this led to his tragic flaw, suicide.
Willy believes his suicide will resolve the disorder in his life by assuaging any pain he
caused Linda, winning Biffs' respect, and demonstrating his popularity as a salesman and
individual. In reality, he denies Linda a debt-free husband, Biff a reconciled father, and
Happy an improved role model. Thus Willy's refusal to accept life on its own terms
results in nothing but disorder and fragmentation for those he loves most.
Both of
In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy is depicted as living in his own world.
The play centers around the end of Willy's life, when the real world comes crashing
through, ruining the false reality he had created for himself and his family. Throughout
the play, Willy Loman uses the concept of being well liked to build a false image of
reality, as shown through his teachings to his son, what he considers successful, and his
reasoning for committing suicide.
I believe that the main downfall of the Loman family was Willy's refusal to face
reality. There are many examples of Willy's inability to face reality within the novel. He
lived in a fantasy world. One of the key examples was when Howard fired Willy. Willy
was a horrible salesman who never was able to sell anything and deserved what was
coming to him. He just couldn't' see this because he wouldn't face the facts. Another
prime example of Willy not being able to face reality involved his oldest son Biff.
If Willy had faced reality he could have quit his job with Howard and the company
and gotten a job with Charlie. Charlie was always offering Willy work, but he never took
it because he was "such a good salesman." Once Willy lost his job, he was depressed,
but tried to shrug it off. He never did take a job with Charlie, even after he lost his job.
Again he could not face the reality, but in the end this led to his tragic flaw, suicide.
Willy believes his suicide will resolve the disorder in his life by assuaging any pain he
caused Linda, winning Biffs' respect, and demonstrating his popularity as a salesman and
individual. In reality, he denies Linda a debt-free husband, Biff a reconciled father, and
Happy an improved role model. Thus Willy's refusal to accept life on its own terms
results in nothing but disorder and fragmentation for those he loves most.
Both of