What Is Willy's Image Of Himself

What is Willy’s image of himself and what is the significance of the stockings?
Miller uses a range of linguistic and structural devices to present Willy’s self-image and worth. He also reveals an important secret which is linked with stockings. In this essay I will be conveying some of these ideas and the significance of the stockings.
To begin with, Willy appears to have a positive and satisfied image of himself and this is displayed when he says, “I have friends…can park my car in any street” “very well liked”. By using phrases comprised of monosyllabic words and simplistic language it reflects Willy’s simplistic way of thinking; the blind faith in the cult of personality. Here he confidently expresses to the boys how successful he is due
He begins to reveal that his success, popularity and fame aren’t the case, “Don’t seem to take me…laugh at me”. By using simplistic language, it shows a sense of defeat and confusion. Also when he directly admits his concerns with his appearance i.e. “I’m fat” he used colloquialism and dysphemism it indicates a weight being lifted off his shoulder as he made that confession. This shows that he no longer thinks highly of himself or perhaps that he’s abandoned that thought a while ago but only just admitted it due to him noticing this downfall in his career. On account of this it possibly suggests that he puts on this confident façade due to it being the time of the Great Depression where work, success, fame and wealth were almost impossible, which makes it his priority to ensure that his sons don’t go down the same route he did. However although this epiphany is established, Willy still hasn’t reached the anagnorisis stage, which is realising that cult of personality is futile in the current society. This is displayed when he says, “I'll go to Hartford. I'm very well liked in Hartford”. By repeating “Hartford” which symbolises Willy’s previous success and the repetition of “well liked” foregrounds the fact that by rehearsing memories of his past achievements is a way of coping and abandoning the harsh reality; that society is no longer capitalistic.