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Recommended: Death of a salesman a modern tragedy main discussion

The play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, is a powerful portrayal of a man that is fighting with illusion that he has created about his life and the delusions that haunt him at the end. The story takes us into the home of Willy Loman, an aged and weary salesman that is barely hanging on to his identity and dream. Along with Willy are his wife, Linda, and his two sons, Biff and Happy that struggle to keep as sense of family as they bitterly fight with one another. The lack of success and family are incredibly hard on Willy, as he has lived by a simple premise, a motto, to be well liked. This idea of likability filters throughout all of the other aspects of Mr. Loman’s life and as he grows older he fails to understand that he is living a lie. The illusion of self worth, through being liked, affects everything in Willy’s life from his work to the dysfunction of his family, and is the fueled by his wavering hope in the American dream.
Early on in the play the notion of likability is shown through Willy’s ranting when he returns home from a business trip. Biff has come home from being out west and his father believes that he is failure. Willy is unafraid to let his disappointment be heard to let Biff know he is not fond him at the moment, “Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace” (Miller, 2330). After years of apparent failure, Biff is viewed much lower in his father’s mind than he was during his youth. The lesson of being well liked is taught to both boys early in life and Willy is always measuring them based on how popular they are. When his father asks about his popularity since becoming football captain, Biff’s brother, Happy, is excited to help re-enforce the idea of likability leads to succes...

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...w successful he was because they will see how well-liked he is by so many people. Yet, the play ends by revealing that few people actually attend his funeral and prove to family the greatest lies that Willy lived. Linda’s final words help put this illusion in perspective, “We’re free . . . We’re free” (Miller, 2392). There is hope in her cries that her family will never be snared in this lies ever again. And despite Willy’s self last act, his family loves him even if they didn’t always like him.
Death of a Salesman gives the reader a great insight into the destructive power of trying to be liked by everyone and meeting their standards. Both Willy and Biff are always in a fight with the demon of acceptance. In the end, Willy succumbs to the lies while Biff breaks free. Perhaps Biff will never be successful based on his father’s terms, but he able to be himself.

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