Compare Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman

Willy believed good looks, material goods, and likeability would guarantee his sons this dream. Willy's perspective will eventually lead to his fall as the protagonist of the story. Willy also lies about many things throughout the story to make his image look better than he really is, "Linda asks how much Willy has sold and although he initially lies about the amount, Linda patiently waits for the truth, which is that he has barely made enough to pay the bills." (Arthur Miller) Willy's American dream is to be known to everyone and financially successful. Willy doesn't believe in hard work and honesty to achieve the highest respect but instead focuses on personal appearance and social judgement.

He also sees his son in his eyes go from a star football player to a lazy bum. When Willy looks back and sees this he thinks he has failed his son because to him Biff has no drive and self-urgency. Willy although in his delusion of life thinks he has lived the “American Dream” and succeed he has greatly mistaken. Though he does try very hard to do what in his mind is right. Even though his family might not be provided for after he is gone he has been able to give them an ok life.

His distorted perceptions of the American Dream ultimately ruined his life and the lives of his family. Sadly, Willy definitely failed as a father. He obviously favored his eldest son Biff over his youngest son Happy, and this constant neglect drove Happy to become more like his older brother as an adult in order to win his father’s approval. We can see this through his philandering behavior, something Biff was known for in high school, the golden years. Biff, on the other hand, had it worse because his father sold him lies about his importance in the business industry, which forced Biff to admire Willy and strive to be like him one day.

Biff loses respect for his father and soon realizes what lie he has been living. Willy is in denial about his involvement with Biff’s failure in life, and when he is confronted about it by Bernard asking, “What happened in Boston, Willy? (141), Willy quickly becomes defensive, saying, “What are you trying to do, blame it on me? Don’t talk to me that way!” (141). After finding out about Biff’s reaction of burning his favorite University of Virginia shoes that symbolize Biff’s hopes and dreams for the future, Willy realizes what impact the affair had on his son.

Due to Willy’s egotistical nature and the need to feed it with a mistress, his downfall begins in the eyes of Biff. Not only does Willy lose Biff’s respect which is proven when Biff calls him a “phony little fake” (121), but Willy is also too prideful to amend his relationship. This causes Biff to lose his confidence and surrender his dreams of studying at the University of Virginia. As a result of his egotistical nature derived from his pr... ... middle of paper ... ...ives to achieve the wrong things. This furthermore leads to the downfall of Willy and his family, proving that Willy Loman is a tragic hero.

Willy has two sons, Biff and Happy but he seems to focus more on Biff. He seemed angry that Biff didn’t do more with his life. Willy Loman, the aging salesman, is worn out to the point of breakdown by his many years on the road. But he remains a firm believer in capitalist values and has transfer... ... middle of paper ... ... embraced by him and forgiven. In this he is given existence, so to speak---his fatherhood, for which he has always striven and which until now he could not achieve.

Willy’s inability to succeed financially as expected from society in turn affects his two sons Biff and Happy and his loving wife Linda. Willy’s oldest son Biff is the most affected by his father’s failures. Biff is more affected by his father’s failure to his mother than his father’s financial failures. Biff’s whole life is ruined when he finds out that his father is cheating on his mother after all she has done for him. When Biff realizes that he has been idolizing a failure he is devestated.

As this demonstrates, Willy's need to feel well-liked also causes him to become intensely paranoid. When his son, Biff, for example, is trying to explain why he cannot become successful, Willy believes that Biff is just trying to spite him. Unfortunately, Willy never realizes that his values are flawed. As Biff points out at the end of the play, "he had the wrong dreams." In many ways Biff is similar to his father.

Willy prefers to dr... ... middle of paper ... ...ather, not as a salesman? (Corrigon 105). Although he is not flawless, Willy ?accepts the responsibilities [his family?s] existence creates? unlike his brother Ben because he truly cares about them (Abbotson 44). Willy?s devotion to his family is sabotaged by his misconceived ideas on how love is conveyed, as he attempts to endow his sons with corrupt objectives.

This turns sour however, after Biff discovers the father he idolizes was not all he had thought him to be. Afterward, familial dynamics are never the same, as Willy continues to hope that Biff will succeed, ignorant- perhaps purposely so- that his son is failing out of spite, knowing that all his father’s hopes are resting on his shoulders. Willy’s relationships with his two sons are tentative at best, but Happy and Biff are partly to blame for this downhill spiral- as their relationship is just as complex. In the play, “Death of a Salesman,” Willy Loman remembers scenes from years previous, particularly idyllic times when his two sons were still young and full of promise. Willy’s memories focus on Biff: Biff’s chances at success, Biff’s talents, Biff’s popularity.