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Death of a Salesman: The Flaws and Failures of Willy Loman

analytical Essay
556 words
556 words
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Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman”, primarily focuses on the flaws and failures of Willy Loman, Millers’ main character in this story. Willy’s distorted and backward views of the American Dream, paired with his inability to let go of the past lead him down a road of regret and in the end his biggest failure which was his wasted life.
Willy Loman is a 60 year old senile salesman who desperately wants to be a successful salesman; however, his ideas about the ways in which one goes about achieving this are very much misguided, just as his morals are. He believes that popularity and good looks are the key to achieving the American dream, rather than hard work and dedication. He not only lives his entire life by this code, but instills his delusional beliefs in his two sons Biff and Happy. As a result, his sons experience similar failures in their adult lives. Willy led a life of illusion, lies and regret which not only ruined his life, but gad a negative impact on the lives of family as well.
Willy was never able to say he was a good father to his sons. He prioritized his job o...

In this essay, the author

  • Analyzes how arthur miller's play "death of a salesman" focuses on the flaws and failures of willy loman, millers' main character in this story.
  • Describes willy loman as a 60-year-old senile salesman who believes that popularity and good looks are the key to achieving the american dream, rather than hard work and dedication.
  • Analyzes how willy didn't know how to deal with his son's disgust for him after catching him having an affair. he prioritized his job over them and stayed away on business trips.
  • Analyzes how loman awarded linda's faithfulness and unfaltering loyalty with lies, disrespect and affairs. linda showed him affection and tried helping him with his mental state, all while allowing him to snap at her over the smallest things.
  • Analyzes how willy refused to accept that his dream of dying the "death of a salesman" was unrealistic. in an attempt to gain love and be liked again, he committed suicide for the insurance money.
  • Analyzes how willy loman's dream cost him his life and ruined his family’s lives. he failed at everything because of his insecurities and self-doubt.
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