Is Willy Loman A Salesman

Willy Loman is considered an American Everyman because of his desire for success, his part of conformity to his perception of the American Dream, and his teachings on what he finds the keys of success.

Willy Loman looks up to Dave Singleman, who in his eyes has led a life of success and wants live a life like him. Willy while trying to persuade Howard Wagner brings up Dave Singleman, a salesman that he idolizes because at the age of 84 he was able to make sales in the midst of sitting at home and when he died there was a big funeral where other salesmen and buyers attended. “’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?” (Miller 81; Act 2). To Willy being well liked and having many acquaintances is a great achievement, which also leads to his belief that one is living successfully. What Willy wasn't able to understand that even at the age of 84 Singleman was still working when he should've been retired. Willy Loman got the wrong interpretations of a salesman by observing Singleman, he thought that being a salesman was an easy way to business, all you had to do was sit at home and make a few calls and you had buyers that respected and loved you. “This conclusion seemed to be confirmed by Singleman’s funeral which was attended by hundreds of salesmen and buyers. Singleman, in other words represented free enterprise with a human face, and it was part of Willy’s tragedy that he never realizes that such a system does not exist.” (Carson, 90). Willy’s idea of success had nothing to with hard work, or intelligence it seems as Willy had no idea what he had put himself i...

... middle of paper ...

...y have to know, and I go right through”(Miller 33; act 1). Willy taught his sons that personal appearance is what gets ahead in life. If you had looks you achieved everything you wanted to. He never really stressed out on what hard work and education can get you in life. He was teaching the wrong morals which led to the decline of his sons success. Willy was never able to know his own father resulting in the way he treats his children, which would be a reason why he failed as a father. “Deprived of affection as a child,he smothers his own sons with love, and oppresses them with the nakedness of his hopes for their success.”(Carson,92). Since he was never shown the affection that he wanted as a child, he doesn’t want to deprive his sons with that idea so he put his hopes and dreams out for them so they had an idea of what they should do to make their father proud.