Lies do not lead to Success

The film, Death of a Salesman, focuses on a character named Willy Loman, who faces an endless struggle to achieve what he considers to be the “American Dream.” Willy believes the American Dream consists of having money and being well liked. Throughout his life he attempts to achieve these concepts by working hard and being forever hopeful. However, Willy is not able to achieve any part of his American Dream. Willy’s obsession with financial success leads him astray from the real purpose of his life, caring for his family. Willy can be portrayed as a tragic hero due to his endless attempts at becoming rich and well-liked to accomplish his American Dream, which eventually leads to his tragic suicidal death.

Willy’s American Dream Fantasy of being well liked is brought about by his brother’s lifestyle of wealth and popularity, which he intends to copy. However, he is unable to become well liked in his community or job. On the contrary to this failure, Willy still believes or at least portrays himself to be well liked, such as when he says, “[o]h, I’ll knock ‘em dead next week. I’ll go to Hartford. I’m very well liked in Hartford” (Cite). Later, Willy mentions how no matter where he went he could sell unlike anyone else. However, this is complete fantasy. In Willy’s fantasy world, he truly is a great and successful salesman, but this is not the same in reality. In actuality, Willy is unable to sell anything, and this proves how Willy is unable to realize that his delusions are not real. The most conclusive evidence that Willy is not well liked is at his funeral. The only people who show up are his immediate family and neighbors. Not even his boss or any of his co-workers, whom he worked with for decades, put in an appearance. This i...

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...ly’s inability to step back and view others for what they truly are lead to his ultimate downfall.

Willy’s countless efforts to achieve his goal of the American Dream are thwarted each time. His attempts at financial success all end in failure. No one, not even his family, believes Willy’s portrayal of himself as being well liked. Willy has a tragic ending in which he kills himself right after possibly fulfilling one aspect of his American Dream, owing a home. While he was not rich per say, he did have a home that was fully his. Willy had everything that could be wanted by an average person, but Willy’s inability to see what he had, and what he had taken for granted lead to his downfall. Willy had a family that loved him, even though he treated them poorly, he had a house that was his, and he also had a neighbor that, regardless of what Willy thought, liked him.