Everybody believes in a manipulative lie where in heroes are judged to possess no flaws, but deep within, heroes are humans too. Dr. Wheeler, a literary critic from Carson-Newman University, analyzed that tragedies enlightens those individuals involved to be more vigilant of the consequences of their actions and to act upon these mistakes before it becomes too late. Specifically, Willy Loman is a devoted father that was eager to achieve the idealistic American Dream. He fantasized that his failed ambition, accompanied by tragedies, would be endured and accomplished by his two sons, Biff and Happy. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is portrayed as a tragic hero through examples of his fate affecting the welfare of a number of people and his …show more content…
Even though Willy Loman has flaws both as a father and a husband, as an honorable man, he never abandoned nor neglected his responsibilities as the head provider of the Loman Family. Until one day, Willy frightfully confronts Bernard, one of Biff’s friends, regarding his concern with Biff’s future as he describes, “His life ended after that Ebbets field game. From the age of seventeen nothing good ever happened to him” (Miller 71). Subsequently, Arthur Miller provides a flashback that the discovery of Willy’s affair from Biff’s trip to Boston disheartened Biff to aspire his promising future that was commencing from the Ebbets field game. This confrontation signified that Willy’s infidelity not only affected his marriage, but above all, the lives of his sons, especially Biff. As Willy himself observed that, “nothing good ever happened to him” since then. The consequence of Willy’s adultery was destroying Biff’s perception of trust as he began to suspect Willy, the person he looks highly upon, exhaling fictitious lies. As C.S. Lewis emphasized, “Tragedy alone brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans’ suffering” (Wheeler). That being the case, Biff developed …show more content…
Furthermore, during Willy’s funeral, Biff graciously addresses to Charley, “There’s more of him in that front stoop than all the sales he ever made” (Miller 110) and Linda interrupting, “He was so wonderful with his hands” (Miller 110). From these comments, it shows both Biff and Linda’s expression of their appreciation of Willy’s sincerity and adherence to their family. Considering Willy’s death was a suicide encouraged by his belief that his death will be for the sake of providing his suffering family a generous grant from his life insurance. Contrasting with Miller’s depiction of an arrogant and delusional Willy Loman, his genuine conscientious was committed in securing the welfare of his family. In addition, William D. Montapert elaborated, “There are no tragedies, just facts not recognized in time” (Wheeler). Despite Miller’s foreshadowing of Willy’s suicidal attempts from the past throughout the book, Willy’s logic for wishing to die was misrepresented and unexpected. Willy’s real rationale for dying proves that Willy himself is aware of the tragedies he previously created, that had produced his downfall and produced a ripple effect on his family. At first, one can ignorantly assume that his death is simply because of his mental state, however, it is generated by
Willy Loman is not the only victim of his tragic flaw. The rest of the Loman family is also affected by Willy's problem. Willy's wife, Linda, is the only one who supports and understands Willy's tragic flaw completely. Linda supports every far-fetched claim her husband makes. She is even described as having “infinite patience” whenever she is conversing with Willy (Miller 99). Willy's two sons, Biff and Happy, are also affected by his flaw. Happy, when in the company of two ladies, claims that Willy is not even his father, and “just a guy” (Miller 91). Later in the play, Biff decides that he does not want to be in his father's life anymore. Biff's problems are simply too much for Willy to handle with his current state of being, even though Willy needs Biff in his life. After both internal and external conflict, Biff reveals to Willy that Willy had been lied to for a number of years, and that the life he lives is essentially a lie (Miller 104).
Although the characters are not of noble birth nor possess a heroic nature nor experience a reversal of fortune, many of the elements in "Death of A Salesman" fulfill the criteria of a classic tragedy. The downfall and crisis points in the play are directly linked to the Loman family's combined harmartias, or personal flaws. The Loman's have unrealistic ideas regarding the meaning of success. To Willy, the foundation of success is not education or hard work, but rather "who you know and the smile on your face." Moreover, Willy ridicules the education Bernard has earned, declaring that his sons, Biff and Hap, will get further ahead in the business world because "the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked, and you will never want." Willy idolizes two men: his brother, Ben, who walked out of an African jungle a rich man, and an 84-year-old salesman who could "pick a phone in twenty or thirty cities and be remembered and loved, and finally honored by hundred of mourners at his funeral." To Linda, success is paying off a 25...
Similarly, in Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's lies and delusions lead to his downfall. Willy is a salesman who has been working for the same company for over thirty years. He has always believed that being well-liked is the key to success, and he has instilled this belief in his sons. However, Willy's life is falling apart, and he is unable to accept the reality of his situation.
It surrounds the life of Willy Loman, an aging salesman whose son Biff has just returned from a work stint out in the west. As Biff’s father, Willy desires him to have a good paying job and to settle on one job, two things Biff has been struggling to do. Tensions heighten between the two characters, while the conformist son Happy and Willy’s wife Linda, an optimist to say the least, are stuck in the middle. This is when the reader is really exposed to Willy’s delusion. It is learned that Willy has been suicidal for a very long time, constantly trying to asphyxiate by inhaling gas fumes. On top of this, throughout the play there are flashback scenes of when Biff was younger, and they progress in intensity as the piece moves on. Images of the prosperous Uncle Ben haunt Willy and taunt him of his unsuccess, and scandalous scenes of his cheating affair in Boston haunt him otherwise. Eventually, Willy is fired and Biff does not acquire a job approved by his father. This all ends in the ultimatum of Willy’s suicide by car crash and Biff’s acceptance of the life he wants to live. The last audible words of the play are in a line spoken by Linda while walking away from the grave: “We’re free… we’re free...” (Miller 109). These powerful words, and from this character especially, pound the destructive nature of Willy’s dreams
Willy, Linda, Biff and Happy are all characters that use self- deception as a way to mentally escape the terrible reality of their lives. As the play progresses, and ends Biff is truly the one and only character that becomes self- aware. At the end of the play Biff accepts the lies his family and him have been living in for years. Biff makes huge changes mentally at the end of the play, which cannot be said for the rest of the Loman family.
In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the conflicts that formulate between Biff and Willy Loman build up to the death of Willy. Biff’s delusional perception of being liked in the world leads to a successful life which was an idea brought onto him by his father, Biff’s discovery of his father's affair, and Biff’s lack of business success all accumulate to the heavy conflicting relationship between Biff and his father, Willy. These contribute immensely to the idea that personal dreams and desire to reach success in life can negatively impact life with personal relationships, which causes people to lose sight of what is important. This ultimately leads to the Willy committing suicide from the build up of problems with his son.
Willy Loman is a man in his sixties who is married to Linda Loman, and they have two adult sons named, Biff and Happy. Willy is living the American dream by owning a house, and owning a car, where he can support his wife. Willy works as a traveling sales man in Boston for the Wagner Company for the last thirty-four years. After many uneventful events in his life Willy kills himself by running his car into a tree. The years of guilt that Willy’s lives through that he had ruined his son, Biff’s life, and his betrayal of his wife Linda, is what killed Willy.
Willy Loman’s false pride leads him to believe that he has been successful as a father. He remembers how he was once looked up by his children, especially by his son Biff. However, Willy fails to realize that the relationship he once had with his son Biff has been broken, due to the fact that Biff caught Willy in an affair he was having with another girl; Biff was heartbroken to fin...
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.
It is said that "Good stories are driven by conflict, tension and high stakes" (William Landay). For Willy, problems grow and conflicts increase, which shows a good story. In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman is a flawed character, who has many conflicts to face, which accumulated throughout his lifetime. Consequently, Willy's internal and external conflicts ultimately lead to his own downfall, after being compiled and left unresolved. For instance, he deals with the aspiration of being somebody in the business society. Similarly, he acquired moral issues within his family. Lastly, Willy encounters various challenges with the way he is. Willy Loman led to his own demise through numerous conflicts with family, society and himself.
Miller’s Death of a Salesman is the tragic account of the demise of a meager salesman, Willy Loman. Willy is passively nearing the end of his career and life. His two sons, Biff and Happy show little remorse or pity for Willy, despite his obvious senility. When Biff borrows a football from his coach to practice passing, Willy encourages him: “Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!” (Miller 30). Willy erroneously praises Biff, not realizing that such affirmation could deceive Biff. Later, as Biff awaits an appointment with a prominent businessman, he feels compelled to steal his fountain pen, “I don’t know, I just—wanted to take something”(Miller 104). Such incidents set a precedent for Biff, eventually leading to his lackluster professional status. Willy once again deludes Biff as he mistakenly deters him from his studies. When Bernard reminds Biff, that in order for Biff to graduate, he must study his math, Willy initially agrees and encourages Biff to study: “You better study with him, Biff. Go ahead now”(Miller 32). When Biff confidently shows Willy his sneakers, on which he printe...
Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman is a complex tragic character. He is a man struggling to hold onto the little dignity he has left in a changing society. While society may have caused some of his misfortune, Willy must be held responsible for his poor judgment, disloyalty and foolish pride.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller concerns itself with the fall of a simple man perpetually in a steadfast state regarding his own failure in a success-driven society. The protagonist of the play, Willy Loman, will follow a tragic trajectory that will eventually lead to his suicide. Arthur Miller's tragic play is an accurate portrayal of the typical American myth that sustains an extreme craving for success and a belief in the illusion of the American dream, a dream attainable only by a handful of people. Having chosen a career in sales Willy Loman constantly aspires to become 'great'. Nevertheless, Willy is a poor aging salesman that considers himself to be a failure when comparing himself to his successful father and brother, but he is incapable of consciously admitting it. Consequently, Willy will measure his level of success with the level of success attained by his offspring, particularly his eldest son Biff. Their difficult relationship contribute to the play's main plot. Willy unfolds his deluded perception and recollection of the events as the audience gradually witnesses the tragic downfall of a man shadowed by a mental illness that has already began to take it's toll on his mind and personality.
Willy's search to find his mistakes of his life failed because, even though he found out what happened to Biff, he did not search for the right thing: his identity. Willy found out that his affair made Biff envision his father as a fake and phony, but he did not realize that a salesman was not the right job for him. When Willy died, no one came to his funeral (Act II. Scene I). This just showed that Willy was not the man he thought he was. He thought he was a great salesman with an unlimited amount of friends, but, when he died, no one was at his funeral but his family (Act II. Scene I). It showed that Willy was just a simple craftsman, who only needed attention and love from his family, and did not need fame or to be well-known ("Arthur Miller and Others," 311-314)
Willy Loman’s character in Death of a Salesman portrays him as a tragic hero. Willy Loman continued to want recognition and his reputation, but never forgets about his family. These characteristics describe him as a tragic hero in Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman’s tragic flow leads him to pursue the idea that reputation in society has more relevance in life than knowledge and education to survive in the business. His grand error of wanting recognition drove him crazy and insane and led to his tragic death.