Willy Loman is No Tragic Hero in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

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. Willy’s consistent stroking of Biff’s ego misled Biff into thinking that he could get away with anything simply because he was “popular” and “well-liked”. However, when Biff accidentally stumbles upon his father’s adultery, his world crashes in on itself as he loses his sense of identity. He quotes, “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been” (Act II). Willy wasn’t much better with his “friends”.

He knows the fact that he is a total failure and he never admits it. Then Willy mentions that he cannot sell anything and when Linda says that he is the handsomest, he disagrees with her, says he is fat, foolish to look at. Willy tells everyone and believes in the dream that he is well liked, that he is a 'number-one'; man. Thinking that way Willy creates his own little world where he is the boss and he does the things which he should not do causing his own misfortune. Willy believes in and follows his wrong ideas.

After Willy’s unexpected death, Biff begins to realize that his father had false dreams. Throughout the play, there are multiple occurrences where Biff is correct about his father having all the wrong dreams. First of all, Willy’s talents and dreams are not selling but are using his hands and building things. Second of all, he tries to repeat the success of another salesman named Dave Singleman, and does not try to go after his own. Furthermore, Willy’s unrealistic dreams of Biff having an ideal life technically ruins his son's life and results in a failure for both of them.

To Willy, success means wealth, a happy family, big house, popularity, and to be praised. For example, Willy tells his sons “Be liked and you will never want.”-pg 33. It shows that Willy has an obsession with popularity and being considered superior. This shows up in his perception of success. Though despite his best efforts, Willy’s dream has not brought him any good nor happiness, in fact it has made him a monster.

In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller paints the relationship of Willy and his two sons, Biff and Happy, through the dreams of living a successful life but achieving that success in the wrong manner. He wants his kids to live a better life than he had to but he had no clue on how togain this success the correct way. This wrong teaching built a wedge in their relationship with neither being successful and their father never letting them hear the end of it. His high expectations deemed foolish with his many failures at life and even indulging in an affair, guiding his sons down the wrong path of life. Willy’s dreams of having a successful life in the future are lived through the ones of his children because he couldn’t find a way to achieve

He’s liked, but he’s not—well liked” (30). Willy and his family know that Charley is a good businessman and earns a good living. The Lomans will never believe he is successful because he lacks the ability to be well liked, which is the trait that is imperative for Willy’s definition of success. Willy equates success with being well liked, and by saying that Charley is liked, but not well liked is the same as saying Charley is successful, but not very successful. It is this belief that by being well liked, Willy has an advantage over all others.

Willy Loman is the main character and protagonist in Death of A Salesman. For Willy Loman, perseverance and diligence are not important but rather material success, as well as personal attractiveness. Willy cannot see who he and his sons are. He believes they are great men who have what it takes to be successful and beat the business world. Unfortunately, he is mistaken.

Willy wants Biff to be the successful man that he never was and feels that Biff will not achieve success in the occupation he has taken. Furthermore, Willy was unable to admit his faults. His pride was so great that he even lied to his own family, borrowing money weekly from his neighbor, Charley, and then saying it was his salary. He tried to justify his affair with a strange woman when caught by Biff. He...

Strive not to be of success, but rather to be of value. Albert Einstein Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it. Ralph Marston Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town both explore the fulfillment of life. Emily and Willy Loman fail to take advantage of their lives because they have the wrong priorities and do not take the time appreciate what they already have. Willy focuses solely on achieving his dreams of success as a salesman and helping Biff become a great man, resulting in him ignoring his family, declining status in society, and reality, leading to his demise.

Happy seemingly cares little for his father as an adult, as is obvious when he cho... ... middle of paper ... ...ed: each one layered on deep love and faith; lies and hurt. Willy gambles everything he has- and more- on Biff, even though he seems to hate his son at times. This is most likely because Willy knew Biff knew his dirty little secret, and could not stand to think that his actions may have harmed his child’s balance. Yet it is ironic that Willy Loman’s legacy, based on the insurance money- is not used by the son he loved best, but by the one who always came in second. It leaves the audience wondering if Happy loved his father more than the worshipped Biff, or if Biff loved his father so much he could not stand to touch the money, knowing that his father had killed himself solely for his benefit.