Willy Loman's Illusions and Delusions in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Willy Loman's Illusions and Delusions in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Charley says something in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman that sums up Willy’s whole life. He asks him, "When the hell are you going to grow up” (Miller 97)? Willy spends his entire life in an illusion, seeing himself as a great man who is popular and successful. Willy exhibits many childlike qualities and his two sons Biff and Happy pattern their behavior after their father. Many of these qualities, such as idealism, stubbornness, and a false sense of self-importance in the world have a negative impact on Willy’s family,

Willy is like an impetuous youngster with high ideals and high hopes. Children always have high hopes for their future. They all want to be astronauts or millionaires. Willy always believes he can achieve that kind of success. He never lets go of his wistful life. “…What (sic) could be more satisfying than to …pick up a phone and call the buyer, and without even leaving his room…”(Miller 81)? He dreams of being the man who does all of his business from his house and dies as a rich and successful man. Furthermore, Willy also dreams of moving to Alaska where he could work with his hands and be a real man. Biff and Happy follow in thei...

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... entire life, believes that he should be a great, well known, and well-liked salesman without ever really making a serious attempt at another occupation.

Willy Loman is a child trapped in a man’s body. He never lets go of his dreams. He does not come to grips with his failure as a salesman, father, and husband. Willy runs away from responsibility, and he asks others for handouts when in need, setting a bad example for his sons. Until the day he dies, Willy has delusions about the facts of his life. Willy never does grow up.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Books, 1976.