Since the existence of life on earth there has been the struggle between the stronger and the weaker of all creatures. The species that had adapted best obtained the greatest chance to prevail in this “combat”. In exactly the same way we can consider the history of mankind as a surviving of the fittest.
Nowadays it is not the physique alone that decides if somebody gets above the others or not. It’s more or less the right combination of certain abilities, ambitions and values that make up the secret of success. Nevertheless we can still talk about a kind of natural selection. Although skills and knowledge can be trained, and abilities and competences can be improved by means of special learning methods, somebody who wants to be at the top must already have a certain biological and genetic qualification.
Willy Loman, the main character of the play Death of a Salesman, is a salesman past sixty years of age. In his youth he believes that he has found the secret to success .Willy is convinced that he will make it if he tries his luck in the business and starts his career in a selling firm. He never has any doubt about achieving his aim as he is of the opinion to have all traits of character and competences he needs. But in reality Willy can be considered as a looser and a poor guy who only claims himself to be at the top. He brings up his two boys in these illusions and is assured of having chosen the right way.
The paper deals on the one hand with the main character of the play himself, his dreams, illusions and wrong values that finally lead to his failure and suicide. On the other hand it treats the influence that these illusions exert on his two boys and their wrong upbringing.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Willy Loman
3 Willy’s idols
4 Willy’s future plans
5 Biff and Happy
6 Charley and Bernard
7 The rough reality
8 Linda
9 Willy’s suicide
10 Is Death of a Salesman a tragedy?
11 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the character of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," analyzing how his unrealistic dreams, flawed values, and deep-seated illusions regarding the American Dream lead to his ultimate failure. Furthermore, it explores the destructive impact of these values on his sons, Biff and Happy, and questions whether the play qualifies as a modern tragedy.
- Analysis of Willy Loman’s psychological state and reliance on illusions.
- The influence of idols and the American Dream on Willy’s life choices.
- The dysfunctional parenting and values passed down to Biff and Happy.
- Contrast between Willy’s failure and the success of characters like Bernard and Charley.
- Theoretical debate on the classification of the play as a tragedy.
Excerpt from the Book
Willy Loman
Willy Loman who represents the main character of the play is sixty-three years old. He is married with Linda, a housewife and has two grown boys named Biff and Happy. Willy is salesman by profession and in his younger years he bought a small house in Boston with a large garden for his family. Meanwhile his firm for which he has worked for about thirty-four years has taken away his salary and he has to work on straight commission in New England like a beginner.
Nowadays Willy has problems to earn his living and he constantly borrows money from his neighbor Charley, pretending to his wife that it is his salary. He further claims that he was quite successful at the beginning of his career, but if it’s true, we don’t get to know. In his memories, for example, he once says to his boys:
“[…] And they know me, boys, they know me up and down New England. The finest people. And when I bring you fellas up, there’ll be open sesame for all of us, ‘cause one thing, boys: I have friends. I can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own. …” (Miller, Arthur. Collected plays. 1957, 1995)
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the struggle for survival in human history and frames Willy Loman as a man trapped by his own illusions of success.
2 Willy Loman: An overview of Willy’s current life, his decline in professional status, his reliance on false memories, and his deteriorating mental health.
3 Willy’s idols: Discusses the figures that shaped Willy’s worldview, specifically Dave Singleman and his brother Ben, who represent his unattainable business ideals.
4 Willy’s future plans: Explores Willy’s ambition to be a successful salesman and his misguided hopes that his sons will fulfill his dreams.
5 Biff and Happy: Analyzes the upbringing of Willy’s sons, focusing on how Willy encouraged destructive behavior under the guise of "personality" and "spirit."
6 Charley and Bernard: Compares the successful, grounded lives of the neighbors to the failures of the Loman family, highlighting the contrast in parenting and values.
7 The rough reality: Contrasts Willy’s expectations with the bleak reality of his financial situation and his children’s lack of professional achievement.
8 Linda: Examines Linda’s role as the supportive but enabling wife who protects Willy while struggling to understand his self-destructive behavior.
9 Willy’s suicide: Investigates the final stages of Willy’s decline and how his belief in insurance money as a final success leads to his self-destruction.
10 Is Death of a Salesman a tragedy?: Discusses the literary definition of a tragedy and argues that the play is tragic due to the emotional impact on the audience.
11 Conclusion: Summarizes the dangers of clinging to false dreams and emphasizes the need for rational self-assessment in life.
Keywords
Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, American Dream, Illusions, Tragedy, Character Analysis, Biff Loman, Success, Failure, Parenting, Values, Mentality, Self-destruction, Social Status
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this analysis?
The analysis focuses on the psychological profile of Willy Loman, his obsession with the American Dream, and how his distorted values impact his career and his family.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the conflict between past and present, the influence of father figures, the illusion of success, the nature of parenting, and the definition of a modern tragedy.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to investigate how Willy Loman’s dreams and wrong values lead to his eventual failure and suicide, and how these factors specifically shape the upbringing of his sons.
Which analytical approach is taken?
The author uses a character-based analysis, drawing on textual evidence from the play and critical literary interpretations to evaluate the protagonist’s choices and their consequences.
What does the main body cover?
The main body systematically explores Willy’s life, his idols (Ben and Dave Singleman), his relationships with his family and neighbors, and his tragic trajectory leading to his suicide.
Which keywords best describe this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as American Dream, illusions, character analysis, failure, and modern tragedy.
How does the author view the "American Dream" in the context of the play?
The author argues that Willy Loman idealizes the American Dream through a "rags-to-riches" philosophy that is no longer applicable to the reality of the business world in which he operates.
Why does Biff Loman view his father as a "phony fake"?
Biff discovers his father’s affair during a trip to Boston, which shatters his idolization of Willy and serves as a traumatic turning point for both characters.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Breitkopf (Author), 2004, Willy Loman in Miller’s "Death of a Salesman": An analysis of character portrayal, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116436
