Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman

Arthur MillerЃfs Death of a Salesman is a tragedy about a man by the name of Willy Loman and his pursuit of the American dream. Willy is a man in a never ending struggle for success who projects a false image of what he never really was/is/or will be but merely wishes he was. Willy is unable to see things in a realistic perspective.

WillyЃfs flaws makes him a tragic figure. WillyЃfs flaw is his unwillingness to see things in a realistic perspective. Willy tells his sonЃfs that as long as you're a well liked man that you will make it in life. He goes on to tell stories on how he Ѓgknocked emЃf cold in ProvidenceЃh and Ѓgslaughtered them in BostonЃh. He feeds his sonЃfs these false stories, ultimately setting them up for their own failures.

It seems that to a certain degree Willy believes in the lies the feeds to his sonЃfs. He goes on and on with his lies knowing damn well that the world does not work the way he describes it to them.

Although Willy has failed in his own eyes he believes he can succeed through Biff, and this is his last shot at it. Biff in turn believes in everything his father tells him. He thinks very highly of his father. This continues until he catches him with another woman. This openЃfs his eyes to what Willy really is. Biff now sees through the lies and exaggerations that Willy has been feeding to him all of his life and even resents his father. Biff says to Willy Ѓgpop, IЃfm a dime a dozen and so are youЃh.

In the end Willy commits suicide. I believe he does this in part of himself giving up on life because of his failure and in part of him trying to help Biff and his family. He says, "fter all the highways, and the trains, and the years, you end up worth more dead than aliveЃh because in the end all that he has left to give to his family is the insurance money after he passes.

"Pop, I'm a dime a dozen and so are you."

Biff

"You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away. A man is not a piece of fruit."

Willy

"To