He is obsessed with this ideal of greatness and an “American Dream” that is completely unattainable due to his imagination. He wants to leave a legacy of being known as the best salesman in town. He also wants his sons to follow in his exact footsteps while obtaining much wealth. His downfall arises directly from his continued misconception of himself as someone of more success that he has. His pathological visions of being successful and his ungrateful acceptance of his own American Dream push him to cause arguments within his family, envision suicidal thoughts and ultimately take his own life.
There is a common theme shared by Death of a Salesman and Fences, which is fatherhood. Both main characters, Willy and Troy, are difficult to judge whether they are bad fathers. It is clear that both of them have some troubles with their sons, but that is not because of the fathers hate their sons. Willy loves his son Biff just like Troy loves his Cory; both men devote themselves into making their own sons into better men. Willy Loman has an American dream that he wants to be success.
They are the reason that Willy cannot seem to find success, and when he cannot meet his high expectations for himself, he lies and cheats in order to keep the unachievable ideal alive instead of being satisfied with less than perfect. The theme of dreams as aspirations, in this way, is what drives the main characters choices and therefore the entire play. Dreams also represent an escape from reality in Death of a Salesman, many times in the form of hallucinations. It is through Willy’s hallucinations that the audience is exposed to the past and they also provide a window into his feelings of regret. The audience learns about Willy’s affair through his delusional memory at the Chophouse, this form of a
For Willy, it is apparent that reality and truth are too harsh for him and he would rather deal with lies instead. He conjures up ideas of what he wishes were real because to him being successful is the most important thing and what he needs people to believe. One of the main examples of this is when Willy says to his sons “they know me down in New England..” (page 19). Although he is clearly an unsuccessful salesman, he holds himself accountable to be extremely well-known and well-liked. Willy also encourages Biff to be unaccountable by telling him “coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative” when Biff steals the football.
He uses the money to buy a house but nothing in it. As he ages he decides to use prayer to try to escape the devil in the afterlife. Throughout the story Tom does many villainous and unethical behaviors, this makes him an antihero. He is particularly an American antihero because he shows characteristics of the American portrayal of the British at that time; the British are the definition of a villain to the Americans. Tom Walker is specifically an American antihero as he is selfish and only wants money, unfaithful in his marriage and deals, and is trying to fight back when he realizes consequences of his deal.
Only after realizing just how fake his whole life was, was Biff finally able to be freed from this prison created by a capitalist society. Willy Loman’s state of false consciousness is that he believes in a version of the American dream that is no longer applicable to modern day America. Like many out there, Willy Loman covets the possibilities of success that define the American Dream, with the firm belief that such success could be only achieved through charm, style and popularity. In fact, he says that “[…] the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, in the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want,” (25).
Even when asking for a raise, he lies to his boss and say’s his boys are doing well knowing they cannot provide for him. He fails Biff in Boston and it is ironic that Biff eventually recognizes that he and his family are “average joes” but Willy never wants to accept that reality. Willy Loman is no
It creates a happiness and builds something to work towards. However, some parents chase after goals in which they just are not suited for. For instance, in “Death Of A Salesman“, Willy, the father of Biff and Happy, creates a false sense of a positive outlook on searching for a career and what it takes by saying that, “The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead.” (Miller Line 625-627). In fact, these ideas are the exact opposite of what it takes to be successful in the business world. Willy thinks that if he were to tell the truth to his kids, they wouldn’t respect him for not being as successful as he claims to be.
This leads to Willy fatal flaw in Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy – his hamartia throughout the play – his self delusion. He is obsessed with living the American Dream, with being successful, with materialistic success and being well liked – the whole American Dream. He fails to see that he is the opposite. As Fletcher says in Death of a Salesman ‘ Miller dramatically presents the complex moral world of mid-nineteenth century American values and beliefs’. Juxtaposed to this is his older brother Ben.
Willy, even as an adult, still struggles to become the “virtuous” and “great” man that a tragic character is defined by. Willy is not viewed as a “virtuous” man with good intentions because he ends up cheating on his wife with a mistress while he is on the road. Willy is also not viewed “great” like the business man he wanted to be as he has to lie and cheat his way around corners to get himself by. “Business is