Willy Loman Character Sketch

1245 Words5 Pages
Arthur Millers play, “Death Of A Salesman” represents major problems in today’s society through the delusional character Willy Loman. Many of the major problems depicted in this play are repercussions of this individual’s ignorance. Willy is a character who imposes his flawed views of society and values upon his family and himself because of his rueful nature. Willy Loman as a character is a depiction of almost everything that is wrong with society, greed, want and superficial beliefs. The play is a non-linear; it interweaves the protagonist, Willy Loman’s present with his memories of his joyful past. Due to Willy’s frail mind, the ageing salesman sometimes has difficulty gaining a grasp on reality and finds himself living in the realm of yesterday. Playwright Arthur Miller’s goal was to depict Willy Loman as the 1940’s common man. This notation contrasts the majority of traditional Greek theater, which sought out to tell tragic stories of great men. Willy Loman is filled with flaws, be it his selfish nature through his suicide, his obscure view of the American dream, and his many attempts and failures to meet the ideal illustration of a man. “Willy! I ran down eleven flights with a pen in my hand today. And suddenly I stopped, do you hear me? And in the middle of that building and I saw--the sky. I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and the time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?” (Miller 132) From this point further Biff is a changed man who’s primary goal is to free Willy from his self made sea of confusion, but Willy’s ignorance

More about Willy Loman Character Sketch

Open Document