Death of a Salesman Essay

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Throughout history many families can’t face reality. In the play Death of a Salesman the main characters Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy use self-deception as a means to mentally escape the reality of their lives. Biff is the only character who becomes self-aware by the end of the play. Willy wants to live in his dream world; Linda and Happy don’t even realize that they’re in a dream world. Biff had no idea he was in a dream world until he had an epiphany. Willy Loman was, a man known all around New England. At least that’s what he says. Willy is a working man, who is real good with his hand and can talk to anyone he meets. When he was younger no one could stop this man. He had the world in front of him, but as time went on Willy stayed the same. He kept living in the past. Literally living in the past. He saw dead people, talked to himself and would bring up random events in his life that no one else remembers. There are plenty of times Willy goes into his dream world or when someone tries to pull him out of his self-deception he won’t accept their help. LINDA: I’m just wondering if Oliver will remember him. You think he might? WILLY: [coming out of the bathroom in his pajamas]: Remember him? What’s the matter with you, you crazy? If he’d stayed with Oliver he’d be on top by now! Wait’ll Oliver gets a look at him. You don’t know the average caliber any more. The average young man today—[he’s getting into bed]—is got a caliber of zero. Greatest thing in the world for him was to bum around. (Miller 67) Willy just thinks that no matter what Biff does he is doing it right. He can’t escape his dream world. Linda Loman’s, a wife, a mother, a girl stuck in a dream world. She is much like her husband, Willy and, lives in a dream wo... ... middle of paper ... ...like. In Death of a Salesman the oldest son Biff had an epiphany and changed his life forever. Linda and Happy can’t get out of their dream world and are stuck in their until they change. Willy will never be able to see reality and never wanted to. He’s dead and could never face reality. Biff is the only one in the family who got out of this cycle and moved on in life. Many family’s deal with the problem of not being able to face reality and the Lomans are the perfect example. Works Cited Death of a Salesman . Dir. Volker Schlöndorff. Perf. Dustin Hoffman. 1985. Film. Miller, Arthur. death of a Salesman . New York: Penguin Book , 1949. Print. Miller, Aruther. Death of a Salesman. n.d. Miller, Aurther. Death of a Salesman. 1949. Shmoop Editorial Team. "Death of a Salesman Theme Quotes." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 8 May 2014.

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