Reputation and Confinement

In the play Death of a Salesman, author Arthur Miller illustrates the insignificance of a respectable reputation in society and the confining nature of failure through protagonists Willy Loman and Charley. Willy’s self-consciousness and naivety influence him to strive for an excellent image in society to help him succeed. Following this method for success, Willy fails as a salesman because he neglects focusing on the purpose of his job, selling. Furthermore, Willy’s neighbor, Charley, thrives as a businessman because of his confidence and maturity. These valued characteristics help him to realize working hard leads to accomplishments. Charley’s achievements allow him to live contentedly, free from distress, while Willy suffers from trapping himself in a life of unhappiness. Willy’s focus on his reputation results in his failures and discontent, which juxtaposes Charley’s achievements from his hard work; therefore, Charley’s success ultimately illuminates the triviality of a well-formed reputation to succeed, and Willy’s displeasure demonstrates the confinement of failing.

Willy’s lack of achievement stems from his naivety and self-consciousness, which propel him to focus his efforts on his status in society instead of his work. Willy portrays his naivety by allowing Dave Singleman’s success to influence him to work as a salesman. Willy tells Howard Wagner, “What could be more satisfying than to… pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved... I realized selling was the greatest career a man could want…when he died, hundreds of salesmen were at his funeral”(Miller 81). Willy illustrates his ignorance as believes that by merely working as a salesman, he can reciprocate Dave Singleman’s success. Additionally, the story of Dave Singl...

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...rity by basing his future as a salesman off of one salesman’s success thinking he could reciprocate his success by following his lifestyle. Additionally, by neglecting putting in effort into his job to succeed, Willy pre-establishes his failure and future as an unsuccessful salesman. Moreover, Charley succeeds as a businessman through his hard work instead of investing himself in developing a shapely reputation. His success ultimately allows him to live a satisfactory life unlike Willy. Willy’s misery stems from his failure and averts him from finding success and pleasure in his life. Furthermore, Charley’s success delivers him from the unhappiness Willy experiences. Ultimately, Miller illustrates the unimportance of a well-versed reputation and the confinement of disappointment that results from inadequate characteristics and morals, and underdeveloped work ethics.