The Deplorable Willy Loman of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

The Deplorable Willy Loman of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

For those of you that don't know what deplorable means then you

need to check out the tragic play "Death of a Salesman", by the American

writer, Arthur Miller. The main character of this story is Willy Loman,

who is almost the walking definition of this word. The life of Willy Loman

is portrayed as a tragic existence for these few reasons; he was a

ghastly role model for his sons, a inconsiderate and unfaithful husband,

he allowed one incident to affect the rest of his life, and finally, he

killed himself, when he still had so much to live for.

First of all, Willy was a dire role model for his two sons Biff and

Happy. He was a loving and giving father, but he always treated Biff

better than he did Happy. Biff was the all-star quarterback and everyone

in the city loved and admired him. Willy was no different, he always put

Biff before anyone else in his household, which is something that a father

should never do to his family. Willy's love for his sons was very apparent,

however he set in them very low moral values. For example, Willy told Biff

and Happy to run up the street and steal some sand to finish some steps,

which tells them that stealing is OK. This is a trait set in him by his

father, which proves to haunt him his entire life. Willy was also a cheat,

whether it was adultery or simple card cheat, his dishonesties certainly

rubbed off on his children, and proved to be the downfall in their lives.

On the other hand, Willy affected more than just his sons life

with his deceit. He greatly altered his own when he was caught in the mist

of an affair with a meaningless prostitute, by his beloved son Biff. This

event proved to be the turning point in these two individuals lives.

Willy's wife Linda, was a great women who certainly didn't deserve the

heartache and disrespect that Willy gave her. For instance, on many

occasions in the story Willy is talking to his sons, and Linda will simply

try to state something until Willy orders her to, "shut up.