Willy Loman

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In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman’s life is displayed. This masterpiece details the life of a terrible salesman in the early 20th century. The main character lives a life of unreasonable dreams and misfortune. He is captured within visions of a false reality he never realizes. Wilson’s work Fences, tells of a hardworking man, Troy Maxson, who sales himself as an honest hard worker who provides for his family. The failure of both Willy Loman and Troy Maxson to achieve their version of the American dream destroy their families. Willy is devastated he can’t gain riches on the basis of being liked. Throughout the play, he tries to define his worth by the importance of being liked. He is obsessed with this so much that he can’t …show more content…

Linda, Willy’s dutiful wife, submissively admires her husband. She allows Willy to be himself instead of challenging his beliefs. Happy Loman is completely fooled by Willy’s exaggerations. Of everyone, Willy conflicts with his eldest son. In high school, Biff had a promising career playing professional football but ruined his opportunity when he failed math and became lazy. Once Biff discovers who his father really was, things take a turn. During Biff’s telling of his failing grade, he finds out his father has been seeing another woman. The woman comes out of the room once she hears Biff’s voice. Initially, Biff wanted his father to convince his teacher to change the grade so he could pass the class. He insists the teacher “wouldn’t listen”(Arthur 1087) to Willy because he isn’t the honest man he claims to be. Even after his secret is exposed, Willy acts as if nothing has happened and justifies it with reasoning of the woman making him feel …show more content…

Rose and Troy settled together after Troy served time in prison. In the play, Troy tells many stories and tends to exaggerate along the way. But Rose is a strong-willed who doesn’t take much from others, and always manages to keep Troy in check. As any good wife, she supported Troy whenever she could. But the day Troy told her about the affair, Rose felt she failed as a woman. Troy claims “it ain’t bout being a better or nothing… a man couldn’t ask for no woman to be a better woman than you’ve been”(Wilson 915). Despite his words, Rose is disappointed in where things have gone with her husband. Likewise, the news affected Troy’s relationship with Cory. He feels as though his father doesn’t matter around the house anymore. Troy insists he has given his son the most anyone in the world will give him. “I ain’t sorry for nothing I done. It felt right in my heart”(Wilson 920). Troy knows he has broken his family but doesn’t show any

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