Lauren Stoffel Death of a Salesman Question 2: I have mixed opinions on whether Willy Loman is a tragic figure or a pathetic figure. When talking strictly business, I believe that Willy Loman is a tragic figure because he was good at his job and made connections, but then lost his connections when his boss died and his son took over the business. It is unfair that a person can spend so much of their life building up their career to just have it all be for nothing if all the people you spent time pleasing end up dying. When looking at the moral or Karma side of the story, I believe that Willy Loman is a pathetic figure. I don’t think he deserved much after the way he treated his family. On simply the business side of things, Willy Loman is a tragic figure. He spent thirty-four years in the same firm building his career, yet in the end, he is sent on the road when he would be much better off on the floor. When he confronts his boss, Howard, Willy is at first …show more content…
There were multiple instances where he would interrupt Biff when he was trying to tell him something important, yet, he scolded his wife, Linda, several times for simply talking and it didn’t even appear as though she was interrupting anyone. This makes him a hypocrite, if not worse. He also cheated on his wife, which makes him pretty pathetic in my book. And not only did he cheat on his wife, Biff found out and Willy knows that this is the reason Biff never went to summer school to graduate. Even knowing it’s his own fault, Willy acts like Biff has all of the blame and Willy gives him such a hard time about not graduating. Biff realizes that his father treats him the way he does because he found out about the affair, stating “I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows” (Miller, 1117). This is so unfair to Biff, making him appear to be the bad guy to Linda and Happy, when Willy is the one to
Willy and Biff were so close that no matter what Biff did Willy ignored it. For instance, in one of Willy’s Flashbacks for Act 1 there is a conversation between Willy and his sons about the football that Biff got. Biff tells Willy that he borrowed a football from the locker room and Willy tells him to return it back. However, when Happy
Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid.
Willy Loman’s character is capable of making errors. He believes he is a very successful salesman and well liked. He also thinks that the company likes what he is doing. He once said, “I’m the New England man. I am vital in New England” (Miller pg. 32) Because of his false belief about his success Howard fired him. After he got fired charley offered him a job, but he refuses to accept, because he is too proud and jealous to work for Charley. His actions were wrong because at no time was a successful salesman. He is not a powerful character. Willy lives in his fantasies where he is the man. Who goes out to another place and comes out rich, he is love by everyone and admired by his family. In real life, he is lazy and does not live up to his own ideals. “As Aristotle explains, a tragic hero must be one of noble character and must fall from power and happiness.”(Www.ccd.rightchoice.org/lit115/poetics.html) but Willy neither has a noble characteristic nor does he fall from power because he does not have a position of power.
Loss of respect can ruin a relationship. Biff left town for many reasons, but one important one had to do with Willy cheating on his wife. During a flashback in the play, Willy is in a room with a woman when Biff knocks on the door. The woman was actually in the washroom as Biff came in, but came out before Biff left. Biff saw the woman and knew that his father was not being loyal to his mother.
Willy Loman will bring his downfall upon himself as he entices his own disillusions and the bedrock of his values pertaining to success and how one can achieve it. His failure to recognize the fruitless outcome of his own idealism will seal his fated suicide and have a determining effect on the failures of his two sons that when adolescent, idolized their father as a guid...
Willy also has very poor parenting skills. He has two children Biff and Happy. Willy excuses Biff for a lot of events when he was younger. If Biff stole something, Willy just brushes it off and says that is was no big deal. He didn’t even care when Biff failed math and did not graduate from high school. He measured success in how many people you knew not what your grades are. In one breath Willy would say that Biff is lazy and then in the next say he’s not.
In short, Willy Loman's unrealistic dreams caused his downfall. By trying to be successful with material desires and being "well-liked" he failed. By the play's end he had to lose his own life just to provide funding for that of his family. He put his family through endless torture because of his search for a successful life. He should have settled with what he had, for his true happiness included a loving family. Willy's example shows that one must follow their own dreams to be truly accomplished.
The business world has moved ahead and the way of selling goods has changed, but Willy can't see this. Willy Loman has never come to terms with reality. His life is a dream and derives all his pleasures from the past and he always assures himself that all is well. His problem is that his role models are out. of place in the modern business where heartlessness and hostility win.
Likewise, Willy Loman's position in the working world is constricted, away from everyone else, and won't let him become successful. Willy was his own worst enemy, a man who couldn't accept himself. Society added fuel to the fire by not accepting him either. It is human nature to be judgmental of things, and especially people. Willy Loman was no exception to this.
Willy was having an affair. After that incident, Biff was able to see Willy for what he really was as demonstrated, “You fake! You phony little fake! You fake (Miller, Portable 915).” Biff is the contradiction to Willy because they are both nothing. The difference between the two is that Biff understands that he has been lying to himself about his success as the rest of the family. When he came from Mr. Oliver’s he comes to the realization that he fabricated the reality of his time working for Mr. Oliver, “How the hell did I ever get the idea that I was a salesman for him! I even believed myself that I’d been a salesman for him!... I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been (Miller, Porable 906). Willy never could admit that he hadn’t done anything real with his life, hence; that is the growth that gives Biff hope for the future.
Willy Loman’s character in Death of a Salesman portrays him as a tragic hero. Willy Loman continued to want recognition and his reputation, but never forgets about his family. These characteristics describe him as a tragic hero in Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman’s tragic flow leads him to pursue the idea that reputation in society has more relevance in life than knowledge and education to survive in the business. His grand error of wanting recognition drove him crazy and insane and led to his tragic death.
Willy Luman is a insecure guy that tries to make self feel by lying to him self and to his own family. Willy is a big successful salesman and he masks his proounding anxiet and self doubt with extreme arrogance.The death of Willy is a tragdey by the way he lived his life and trying to accomplish his American Dream.
The life of Mr. Loman is one of loneliness, and lies. An online source emphasizes about Willy, “Willy convinces himself that he is successful, well- liked, and that his sons are destined for greatness.” Willy’s mind is consumed with being popular, and having material wealth. The results of Willy’s internal problems resulted with his children that could not be stable in any aspect of their lives, his failing marriage, and him struggling throughout all of his adulthood. Edward states (an online source), “Willy spent his life pursuing the wrong dreams for him. The wrong dream slowly possessed his life.” And also states, “Willy appears to have been obsessed with his goal of being known as a great salesman rather than with actually being a great salesman.” Willy is constantly under attack with thoughts of his past, to the point he has such vivid flashbacks that he will openly be talking to him, but thinking is he talking to people of the past. An online source states, “Unable to cope with reality, he entirely abandons it through his vivid fantasies and ultimately through suicide.” Willy is aware of his mistakes, but spends his time looking forward to the ‘perfect’ future he has planned, but never changes his ways to achieve his goals. Mr. and Mrs. Loman realize how different and happy Willy is when he is working outside with his hands. Both characters recognize
Throughout his life, Willy Loman remains stuck in the proletariat class, while endlessly striving to earn and have more. Willy works tirelessly toward retirement, but nevertheless falls short in the finance department. When Willy’s boss, Howard, tells Willy he won’t give him an office job with the company, Willy causes a scene, shouting, in attempts to stay employed. Willy truly believes he helped make the business what it is today and therefore deserves to stay with the company, rather than be let go for unproductivity. Willy is absolutely devastated by Howard’s refusal, which leaves him unable to provide for his family.
Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman is a complex tragic character. He is a man struggling to hold onto the little dignity he has left in a changing society. While society may have caused some of his misfortune, Willy must be held responsible for his poor judgment, disloyalty and foolish pride.