Willy's Mentality In Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman centers around “the tragedy of a common man,” Willy Loman, who tries to achieve the American Dream while trapped in his delusions (Tragedy of a Common Man). Throughout the play, the image that Willy has constructed for himself—one of being a well-liked, successful salesman—shatters. This painful realization results in Willy believing “you end up worth more dead than alive” (76). Miller’s quote, stating “To me, the tragedy of Willy Loman is that he gave his life, or sold it, in order to justify the waste of it,” implies that Willy commits suicide to compensate for his failure to achieve the American Dream, in terms of his responsibilities as a salesman and father.

Willy’s mentality that the American

dream is a guarantee renders him unable to achieve his dream, as symbolized by the University of Virginia sneakers. After seeing the sneakers, Willy considers them a warranty for a successful future for Biff. Therefore, even though Biff is failing his current math course, Willy is not concerned. However, Bernard remains doubtful after seeing the sneakers, since the reality is “because [Biff] printed University of Virginia on his sneakers doesn’t mean they’ve got to graduate him” (20). By showing how the two characters perceive the sneakers in different ways, Miller explores the theme of appearance versus reality. While Willy sees them as a assurance to a great future, in reality, the sneakers are nothing more than a hope for a great future. In addition, Willy’s reaction to the sneakers, which includes him denying that the school will flunk Biff because he has a scholarships to three universities, reveals Willy’s ambition for Biff to have a future better than he did and achieve the American Dream. Because of Willy’s flawed perception of the American Dream and his compulsive ambition, Willy fails to achieve the dream.
Willy’s response to Howard firing him suggests that Willy’s self-worth is dependent upon societal status and title which he loses rendering him unable to achieve the American Dream. Even though Willy paints himself as a successful and well-liked businessman who does not face rejection, the way others treat him and address him contradicts this description. Initially, Howard says “sh” and interrupts Willy to continue showing him the recordings of his family, suggesting that Howard does not respect Willy and thinks that he is inferior (58). Nonetheless, with a false sense of security, Willy confidently reveals that “Well, tell you the truth, Howard. I’ve come to the decision that I’d rather not travel anymore” (59). Feeling as though securing a job not involving travelling is a guarantee, Willy firmly states that “I’d rather not travel anymore,” rather than asking Howard. However, Willy learns he is dispensable, since Howard blatantly tells him, “There just is no spot here for you” (60). Trying to persuade Howard, Willy tells him promises Howard’s father made to him, but Howard is “barely interested” (60). After Howard repeatedly says that no position is available, he explains to Willy, “it’s a business kid, and everybody’s gotta pull his own weight” (60). Howard referring to Willy as “kid,” even though Will is older, shows that others don’t view him as equal, which shatters the image that Willy paints for himself. In addition, it is clear that Willy does not want to be a salesman for the money, but for the title, since he lowers his salary from “sixty five dollars a week” to “fifty dollars a week” to forty dollars a week” to deciding to travel back to Boston. Willy’s strong desire for title and taus clouds the true meaning behind the the concept of the American Dream. Gradually, interactions compel Willy to face reality and shatter his delusions, resulting in him realizing that he is a failure.
Throughout the play, Willy’s image of himself fractures, causing him to reflect on the past and face the current reality—that he is unsuccessful not only as a salesman, but also as a father.

When Willy sees Bernard, a successful lawyer fighting a case in the Supreme court, in Charley’s office, Willy’s excessive pride shatter. Solidarily, he asks, “Bernard, was it my fault? Y’see? It keeps going around in my mind, maybe I did something to him. I got nothing to give him” (71-72). Until this interaction, Willy blames Biff’s failure on his lack of motivation to succeed; however, after Howard fires Willy, he considers the possibility that he is reprehensible. As a fruitless salesman, Willy cannot cope with his own shortcomings but finds potential in his son Biff; however, Willy attempts to control his son’s life and instill his false perception of success in him. The difference in desire between father and son leads to conflict because Willy is obstinate and unwilling to yield to his son’s ideas; therefore, in a heated confrontation, Biff shouts, “Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!” (105). Because of Biff’s anagnorisis of “what a ridiculous lie [his] life has been,” Willy, too, realizes his fault. Biff has spent his life trying to live up to Willy’s impossible vision, implying that Willy’s illusions about

success impacted every part of his sons’ lives (97). Breaking away from his delusions, Willy sees the reality that Biff’s perception of success diverts from Willy’s.
As a result of his delusions unraveling, Willy believes that after he dies, the money that his family will obtain will be of more use than his being there.

While Charley tries to convince Willy to accept his job offer, Willy reveals his philosophy that “you end up worth more dead than alive” (76). Willy laments the worthlessness of all his years of work, since he never earned “enough” for his family (65). Even though he has tried to be a great salesman, it just isn’t “enough” for Willy, even though Linda believes that they have “enough to be happy right here, right now” (65). Because Willy fails to see that they have “enough,” Willy concludes that committing suicide is the only solution, since he has failed as a salesman.

Even though Willy Loman is a “common man,” he is a tragic hero. Similar to Oedipus, Sophocles’ ideal of a tragic hero, Willy goes through life never realizing the truth of himself, according to Biff who says “[Willy] never knew who he was” (111). Because the audience resonates with the problems, hopes, fears and dreams of the tragic hero rather than their societal status, Arthur Miller “believe[s] that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were” (Tragedy of a Common

Man).