Willy's Failure in Death Of a Salesman Essay

The Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, discusses Willy Loman who is farm from a victorious life. He cannot accept his failure because he believes in the American Dream. Willy believes that he is capable of becoming anything he wants, a salesman, because of the opportunities in America. Willys life is dramatically different than how he envisions it, therefore he is unable to accept reality. This causes Willy to live an untruthful life, have psychological problems, and an inability to understand reality.

Willy repeatedly lives through lies due to the fact that he is not a triumphant salesman. For example, when Biff finds that Willy is having an affair with another woman, he tries to deceive Biff, and tell him that the girl is just one of his buyers. Biff of course, does not believe him and reacts by crying, Dont touch me you-liar! (95). Another instance where Willy is dishonest is when he tells his sons of his work life. He explains, cause one thing, boys: I have friends. I can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own (19). This demonstrates the idea that if Willy cannot lie, then he cannot be happy or proud.

Willys life is based on failure. This leads him to block out his life and suffer from psychological problems. For example, while Willy is talking to Charley, he clarifies, After all the highways, and trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive (76). He doesnt understand that a person is not worth anything if they are dead. Also, there are many occurrences throughout the novel in which Willy drowns into several flashbacks that he cannot resist.

Willy has the inability to understand reality, for there is no truth or actuality of his dream. Willy does not understand why he isnt a successful salesman. He declares to Linda, I gotta overcome it. I know I gotta overcome it. Im not dressing to advantage, maybe (24). Willy does not see that he is unsuccessful due to the fact that he is simply not a good salesman. Instead, he thinks it is because he does not wear the right clothes. Willy is also very concerned about how he should raise his sons. This apprehension contributes to the reasoning behind why Willy has his own, imaginary, conversations with Ben. He believes that he has to raise perfect sons, but he is uncertain how he can achieve his goal.

Willy is a victim of his own character, for he cannot deal with the truth, has psychological problems, and cannot understand the world around him. All of these factors contribute to Willys downfall as a salesman, husband, and father. The consequences in which Willy faces makes it obvious that a person should keep their own character instead of trying to change to be someone else.