The Salesman in the novel “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller is a perfect example of how life works today. Willy Loman made a mistake, a big mistake, and tried to correct it to no avail. His misdeed left him so shocked that he thought about suicide. The audience is able to sympathize and connect with Willy because of his self-deprecation, sense of failure, overwhelming anguish, and remorse. Although most may not be able to relate to the extreme actions he took because some don't commit suicide in the face of adversity. People connect with Willy because he is a man driven to extreme action. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Willy Loman is a dreamer of epic proportions. It gets to the point where it is not possible to differentiate or distinguish between his wild hopes and the rational realities of the present. The Lomans - especially Willy - are extremely proud although whatever the basis of their pride is, it is not at all based in reality. “You, Hap, and me, and I'll show you all the cities. America is full of beautiful cities and good, honest people. And they know me, guys, they know me all over New England. The best people. And when I bring you guys up, it'll be a sesame for all of us, because one thing, guys: I have friends. I can park my car on any street in New England and the cops protect it like their own.” (Miller Act 1). Although Willy is alone and unsuccessful, his pride leads him to boast of what he doesn't have and to pretend to be what he isn't. Biff and Happy are unaware of their father's lies but later, however, realize it. Willy is so disappointed that he refuses to take a job from Charley but continues to take loans that he can repay. As the show progresses, it becomes apparent that Willy and his family's pride is nothing more than fiction. They continue the charade so as not to be despised by others, which is why Willy does not accept Charley's job offer because he considers him an inferior person to him. Willy is an emotionally unstable person. Both his father and brother left him as a child. Abandonment is one of Willy's greatest fears, which may be why he brags that his children won't leave him. “WILLY No, Ben! Please talk about dad. I want my kids to hear. I want them to know what kind of stock they come from. All I remember is a man with a big beard, and I was on mom's lap, sitting around a fire, and some kind of loud music. This shows Willy's desperate attempt to remember his father and suggests his feelings of abandonment. He's trying to find an escape from reality by drifting back into his head. The flute mentioned repeatedly throughout the story alludes to the “loud music” played in this act to show how his father's abandonment follows Willy like a ghost. Unable to express his emotions or vent to anyone, he copes by bragging about being recognized and abandoned or by frequently residing in their mental space. The Lomans' actions represent only what they want; freedom and imprisonment. Willy, Biff and Linda feel confined to their place due to limited income, mortgage and bills. They feel like the American economy and capitalism is something that traps its citizens, which is ironic because America promises freedom. They remain to idolize and admire whimsical, distant places: WILLY The street is lined with cars. There isn't a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass no longer grows, you can't grow a carrot in.
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