Death of a Salesman - Victim of Dreams

Death of a Salesman – Victim of Dreams

In today’s society, people tend to live in their own little world. With all the stress and issues brought upon them, they feel the need to escape. In doing so, they create their own fantasy world in their heads. An ideal place where everything is perfect and all the things they desire are present. In creating this fantasy world, it results in dreadful consequences that sometimes lead to their own downfall. They ignore the truth, reject reality, and lead lives of fantasy and illusion. Eventually, the illusions that they have created for themselves make their lives dysfunctional and backfire on them. This type of scenario can be found in the tragic play Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller. The Loman family presented in the play entangle themselves in each other’s lies and dreams with the hope of solving their problems; only to cause the destruction of the family. The father, Willy Loman, is a troubled man who lives a misleading life and is blind from the truth. Linda, his wife, does nothing but worsens his problems by making excuses and encourages him into deceit and falsehood. On top of all of this, Willy’s false teachings and ethics have caused his two sons, Biff and Happy, to lead illusive lives as well. Until all of them are ready to face reality, living in an illusive world will lead their lives to be full of misery and discontent.

Willy Loman is the most affected character of illusive lies in the play. He built his life around dreams and illusions that cause him to miss the truth and reality in his life. This is best represented in the career Willy chose for himself. In reality, Willy loved working with his hands and loved to build things. He had undertaken large renovations on the house, and right before his death, he planted a garden. However, Willy denied himself the pleasure and satisfaction of using his hands to make a living because of his dreams to be like Dave Singleman. “Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter” (Miller, pg. 61). Willy’s blindness made him believe that being a less than adequate businessman was more important than a content handyman. He had also blindly decided that he would commit suicide in order to receive money from his life insurance. Nevertheless, he had failed to recognize that the insurance will not cover a suicide. Even after his brother Ben tried warning him, Willy rejected the truth. “How can they dare refuse? Didn’t I work like a coolie to meet every premium on the nose? And now they don’t pay off? Impossible!” (Miller, pg. 126). Willy led a deceptive life that is filled with stress and anxiety. He had many chances to admit his faults and face the truth, but his pride got the best of him and got in the way of his happiness.

Linda Loman had many opportunities to help her husband end his distress, but instead she contributed to Willy’s illusion by filling his head with excuses and false hope. Linda was a peaceful woman who loved and trusted whatever her husband said. Although she did not believe his lies, she let him continue to believe them. In the first scene she encouraged Willy to ask for a transfer to work in New York. This causes Willy to lose his job as a salesman. She was fully aware that her husband was not as successful as he had portrayed but did not act upon it because she did not wish to crush his dignity. She was also aware that her husband was intentionally getting into car “accidents”. Even when Willy himself admitted that he was unable to drive properly any more, Linda did not help him face his problems:

Willy, after a pause: I suddenly couldn’t drive any more. The car kept going off onto the shoulder, y’know?

Linda, helpfully: Oh. Maybe it was the steering again. I don’t think Angelo knows the Studebaker

Willy: No, it’s me, it’s me. Suddenly, I realize I’m goin’ sixty miles an hour and I don’t remember the last five minutes. I’m – I can’t seem to – keep my mind to it

Linda: Maybe it’s your glasses. You never went for your new glasses.

Willy: No, I see everything. I came back ten miles an hour. It took me nearly four hours from Yonkers. (Miller, pg. 13)

Linda made countless pathetic excuses for Willy when she could have helped him face his problems. Her excuses prevented Willy from escaping the illusive lies and realizing reality. She too can be blamed for Willy’s death and destruction.

Willy’s two sons, Biff and Happy, were victims of Willy’s misconception of life. He taught them many inappropriate morals. They both started from the same point; however, they end up going in different