The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller focuses on the events leading to the death of Willy Loman. Despite being a father to two men, they were not truly his sons. Once they were legitimate sons, but a significant incident changed everything. The family’s past has been obscured by a web of lies, including denial and deception, a common occurrence in families. Arthur Miller portrays the impact of dishonesty on any family, as illustrated by the lies that envelop and consume the Loman family in Death of a Salesman.
The most prevalent form of lying in “Death of a Salesman” is denial or lying to oneself. The first example of this is Happy, whose ironic name highlights his role as a victim of self-deception. Though he is not satisfied, Happy convinces others that he is on the verge of attaining a position of authority. He boasts, “when he walks into the store the waves part in front of him. That’s fifty-two thousand dollars a year coming through the revolving door, and I got more in my pinky finger than he’s got in his head” (18; act :1). However, the truth is that Happy’s boss is likely superior to him. Due to Willy’s constant praise, Happy believes he is being oppressed by the corporate world. Yet, in reality, Happy is just a clerk like any other average man at his workplace. He is so accustomed to lying and being lied to that he now views it as truth. This refusal to accept reality was influenced by his father’s denial towards his own work and sons.
When Willy returns home from a business trip, he boasts about his impressive sales numbers and compliments himself in front of his sons. However, during a conversation with his boss, Howard, they exchange the following words, “I am referring to your father! There were promises made at this desk! You cannot tell me that you have other people to meet with — I dedicated thirty-four years to this company, Howard, and now I cannot afford my insurance! You cannot enjoy the benefits and then discard the provider — a man is not a piece of fruit! Now listen carefully. Your father — in 1928, I had a highly successful year.”
Willey admits that he earned an average of $170 a week in commissions, revealing his vulnerability and desperation. Moreover, this scene unveils his dishonesty. Initially, Willy appears self-assured, but as his conversation with Harold continues, he confesses that he had only achieved such high commissions in 1928. However, Harold contradicts him, asserting that Willy never came close to that amount. As Harold departs abruptly, Willy starts giving himself the same advice he gives his sons.
The brief scene illustrates Willy’s longstanding self-deception, to the point where he accepts it as truth, or at least feels compelled to defend the lie. Biff displays denial towards the end of the play. In one of Willy’s early flashbacks, we are made aware of Biff’s denial. Young Bernard enters and says, “Biff! Listen, Biff, I overheard Mr. Birnbaum threatening to fail you if you don’t start studying math. You won’t graduate. I heard it!” (25; act :1) Willy nonchalantly suggests that Biff should go study in response.
Biff then proceeds to show Willy his new sneakers, which have a University of Virginia emblem drawn on them. Bernard interrupts, stating that the sneakers do not guarantee Biff’s graduation. In response, Willy angrily questions how Biff could possibly fail with scholarships to three universities. (25; act: 1) Whether or not Biff truly received those scholarship offers is never disclosed. Nevertheless, both Willy and Biff demonstrate denial by dismissing Bernard’s warning. Biff ignores Bernard, while Willy accuses him of being a bothersome individual for advising Biff to study and pass math in order to graduate.
The motif of denial is prominently featured throughout the play, highlighting its impact on an individual’s life in their later years. Willy consistently deceived others about his job, level of satisfaction, and reasons for his failures. As Biff and Happy grew up, they witnessed their father returning from trips and boasting about remarkable sales. Alongside these assertions, Willy told his sons that they were flawless and being well-liked would ensure success in life. In one of Willy’s flashbacks, he stresses the importance of personal appeal in achieving success: “The man who creates personal interest and makes an appearance in the business world is the one who succeeds. Be liked and you will always have what you want.” (25; act: 1) Willy emphasizes this point because his sons are popular in high school but lack other qualities. Both Biff and Happy conform to the stereotype of athletes – skilled in sports and adept at impressing women but not particularly intellectually inclined. Willy considered himself a failure as a salesman primarily because he believed he wasn’t well-liked. He perceived people mocking him due to his short stature and disliking him for making too many jokes.
To ensure his own success as a salesman, he believed it was crucial to make his sons well-liked. He thought this was the missing key for their success as well. Individuals with similar characteristics often thrive in farming or carpentry, while parents like Biff and Happy encourage them to pursue city jobs. However, it is a fact that many of these individuals are not suitable for such occupations. To persuade them to work in the city where he himself had spent his entire life working, Willy resorts to lying to his sons. He firmly believed that legitimate job opportunities for men could only be found in urban areas.
Willy disregarded his own desire for a hands-on occupation and compelled himself and his sons to move to the city. His family consisted of manual laborers: his father crafted flutes and his brother explored the wilderness. However, Willy believed that both the urban environment and an office job were the right choice for him. Willy’s persistent dishonesty ultimately led to Biff and Happy’s failure in their professional lives. The downfall of the Loman family can be attributed to Willy’s betrayal of his marriage. Willy’s extramarital affair remained fairly concealed until Biff confronted him about failing math.
When Biff discovers the truth, he becomes emotional and defies his father’s commands by refusing to obey. When Willy offers to intervene with the school to ensure Biff’s success, Biff dismisses the idea, saying that the teacher would not listen. These circumstances suggest that if Willy had not cheated, it is probable that Biff would have completed high school or even graduated from college. Furthermore, Biff would have provided more support to Willy during his times of need and held a higher opinion of him, resulting in a closer relationship and likely increased happiness.
In the middle of the play, Linda asks Biff why he and Willy have frequent fights. Biff responds, “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!” (45; act: 1). This implies that when the affair is revealed, it becomes clear that Biff is suggesting that Willy avoids being around him because Willy knows that Biff is aware of his infidelity. Upon discovering the affair, Biff immediately doubts his father’s wisdom, which becomes another factor in the family’s collapse. This doubt leads Biff to realize that Willy has not been completely honest with the boys about how life works.
To retaliate against his father, Biff refuses to attend summer school and flees to the western cattle farms. This action drastically damages Willy’s relationship with Biff, leading Willy to believe that it is irreparable. Consequently, Willy constantly adopts a defensive stance whenever he is in Biff’s presence, as he assumes that Biff’s intentions are always intended to contradict his father. The impact of Willy’s affair on the family is not primarily due to its exposure, but rather because Biff discovers the truth, prompting Willy to feel compelled to seek retribution against his son.
Once Biff discovers the affair, the family starts to fall apart, ultimately losing Biff. Biff’s departure is caused by the strong bond the rest of the family still has with Willy. Consequently, Happy, the younger brother, transforms into a conceited version of his father. With numerous dysfunctional personalities coexisting in one household, it was only a matter of time before a member’s failure became inevitable – in this case, it was Willy Loman.
