In Arthur Miller s play Death of a Salesman the supporter is a character by the name of Willy Loman. Willy suffers from self-delusion and is obsessed with a desire to win. Willy s household is strongly influenced by his actions, which contributes to their ain self-delusions. Willy has an highly big self-importance and fabricates most if non all of his success. He brags about how much money he makes blow uping his gross revenues committees to his married woman Linda.
Willy is excessively proud to accept a occupation from Charley yet he seems to hold no job accepted money from him to do ends meet. Willy says ; I m maintaining rigorous histories ( 1683 ) of the money Charley gives him, but has no purpose of of all time refunding the debt. Willy wants to be recognized, liked and admired. In Willy s head success is linked to how good a individual is liked. He exaggerates how good liked and respected he truly is and tells his boies Biff and Happy in order for them to be genuinely successful they must foremost be good liked. Linda is an enabler and is codependent on Willy. She encourages him and participates in his psychotic beliefs. Linda is unselfish and her life revolves around Willy and the male childs.
Despite what she might believe or experience personally she tries to act upon Biff and Happy to listen to their male parent stating ; attending must be paid and promoting them to take part in his psychotic beliefs. By giving into Willy, seeking to maintain peace in the household and seeking to avoid aching him she is really doing more harm than good. Biff is irresponsible and unable to happen felicity. He learned from Willy the manner to accomplish success is through lying, stealing, and powerful familiarities. His disenchantment with his male parent stems from the find of Willy s extramarital rhenium lationship and unfaithfulness to his mother.
Biff becomes frustrated with his mother when she defends Willy. He rebels against success and authority taking pleasure in defying his father. He does try to face the truth and has a sense of moral responsibility. Biff has inherited some of Willy s best traits. He believes there is a better life out there for him, but not as a salesman. He wants to be outside working with his hands, which ironically is when Willy seems to be truly happy and when he feels he has been successful at something.
Happy has inherited the worst of Willy s traits. He is a womanizer and a ladies man who has no respect for women including his mother. Happy is selfish and unfeeling; lying and cheating are integral parts of his nature. He constantly seeks his father s approval, but never quite measures up to Biff in his father s eyes. Happy believes he can follow in his father s footsteps and be successful as a salesman where his father failed to do so. Happy states; I m not licked that easily. I m gonna beat this racket! I m gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain (1706).
Self-delusion is a constant theme that continues throughout the play. Willy states in a conversation with his brother Ben at the end of the play; Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or the other we were gonna make it, Biff and I! (1704). In fact neither of them has made it. Willy takes his own life and dies never having realized his dreams. Biff accepts who he is, but has done little to change. Linda doesn t understand why Willy took his life and why no one came to the funeral. Even after his death she is unable to realize that Willy s entire life was a lie. Happy continues to believe Willy had a good dream and that he can succeed where his father didnt.
