In the process, he demonstrates that the American dream, while a powerful vehicle of aspiration, can also turn a human being into a product or commodity whose sole value is his financial worth. By sacrificing himself at the end of the play in order to get his family the money from his life insurance policy, Willy literally kills himself for money. But the real tragedy of the play is not that Willy fails to achieve the financial success promised in his American dream, but rather that he buys into the dream so thoroughly that he ignores the tangible things around him, such as the love of his family, while pursuing the success he hopes will bring his family security. Over the course of his lifetime, Willy and his sons fall short of the impossible standards of this dream. Willy Loman's version of the Dream, which has been influenced by his brother Ben's success, is that any man who is manly, good looking, charismatic, and well-liked deserves success and will naturally achieve it. Various secondary characters achieve the Dream in different ways: Ben goes off into the wilderness of Alaska and Africa and lucks into wealth by discovering a diamond mine Howard Wagner inherits his Dream through his father's company while Bernard, who seemed a studious bore as a child, becomes a successful lawyer through hard work. Death of a Salesman describes a man, Biff Loman, who had lost his identity and he lacks the ability to accept change within himself and the society. Miss Forsythe and Letta Young prostitutes.The American Dream that anyone can achieve financial success and material comfort lies at the heart of Death of a Salesman. Howard is a businessman, unaffected by the facts that Willy worked for his father and named him as a child. ![]() ![]() He put Willy on straight commission prior to the play's beginning, and later he fires him. She appears only in Willy's memories and fantasies however, as the play progresses, Willy has difficulty distinguishing between his memories of the Woman and his memories of Linda. Biff discovered the affair when she came out of the bathroom while he was in the room. The Woman Willy's former lover, with whom he had an affair many years ago in Boston. Bernard appears in Willy's memories, as well as in the present. He provided Biff with answers while they were in high school and attempted to help Biff study so that he would graduate, even though Willy and Biff would criticize him. John Gavin Malkovich was born in Christopher, Illinois, to Joe Anne (Choisser), who owned a local newspaper, and Daniel Leon Malkovich, a state conservation director. Charley appears in Willy's memories, as well as in the actions of the present.īernard Charley's son. Charlie is a true friend to Willy, even though Willy is jealous of him. Charley supplies Willy with a weekly loan once Willy is put on straight commission, and he repeatedly offers him a job. Ben appears in the play only in Willy's memories and fantasies.Ĭharley A long-time acquaintance of the Lomans. ![]() He made a fortune in the African jungle by the time he was 21 years old. He works as an assistant but exaggerates his position and his authority. However, Brick Pollitt will not be relocating, soon to be inheriting a vast landed. Happy is a womanizer driven by his sexuality. ![]() Biff is the only member of the family who knows about Willy's affair, and he resents his father bitterly. In those days, there was personality in it, Howard. Things were sad on a lotta trains for months after that. Biff has been estranged from Willy for over 15 years, during which time he has not been able to hold a steady job. When he diedand by the way he died the death of a salesman, in his in his green velvet slippers in the smoker of New York, New Haven and Hartford, going into Bostonwhen he died, hundreds of salesman and buyers were at his funeral. She will protect Willy at all costs, even if she must perpetuate his fantasies and deny his suicidal behavior.īiff Loman The Lomans' older son. She is Willy's champion and takes it upon herself to reconcile her family. As the play progresses, Willy loses the ability to distinguish between the present and his memories of the past. He suffers from depression and anxiety as a result of his dissipating career, his estranged relationship with his oldest son, Biff, and his guilt over an extramarital affair.
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