Arthur Miller’s book, Death of a Salesman narrates the story of a man’s struggles in the pursuit of the American dream. Willy Loman is a sixty-three-year-old salesman who works away in Boston but at a time comes home earlier to his wife Linda and two sons, Biff and Happy. Willy’s idea of success is driven by materialism. Therefore, it is no surprise that he quarrels with his sons because they did not turn out as expected. The story portrays a man who does not achieve his dreams and lives in denial of that fact. The denial leads to depression, and in the end, the salesman encounters a bitter death.
Among the qualities that stand out is the undeniable pride and love that Willy has towards his children in their earlier years. Being fond of Biff, his eldest son, Willy believes he is incredibly talented and that he will achieve great goals in life. Most people have experienced that parental love and it is fulfilling to have parents who believe in you and encourage you. However, balance is key. Willy exaggerated the pride and it worked against Biff because he could not work under supervision as he believed he was too good.
The father-son relationship that exists between Willy and his sons is bitter-sweet. The flashbacks of yesteryears show a bond that is unbreakable between them. The boys admire the father so much that they aspire to be like him. However, Willy is disappointed in his sons, and quarrels with Biff over his life choices and even calls him a ‘lazy bum.’ He expects them to become salesmen too but each followed a different path. Willy becomes elated and brags about his son accomplishing big things when Biff pays a visit to Billy Oliver for a loan to start a business, Therefore, love in the story is very conditional and limited in nature. He builds a good rapport when he feels hopeful, but when despair knocks, he reverts to being quarrelsome.
Willy’s sons still struggle to pursue personal goals while in their thirties. Individuals are programmed to have figured out their future by a certain age, and when it does not happen, one is labelled a failure. This is relatable because we are all expected to have a plan for the future. Such pressures contribute to feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. Willy demonstrates that being a man and not having a plan for your life is a tragedy. He does not approve what his sons have become in life and this pushes their relationship further down the drain. Young adults to date still struggle with living up to their parent’s expectations.
Willy Loman appears to be trying to cope up with the frustrations of life by living in denial. The truth is that he is not a good salesman as he thought, and this is shown when he gets fired while asking for a transfer near his home. Many of the people today live in denial of the present happenings because the reality may be too hard to bear. Loman keeps telling stories of how good the year 1928 was, evident that he is still holding on to his past. Cumulatively, his failures as a man make him go into depression and sadly, death. In today’s society, deaths related to depression are still on the rise.
The story also demonstrates the importance of male presence. Men play pivotal roles in the lives of not just their sons, but also in their children and families in general. Loman is a figure to be admired, a provider, and a problem solver in his family. Unfortunately, Loman was not as true to himself and his family as seen towards the end. It is also evident that men can live under the shadow of other men who have done better than them. Loman wanted to be rich like his elder brother Ben who was dead but kept appearing in his flashbacks and hallucinations. It is also evident that everyone needs a man in their life, and men need other men too but as a figure of guidance and for mentorship and not masculine toxicity.
Loman bases his idea of success on material wealth, and unfortunately, he passes this thought down to his children. While in reality, material wealth is a way of determining success and not the only standard that is viable. It ought to be a personal attribute, and it should be diversified because people are gifted differently. For this reason, Willy does not support Biff nor Happy’s way of living because they do not earn much from it. People are raised to believe that financial freedom is the ultimate goal, but while at it, we have also become slaves to money. Parents should bring up children to become independent, and not as an extension of their unachieved goals. I also feel that Loman has some regret regarding raising his boys because he asks his brother, Ben, what he has not done. Willy recalls when Biff had to improve his math score to play professional football. Had he not been oblivious to that fact, perhaps Biff would have been ‘successful.’
Another reaction is when Biff discovers that his father is not the person, he always presented himself to be. This reality hit him hard. He finds his father with another woman in Boston. He labels his father a fake, and he wants to leave home for good. That is the worst betrayal to have from someone you hold so highly. The realization that Willy is not real with himself awakens Biff to the fact that he has a choice to be different from his father. Indeed, history does not always have to repeat itself, and it is liberating for Biff to accept himself and choose a different path from his father.
The story highlights a man’s failures in pursuit of a dream that was in his head. He worked for many years but still died a poor man. The Loman family is one that people from all walks of life can relate with. From the struggles of working to earn a living, parenthood, pursuing life goals, disappointment, infidelity in the family, and the reality of depression in our society.
