768 Miller, Arthur
because they are both well liked. This is refuted
toward the end of the play, when Willy discovers
that Bernard has become a very successful attorney,
while his own sons’ lives are mediocre at best.
The chief problem in the Loman household is
that Willy’s ideas and fantasies have distorted family
reality. Biff is a petty thief who cannot hold a steady
job, and as an assistant to an assistant manager,
Happy believes he is invaluable to the company
for which he works. When the boys decide to start
their own company, Biff agrees to contact a former
employer for a loan. Willy assures him that the loan
is guaranteed, because the boss liked Biff. The truth,
however, is that his former boss does not even rec-
ognize Biff when he arrives. Biff had never worked
as a salesman like his father said. In fact, he later
remembers he was only a shipping clerk. Biff lets his
father’s delusions affect his personal reality—leading
him to believe that because he was “well liked” he
was successful in all of his endeavors, which was far
from the truth.
It seems that everyone surrounding Willy has
achieved the American dream. His older brother
Ben discovered a diamond mine in Alaska; Willy
had the opportunity to join him, but he refused on
account of his pride. At this stage in his life, Willy
is borrowing money from his neighbor and passing
it off as his salary. The irony is that Willy was cer-
tain this particular man would never be successful
because he was liked, but not well liked.
Willy is basing his idea of the American dream
and personal success on one specific salesman’s story.
Of course, this man was well liked. He had connec-
tions in many states and was able to work from his
hotel room. When he died, his funeral was attended
by hundreds of buyers and sellers. He was respected
and adored. “And when I saw that, I realized that
selling was the greatest career a man could want,”
Willy says (81).
At this stage in his life Willy is hardly success-
ful. His salary has been cut to commission only, and
when he is fired, his quest to gain the American
dream is over. His only hope lies in his sons. Unfor-
tunately, the only money Willy has to give them is in
a life insurance fund. If he dies, his sons will get the
money. This will guarantee their success, he realizes,
because they are already well liked.
Willy has an ulterior motive in dying. Not only
does his family need the money, but also he knows
that when they arrive at his funeral and see all the
men he worked with in New England, they will real-
ize that Willy was an important person. The number
of attendees at his funeral is guaranteed to certify his
status as someone well liked. As a result, his family
will remember him fondly and respect his legacy as
a salesman and a person.
In reality, Willy’s suicide will more than likely
negate the insurance policy and the family will
receive nothing. Even more staggering is the day
of the funeral, when only his immediate family
and his next-door neighbor are present. Surprised,
Linda asks, “But where are all the people he
knew?” (137).
Willy Loman is not entirely successful as a sales-
man, yet during his lifetime he has secured a home
in the city that is almost paid for and has raised
two sons. For many, this is the American dream.
Unfortunately, Willy is never able to realign his idea
of success with reality. Because of this, he suffers
psychologically and dies needlessly.
Erin Bresciadeath in Death of a Salesman
In order to fully understand Death of a Salesman, it is
important to consider the idea of death and suicide
within the framework of the play. The title itself
hints at what is in store for Willy Loman, not only
the physical act of taking his life, but also how he has
been dying inside all along.
Willy had grand illusions and many misconcep-
tions regarding death. Because he was a salesman,
and a “New England man,” he has come into con-
tact with many buyers over the years. He considers
himself “well-known” in the area and, depending on
his frame of mind, “well liked.” Willy wants to die
the “death of a salesman.” He bases this idea on the
death of another great salesman, who was so well
liked that the buyers came to him. He was wealthy,
died in his hotel room, and hundreds of men and
women came out to pay their respects at his funeral.
Willy imagines this kind of procession for himself,
and, in his own way, looks forward to the day he will
die, when his sons will finally learn that he was liked
by everyone who knew him.