Willy 's recipe for success in this quote is based entirely around a cult of personality and appearance. As he stated “That’s why I thank the God almighty you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead!”, (Miller 1.1721). Adonise as we all know, is considered the most handsome off all gods. He is a model of perfection and unattainability. In saying that, his sons look like Adonise. He is saying that they are perfect models, and their looks will get them far without having to work hard for it. He believes success is equated to being attractive. Most people are liked by their friends and acquaintances. But only great and handsome
He sees himself with wealth because of his child's pride in him. Willy's children, Biff and Happy, embrace Willy's propensity for denying or controlling reality
There is only one man in the world that could have possessed countless admirable qualities, and be able to show whichever persona best fit the situation he was in. The man with an innumerable amount of exemplary attributes was named Willy Loman. As Willy told me on multiple occasions,
And by God I was rich”(Act I). Despite the little information his uncle shared with him, Willy admires Ben’s story and decides to dedicate his life to being well-liked and successful like him. As a salesman man, Willy needs to be popular in order to have the most success. Ironically, Willy Loman is not a hard character to hate and he has such little success with his job, that he eventually gets fired. Back in the 40’s, men were considered the head of the household–they made the money while their wives kept busy at home.
We also learn that Willy is not that successful at being a salesman due to what he
Throughout the play, Willy’s mind is full of getting success and he don’t want to change. Willy truly believe that being well-liked can get success, but in reality he is not getting what he wanted. He can’t provide his family’s need so he turn to, his only friend, Charley to borrow money. Charley tells Willy that he can work for him, but Willy’s pride won’t let him do it. Also Willy likes to brag about how successful himself and his son is.
“The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (33). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses foil characters to elucidate Willy’s flaws that ultimately prevent him and his family from succeeding. The contrast between Charley and Willy and Bernard and Biff serves to highlight how Willy’s obsession with achieving his version of the American Dream impacts both his life and his children’s. His poor values are passed on to his children producing even more failures. ¬¬¬¬Both Charley and Willy work as salesmen, however Charley represents what Willy desired to become – successful.
Aristotle, the greek philosopher, once classified tragic works as “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.” (Aristotle). According to Britannica, a tragedy is “a branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.” (Sewall). An example of a modern time period tragic work is Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.
‘‘Willy Loman is here!’’ That’s all they have to know, and I go right through.” (Miller 21). Everywhere Willy goes he has been respected because of his reputation as a salesman. He believes that as long as you are well known you are a successful person.
In order for Willy to be a successful father, he needs to feel that his kids are respected and accomplished. However this shows that Willy is such an outsider, because Biff is quite the opposite, as the Bill Oliver that is references has no idea who Biff is. Another example that shows how Willy’s goals and dreams turn him into a misfit is when he asks for a promotion “ Well, tell you the truth, Howard. I’ve come to the decision that I’d rather not travel anymore.” ( Miller 59).
However, they both seem to have a strong belief that materialism will lead them to a happy and fulfilled life in some way. Throughout the play, Willy seems to believe that by having proper materialistic objects, people will like him more and he will be viewed as a respected and successful man. For instance, if we take a look at the repetitive use of brand names throughout the play; Chevrolet, General Electrics, Studebaker etc., it seems like they portray the material success that Willy so desperately desires to achieve. To me it seems as if Willy is fooled by the illusionary ideals within the American Dream that owning such materialistic items automatically equals being successful and being fulfilled with happiness
In Death of a Salesman, when Bernard, the neighbor, would come yelling at Biff to study math with him, Willy said, “That’s just what I mean, Bernard can get the best marks in school, y’understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y’understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That’s why I thank Almighty God you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets
Moreover, unlike the outer beauty, the inner beauty does not have any standards. This kind of beauty does not depend on perfect size of eyes, bright smiles, and curly hair. It is something that has no rules, no ideals, no
He has a Job, two kids, and a wife. Willy is a salesman who dreams to be like his role model, Dave Singleman. Singleman - in Willy perspective- had the ultimate successful life, as expressed in this quote: "Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?" [Act 2] Willy believed that success, was equivalent to how well liked he was. Willy's 'flaw' was his foolish pride, his persistence of achieving "his rightful status".
Willy conducts his whole life based on the belief that any man who is good-looking, charismatic, and “well-liked” deserves success and will naturally achieve it (1.30). He attempts to make his mark by working as a salesman because, according to him, “selling [is] the greatest
Willy exaggerates to praise himself so that he appears to be wealthy and powerful. Willy says, “I was sellin’ thousands and thousands, but I had to come home”(34), instead of specifying a specific number. He uses “thousands and thousands” to make his selling seem successful, emphasizing the amount of money he made. Willy’s obsession with the business success dream destroyed himself and his family in the