Similarities Between Death Of A Salesman And Willy Loman

During the twentieth century, countless people came into America as immigrants looking for a new start. America as a nation brought upon a new belief of self-invention that allowed those who wanted to change their lives have an opportunity. Benjamin Franklin is a primary example of self-invention. Started on the streets of Boston, left to his own ingenuity and only affording three loaves of bread, Benjamin Franklin became one of the most successful printers and inventors of his time. The American Dream was the idea that people could become anything of themselves and believed that through hard work and dedication nothing could stand in the way of their success and ambitions. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller portrayed two opposing characters,

However, unlike most renowned authors, he revealed an unseen version of those not achieving the dream through the opposing characters of Willy and Charley in Death of a Salesman. In the play, the main character, Willy Loman, is shown to be an insecure and self-deceived traveling salesman. He is certain that he will fulfill the American Dream, but his illusion of success and wealth is deteriorated by his blatant reality of delusions and mental health. Willy’s constant disparity takes a toll on not only himself, but also his whole family. Throughout the story, he is continuously giving his family fabricated information and advice to his wife, Linda, and two sons, Biff and happy Loman. Seeing their dad as an inspiration and persuaded by his awful guidance, Biff and Happy’s lives obliviously decline after high school. Willy fails to recognize his personal failures through the composed deception of his life and is unable to grasp his true reality. His inability to conceive his harsh reality produces a barricade for his ability to achieve his American Dream within the business world. Willy, like his houses, are surrounded by higher and more suitable representatives and is unable to climb up the corporation ladder. In many situations, like discovering his supervisor was a much younger lad, Willy make self-serving biases to explain his defaults in life due to external attributions. Beginning till end, Willy’s unintentional unawareness

Unlike Willy, he is seen to have more reason throughout the play. More self-conscious and aware, Charley becomes successful in the business world. His parenting style is superior compared to Willy’s, in which he gives his son, Bernard, valid advice and guidance. His accomplishment as a father is show when Bernard become a super-powerful lawyer in a supreme court case. “Willy: [the last to leave, turning to Charley]: I don’t think that was funny, Charley. This is the greatest day of his life. / Charley: Willy, when are you going to grow up? / Willy: Yeah, heh? When this game is over, you’ll be laughing out of the other side of your face. They’ll be calling him another Red Grange. Twenty-five thousand a year” (Miller 1498). In this scene, it defines the opposing characteristics of Charley and Willy. In comparison, Charley conveys as an adult and mature figure, where as Willy is stagnant as child-like and impulsive man. Because of Willy’s foolish behavior and incapability to do his job, Charley willingly gives him money every month to pay his bills through the act of kindness. Throughout the play, it is Charley apparent that he is beyond mindful, for which he exerted the American Dream.

In conclusion, Arthur Miller provides the two opposing characters to portray the successful and unsuccessful verges of the American Dream. Death