Essay On Willy Death Of A Salesman

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The play, Death of a Salesman, focuses around the life of an unsuccessful salesman, Willy Loman. The story is about the events in Willy’s life, along with the constant struggles he faces while leading up to his death. In the play Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is influenced and defined by the characters around him. The first character that influences and defines Willy during the play is his brother, Ben. Ben is introduced to the story through a flashback of Willy’s. He takes the role as Willy’s father figure, and Willy looks up to Ben for advice and as a role model. For example, throughout the play Willy asks Ben how he became successful. Ben responds, telling Willy, “When I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by god I was rich” (Miller 48). This makes Willy hopeful for the future that he will become as successful …show more content…
Willy’s persona of Biff is everything someone would want to be in Willy’s mind, such as athletic and popular. For example, when Biff visits Willy in Boston, he tells the story of how he made fun of his teacher in front of the class. Willy immediately asks Biff, “The kids like it?” (118). This shows that instead of scolding Biff, Willy encourages these actions, as long as it fabricates popularity. Willy always makes Biff feel confident, making him seem conceited and arrogant. As a result, Willy has made Biff a failure, from constantly making him feel like he is better than everyone else. This shows that Willy embellishes and fabricates many aspects of Biff’s life. In summary, the main character, Willy, in the play Death of a Salesman is surrounded by other characters who define him. These three characters are his brother Ben, his neighbor Charley, and his son Biff. These three people in Willy’s life contribute greatly in influencing and defining him throughout the story, making him misguided and hopeful, in denial, and wanting
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