In Arthur Miller’s play Death
of a Saleman he uses the unique character reaction and responses to drive
towards the ultimate meaning of the play, which is Willy Loman’s quest for
acceptance. The play begins with a discussion between Linda, his wife, and Willy,
and about their sons. Willy calls his son Biff “A lazy bum” (25). This already
proves Biff as somebody unmotivated without ambition. He is a character that
never went anywhere in life. There is tension established by Willy’s statement
of his displeasure with the actions of his son before Biff even enters the
stage. Biff is not happy with his father either, asking to his brother happy “Why
does Dad mock me all the time?” (29). Biff seems confused about this tension
between his father and him. Willy is set up as an antagonistic force against
Biff in the story. Their conflict is what drives much of the story, as well as
the conflict between Willy and his desires. The symbols of society oppress Willy, found in
the forms of his material possessions. Willy and Linda argue from pg. 73-74
about the state of these objects. They all cost a lot of money to fix and
maintain, a sacrifice that Willy does not seem happy about. He yells at her over
the objects as she says “Once in my life I would like to own something outright
before it’s broken! I’m always in a race with the junkyard!” (74). Willy cannot
find the acceptance in the material objects he owns, because they always break
down before they’re truly his. He cannot feel any pride over accomplishing
this, as well as any celebration from his family, because he is always one step
behind everything. He consistently lives in the past, through his flashbacks of
previous conversations. He cannot find happiness in the validation of other
people, and so after many attempts to try to kill himself, he finally comes to
the realization that suicide is the best solution because it will provide for
his family better than he actually cans with “Remember, it’s a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar
proposition” (119). It is only through
this decision to carry out this final act of desperation that Willy becomes content
and happy with his life, as his family finally accepts him.
