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A Greek tragedy is a story, which involves a character with a tragic flaw that leads to his or her downfall. In the American tragedy Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loan displays many traits, which lead to his downfall. Willy Loan displays a great deal of stubbornness and a warped sense of success as well as a lack of parenting skills. Throughout the play, Willy reveals many bizarre and uncommon characteristics that in the end contribute to his suicide.
Willys stubbornness and pride plays a major role throughout the play in major scenes. The pride and stubbornness, which Willy possesses, hinders him throughout the play. One of the most prominent scenes in which Willys pride gets to him is when Charley offers him a job. Willys response to Charley's first push to get Willy to take the job is, I I just cant work for you, Charley. (97) After Willy turns down the first offer, Charley again tries to get Willy to take the job and Willy responds by saying, I cant work for you, thats all, dont ask me why. (98) Even though Willy lost his job and cannot afford anything, he still refuses a job offer from Charley.
Willy has too much pride to accept anything from anyone. Another prominent example of Willys excessive stubbornness is when he sees Linda mending her stockings. When Willy sees her mending stockings, he tells her to throw them out with the idea that he will just buy new ones. Willy is too stubborn to realize that he cannot afford to buy new stockings and the only way to keep the stockings in wearable condition is to mend them. Linda realizes what their economic situation is but Willy cannot swallow his pride and accept the fact that he cannot afford anything. Willy also demonstrates excessive stubbornness and pride while talking to Bernard.
When Bernard asks what Biff is involved in, Willy responds by telling him he is working on something very big. Willy will not admit that Biff is not really working on any thing at all and even though he is trying to get a business set up he will most likely never amount to anything big. Willy simply has too much pride to admit that his life is anything less than perfect. In addition to Willys excessive stubbornness and pride, he also displays a warped sense of success.
One of Willys most prominent flaws is his warped sense of success. Willys view of success is one that is not shared by many as seen through out the play. One of Willys warped views of success concerns Biffs football career. Willy has so much excitement regarding Biff playing football that he completely disregards that fact that Biff is in danger of failing in school.
Bernard comes to warn Biff to study for the Regents exam and Willy responds by saying, Lets box, Bernard! (32) Willy shows complete disregard for the fact that his son could fail because he expects his sons athletic talents to carry him through life. Another incident occurs when Willy is talking to Biff regarding Bernard. He tells Biff, Be liked and you will never want. (33) Willy believes that success revolves solely around the views that people have regarding a person. He does not realize that someone liking him will not put food on his table and money in his wallet. Willy also has a warped sense of success regarding Dave Singleman. Dave Singleman was a man who, at eighty-four, could make his living by calling clients from his room.
Willy thinks that Dave Singleman is the definition of success. He does not realize that there are other ways to be successful in life. While Willys warped sense of success plays a major role throughout the play, his poor skills as a parent and role model are the most prominent of his traits. Willy displays poor parenting and role model skills throughout the entire play. There are many scenes early in the play, which lead the reader to recognize the flaws in Willys parenting and role model skills.
When Biff steals football from the locker room Willy first responds by saying, I want you to return that. (30) This is obviously the right thing to say to any child who takes something that is not rightfully theirs. However, three lines later Willy then contradicts himself by saying, Sure, hes gotta practice with a regulation size ball, doesnt he? To Biff: Coach probably congratulate you on your initiative! (30) This is instilling the wrong moral ethics in Biff. Biff now believes that if he steals something his father will not get angry but will approve of the action. Many scenes throughout the play demonstrate Willys inability to act as a role model to his children.
One of these scenes is when Biff discovers his fathers affair with the woman. Biff until this point had always looked up to Willy and thought of his father as almost invincible. This incident changes many of Biffs views regarding Willy. It creates a dark side to Willy and questions Biffs previous views of his father. At this point in the story Willys status as a role model to Biff is certainly lower than in previous scenes. Perhaps the biggest mistake that Willy makes as a parent and role model is his suicide.
While Willy kills himself with the intentions that Biff will collect insurance money, this is not how other people will most likely see it. Willys family is left to believe that Willy kills himself out of depression. Willy tries to kill himself several times throughout the play out of depression so it is the only logical reason. It is only at the end that his motives change slightly. Willy believes that what he is doing will benefit his family when in fact his family is only saddened by his loss. Willys death is in part due to the array of traits he demonstrates throughout the play.
There are many character traits, which Willy Loan possesses. Willys excessive stubbornness and pride surface many times through out the play as a major flaw in Willy. The warped sense of success Willy displays not only contributes to his failures but his childrens as well. Willy demonstrates his poor parenting and role model skills in a variety of scenes. Willy Loman's story is one of tragedy and regret. It is a story of man vs.
himself, in which man was not able to overcome the power which lie inside of him.
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Research essay sample on Plays A Major Role Willy Believes
