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Death of a Salesman Is Willy Loman a hero or a villain? Willy could not be possibly thought as a hero. There are arguments that support both arguments of Willy being a hero or a villain, but most of them support Willy as being a villain. Willy did not have the friends and contacts that he claimed and emphasized his boys to have.
Most of his life became a lie to him and his family. Willy commits many faults that categorize him as a villain. The most important fault was the affair. He might have not wanted to do this on purpose but this does not make him any better.
Maybe the affair first started out as a business relationship, but it did not end that way. This affair damaged the life of Biff who caught his father with the woman. Biff became disappointed and angry towards Willy, and he never went to summer school or attended college. Willy was not the only one who faced consequences, so did Biff and Linda. Willy cheated on Linda and never said anything about the affair to her. He sometimes felt guilty about it and that is why Willy made her feel inferior.
He felt that he could not face her because of what he was doing behind her back. Willy was still ashamed of what he had done, even after the affair was over. He used to give the woman stockings and when he saw Linda knitting some, he demanded her to stop knitting stockings. He still felt guilty about his actions after many years. Willys lies to his family about business is another big fault. In the story, we get to know Willy better as more flashbacks show his past.
Through the flashbacks, the audience gets to notice that the only thing he wanted in life was to be successful as well as his sons. All he cared about was business and to be well-liked by others. Willy bragged about being successful in his job and being liked by everyone. " Willy Loman is here! Thats all they have to know, and I go right through. " 1 In reality, all his dreams about being well-liked were phony, because he wasnt even well-liked at all.
He might be called a hero because he wanted the best for his sons, but at the same time Willy was lying to all his family. He lied about having a great job, being successful, well-liked and happy. He always told his Biff and Happy to do good, but never setting the example himself. He was never a great salesman and had no contacts anywhere.
Willy made his family believe lies that later become a reality for him only. Biffs dream was different from his fathers dream. Even though Willy encouraged Biff not to attend summer school and therefore, never graduate, he still wanted Biff to follow his footsteps. Biff had been confused throughout many years and was always trying to find himself.
When he came from the ranch to visit his family he tried to be in peace with Willy. Willy did not want to see him, because his son was working at a ranch and only received a small amount of money. He did not approve of Biffs work on a ranch. He felt that at Biffs age of 34, he should have found himself and should have been settled into a good paying job.
During Biffs visit, Biff realized what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, and finds himself. Despite of this, Willy still did not want his son to work on a ranch. He preferred his son to successful and unhappy, than unsuccessful and happy. Willy becomes so into this idea that he never wants Biff to return to his house. By doing this, Willy is once again discouraged his son to follow his dream and to be happy. During a flashback, the audience can realize Willys favoritism towards one of his sons.
In one flashback, it is clear that he prefers more Biff than Happy. In day of the big game, Willy only has his attention on Biff and pays none to his other son. " Im losing weight, you notice, Pop? " 2 The readers can see trying to tell his father about hoe he is losing weight, but Willy doesnt pay much attention to him. Even though it is not much portrayed in the play, it is noticeable that Happy has always wanted his father to treat him the way he treated Biff. Happy stayed at Willys house and followed his fathers dream, he became a businessman. Although Biff wasnt making money, it seemed that Happy was doing very well, but Willy never seemed to notice or if he did, he never said anything to Happy to let him know he had noticed. Willy Loman caused consequences that ruined his and his family's future.
The affair he created was a large part of why Willy could not be possibly thought of as a hero. His whole life, he told his wife and children about all the people that knew him and how that was the only way to be successful, when he really did not know anyone. In the end, Willy kills himself. Willy thought that when he died, the funeral would show his family how many people he knew, because they would all come, but no one showed up. Villain may be a strong word, but it fits Willy Loman much better than hero.
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Research essay sample on Willy Loman Felt Guilty
