Willy's Worthlessness As A Salesmen example essay topic

Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesmen" was portrayed as a multi-faced, hypocritical man who did nothing but lie to himself about what he and his family were. Howard, Bernard, and Charlie show his personalities. Howard is very harsh and straight forward with Willy and shows the audience how worthless he is, whether or not Willy himself realizes it yet. Howard tells Willy "I don't want you to represent us anymore" and Willy realizes he is being fired.

It shows that Willy is so obsessed with respect and popularity that he doesn't even realize he is a bad salesmen. He is so hung up on the fact that he named Howard and has been working for the company for so many years that he thinks he should just get paid whether he does well or not. Howard reminds him that "business is business". Willy is just so stuck on his false realism that he cant see that he is a bad salesmen and should have pursued a different career that he was better suited for. Howard however, is a bit more of a realist and offers Willy a chance to go home and rest and then try to work something out. Bernard is Charlie's goody-two-shoes son who was a childhood friend of Biff.

Bernard always studied and eventually became a successful lawyer, something that Willy has trouble dealing with. Bernard tries to show Willy that his sons could be good if they find the right thing and stop living in the Loman dream world. He encourages Willy and tries to offer him a job like his father did but Willy is too proud and full of himself to accept it. Bernard is always trying to make Willy realize the reality of his situation and that he could succeed if he heads in the right direction but as usual he will not listen. When Biff was younger Bernard tried to tell Willy and Biff that school was more important than football and that football would never get him as far as good grades would. Again, they brushed that off and went on with there ways, and in the end Bernard was right.

In a way Bernard is Willy and his sons' bright side that never succeeded. Charlie is the Loman's next door neighbor, and owns his own sales firm. He and Willy do not get along very well, but they are friends nonetheless. Charlie is always the voice of reality in the play, trying to set Willy straight on the facts of Willy's situation, but Willy refuses to listen.

Willy is also offered a job by Charlie and because of his usual false pride Willy turns down this offer as well. He does however, borrow money from Charlie. Willy has always been jealous of Charlie even though he does everything in hid power not to show it. Charlie is always making fun of Willy but, it is not so much to humiliate him as it is to try and tell him in a different way that he is too hung up on himself and his family. Charlie represents Willy's unknown side of what he could have been. Willy had many faces that were portrayed the best by the three preceding characters; Howard, Bernard, and Charlie.

Howard is harsh and shows Willy's worthlessness as a salesmen. Bernard tries to steer Willy in the right direction but Willy's arrogance and false pride keeps this from persuading him. Charlie shows his unknown side, his infatuation with whatever he does, and his unwillingness to listen to others opinions. Willy is a very interesting character who leaves you wondering if you are following the right road in life.