![]() Willy’s faith in the American dream is firm. He is convinced that his life does not live up to his dream, and he cannot understand why. Being “happy right here, right now” is not enough for him (Miller 1593). Willy does not appreciate what he has: a wife and two sons. When he talks about Dave Singleman, a successful salesman who inspired Willy in his occupation, the reader realizes that for Willy, the greatest achievement of a person’s life can be measured only by the number of people who mourn him: “He died the death of a salesman… hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral” (Miller 1591). According to him, being liked should be the primary objective of any man who seeks success: “Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 1568). Willy’s unique understanding of success, which was formed under the influence of his insecurity, is one more notable characteristic. ![]() The fact that he had been abandoned by his father and did not have paternal support or a male role model explains his insecurity and lack of a talent for being a father himself. In a conversation with his older brother, he admits that to having a “temporary” feeling about himself (Miller 1577). In fact, Willy is very unsure of himself and needs the approval of others. He cannot accept the fact that Biff, who likes to be outdoors, chose to be a farm worker. Willy confuses Biff’s sporting success with an entrepreneurial talent that would allow him to work effectively in the commercial sphere. ![]() Twenty-five thousand a year” (Miller 1595). Willy endlessly remembers that Biff was a football star in high school and dreams about him becoming a businessman: “They’ll be calling him another Red Grange. Willy is not particularly concerned about the fate of his youngest son, Harold “Happy” Loman instead, he continually repeats that the elder Biff can achieve everything he wants. Unwilling to admit to his failure as a salesman and the general commonness of his personality, Willy also stubbornly believes that his sons are born to succeed. ( Banging his hand on the desk) I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in the year of 1928! (Miller 1592) I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in commissions. However, his salesmanship is, in fact, quite poor, and when his boss tries to say it, Willy hotly denies this fact: As a salesman whose job is to gain people’s favor, he believes that personality matters above everything else: “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it - because personality always wins the day” (Miller 1583). This vision of himself influences how he instructs his adult sons about how to lead a proper life and achieve success. ‘Willy Loman is here!’ That’s all they have to know and I go right through” (Miller 1568). He lives in the illusion of his success as a salesman, and he is convinced that he has an attractive personality and a great number of friends and connections: “I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. Ultimately, his tragedy is that he has the wrong impression of himself and his sons.
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