"Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller
The play opens with Willy coming home from a hard day of work and talking to his wife about his work and problems around the office
Willy's biggest concern is providing for his family.
Willy's wife is very caring and supportive of him and their two sons who are eager to make it big in business although one is disillusioned and the other is irresponsible.
Willy must commute to Chicago everyday which is tiring for him especially in his old age,
Since the story takes place in the 1940s, the American Dream is thriving and Chicago and New York is the epicenter of big business.
Willy talks to himself a lot and suicidal because of how sad he is that he is not as good of a salesman as he used to be. He also changes mood rapidly and lashes out on his family.
He wants the best for his family but he is frustrated because his job doesn't get him much pay. Willy likes to reminisce about his brother Ben who died some years ago. He hallucinates about Ben and has conversations with him. Willy can be heard by his family who develop a deep concern with him.
It sounds like Willy may have schizophrenia
In the end, Willy decides to take his own life and crash in his car.
Death of a Salesman is about family and traditional values like the American Dream.
Although Willy may not be an emotionally stable person, I would call him a static character for the way he is constantly changing attitude.
"WILLY (corning out of The Woman’s dimming area and going
over to Linda): I’ll make it all up to you, Linda, I’ll...
LINDA: There’s nothing to make up, dear. You’re doing fine, better
than...
WILLY (noticing her mending): What’s that?
LINDA: Just mending my stockings. They’re so expensive...
WILLY (angrily, taking them from her): I won’t have you mending
stockings in this house! Now throw them out!"
Biff and Happy are under a lot of pressure to become great businessmen like how their father was. There is an awkward situation between Willy and his sons because they want to be the great businessman he was but Willy is doing poorly in the business world now. He gets fired near the end of the story which makes it difficult for him to be a role model for his sons. Willy wants what's best for his sons and gives them all of his knowledge of business and pushes them to achieve greatness in the business world.
