WILLY LOWMAN
Authors use many different devices in their writing such as personification or hidden meanings to add a little something extra to their work. While examining the main character of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, we see much of the same. The hidden meaning in Willy's name comes in his surname, Loman, which is often taken to mean "low-man". Reading Death of a Salesman and its many critiques, the overwhelming theme of commonness and even lowliness is plainly evident. In this paper, I intend to show that his treatment of his family and friends, as well as what we know about his own thought life, proves Willy Loman's true commonness and periodic lowliness. First, we will look at Loman himself. Loman is without a doubt one of the most perplexing characters in literature. Huftel states, in his review of the story, "Death of a Salesman is governed by a need to know and understand Willy Loman." (103) The statement could not be truer, but it is also something that we respond to with an, "Easy for you to say." This is a story of a salesman who has run his race, but who, for the most part is unwilling to leave the finished course and a man who has trouble grasping reality. The first i
II. Willy's relationship with his wife Next, we will examine Willy's relationship with his wife. Loman's wife Linda is without a doubt the touch of wholesomeness that this story of male chauvinism needs. She is quite simply the most caring soul throughout the story. As Huftel states, "Linda is practical, knows Willy as far as he can be known, understands him, and tries to help him by taking the edge off his confusion."(108) Linda is obviously a woman of good nature and character, which, by the way, is the only type of woman that could put up with Loman. No matter what he does, she always by everyone he meets (62). We see this later when Loman's sales are beginning to fall, and yet the only thing he seems truly concerned about is how many people in New England know who he is. The importance of this quality to Loman shines through again when he deals with his son, Biff. Clark also states in her review, "Willy's rock bottom faith has been in the capacity to get along with people and "make a good impression"."(63) The quotation that she used in the latter quotation came from Loman's preparation speech he gave to Biff before he went to try to find a new career for himself. Loman's belief that status is the most important quality is eventually the demise of his job as well as his own life when "The formula of personal popularity no longer works" (Atkinson 55). was so true through out the story. In the beginning, we see Loman idolizing Biff as a child. It continues to grow throughout Biff's childhood, as Loman indulges him to the point of ruining his life (Clark 62), and he keeps on through high school and college when he is pressured about attending the University of Virginia and being a popular football star. The main factor, though, was the incident in which Biff caught Willy cheating on his mother. This sole instance would change the way Biff would look at his father forever and cause him to go into almost a stage where he hid from life. Thesis: Willy Loman is a common and periodically low man in his treatment of family and friends.
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Approximate Word count = 1645
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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