Miller uses many characters to contrast the difference between success and failure within the system. Willy is the dreamy salesman whose imagination is much larger than his sales ability, while Linda is Willy's wife who stands by her husband even in his absence of realism. Biff and Happy are the two blind mice that follow in their father's fallacy of life, while Ben is the only member of the Loman family with that special something needed to achieve. Charlie and his son Bernard, on the other hand, enjoy better success in life compared to the Lomans.

The play romanticizes the rural-agrarian dream, but does not allow the Lomans to attain it. Miller seems to hold ambiguous feelings toward this dream. At first one believes that Miller is telling us that we should abandon the common business ethic, and run away to the west, however, the only successful people in the play are those who have followed it to the letter. In the end the play does not make a final judgment on America simply because

Charlie is also Willy's opposite in the play. Charlie stands for completely different beliefs, and is quite successful. Charlie attempts to help Willy; however, he will not listen to his advice. In the end Charlie offers Willy the job in New York he so desperately needed. Willy's refusal seems to stem more from pride, then from insanity. Willy seems to have too much pride to admit that Charlie's beliefs are superior to his. Charlie tries to lead Willy to the fountain of knowledge but Willy refuses to take in this precious liquid.

Bernard, like his father, is extremely successful. He is not well liked at school, and Willy states that he will never be successful in the "business world." Bernard, however, uses his intelligence to become a prominent lawyer, and pleas a case before the Supreme Court. That Mr. Miller chose to contrast Willy's and Biff's failures with an obvious example of how one can succeed in this country makes it difficult to interpret the play as an attack upon the American system, either as constituted or as popularly imagined. Bernard is, in fact, living proof of the system's effectiveness, an affirmation of the proposition that persistent application of one's talents, small though they may be, pays off.

Middle America, and it's Willy Lomans, will always exist in some form as long as we chase the American Dream. If only we knew if we are fools or level headed businessmen. It's a pity we don't know our future.

Also, Biff the oldest son, continues to search for his purpose in life. At age thirty-four, Biff still does not know what career he wishes to pursue. This is due to all the "hot air" Willy constantly feeds him. Biff never can hold down a job long enough to be successful. Biff is constantly being fired for stealing. This stems from his father. Willy always thought that his children were just brave souls, and daredevils. In his world his children could never be thieves.

Happy, by not being as close to Willy as Biff, escapes the aura of social failure surrounding their father. However, due to the lack of closeness, Happy never fully realizes the phony part of his father's dreams. In the end Happy vows to prove his father's dreams can be achieved. It is likely that he will suffer the death of a salesman.

Biff seems to be an amplification or reflection of Willy's problems. He was nurtured on Willy's dreams, but was forced to see them for the lies and illus

Some common words found in the essay are:
Willy Biff, Willy Loman, Ben Loman, Charlie Willy's, Death Salesman, Biff Loman, American Dream, Dave Singleman, Willy's Biff's, War II, willy loman, death salesman, american dream, willy biff, simply willy loman, play willy's, success failure, war ii, life compared, simply willy, dream allow, suffered death salesman, world war ii, ben loman family, dime dozen willy,
Approximate Word count = 1635
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)