The Imagined Fall: Death of a Salesman's Willy Loman in Context

Arthur Miller's most celebrated work, Death of a Salesman, dwells on the depressing life of its protagonist, a failed businessman named Willy Loman. Loman, in his efforts to become a man of success and respect, undermines his dreams by lack of action. Willy lives in fantastic world; he sees himself reflected in the eyes of Singleman, a wealthy bachelor of a salesman. Willy conjures images oh himself in far off cities, the townsfolk calling to him in delight. He sees himself as a role model for his children, a debonair, yet loving husband, and a man about town. In reality, Willy has never become anything he has wished; instead, he sees himself as fallen from grace. However, his "grace" never existed. Willy's life never peaked, his business never took off. All the while, he drowns himself in thoughts of what might have been, and he sees his failures reflected in his wife and two sons.

Miller shapes Willy Loman in an interesting manner; his dialogue and rhetoric are enough to inform the audience of his pitiful existence. Willy is a deluded character, and Miller adjusts the audience's perception of him through subtle details merged with flashbacks and past events. He is the small, humble house amidst the towering, oppressive apartment buildings; he is a dream quelled by the occurrences of life. Miller places Willy in the shadows of existence, in the city of hundreds as a nameless, faceless nobody. Loman is not appreciated in his own household, and his lack of noble efforts takes a toll on the way his family perceives him. Miller manipulates Willy like a puppet; he takes the hits as they come, but he hardly goes out of his way to prevent one from coming.