Deception: A Theme in the Writing of Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams

Deception is a major theme throughout both Death of a Salesman and The Glass Menagerie. This theme plays a major role in the main parent-child relationship in both works. Biff and Willy Loman are deceived by themselves and by each other. It is much the same for Tom and Amanda Wingfield, but the actual deception is different.

In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Biff and Willy Loman have been deceiving themselves and each other for years. Biff and Willy both think that Biff, when he was younger, had been a salesman for Bill Oliver. In reality, Biff had been a shipping clerk who had stolen a case of basketballs. Willy has deceived himself into thinking that he is a well-loved, well-respected salesman, when in fact he can't sell enough to live on.

Above all, Willy's deception concerning his infidelity while on business trips is the one that causes all the problems. Up to that point in his life, Willy was safe in his deception concerning his great sales prowess. This deception was the root of all the problems this family faced. Willy deceived himself and others about who he was, and really encouraged his children to do the same. Once Biff exposed the deception by discovering his father in a hotel room with another woman, he believes his confidence in his football abilities is misplaced. He gives up his dreams because he considers them to be self-deception. In turn, Willy deceives himself in to believing that this incident has nothing to do with the way Biff lives his life. He knows deep down that he is the one who shattered Biff's confidence, but instead of dealing with the problem, he tried to hide the problem with more deception.

After his father's death, Biff finally comes to terms with the deception, and decides to strip it away and live life on his terms, and not his father's. He decides to hold himself to his own standards and live his own life. Willy, on the other hand, never really comes to terms with his deception. In fact, Willy deceives himself to the end, taking his own life because he has deceived himself into believing this is a solution.