Death of a Salesman

4 Pages 909 Words

“Illusion vs. Reality”

The theme of illusion versus reality is very prevalent throughout this play. The most

indulgent of this lifestyle is the main character Willy Loman. His whole life is based on the

illusion that he is successful because he is well-liked and good looking. He raises his two sons

on this premise and feeds it to them day after day. Willy is a dreamer. Willy grades his life on

the success he has as a salesman. He expects his sons to follow in his footsteps as well. Biff is

his main concern. Willy looks at Biff to be the one who shines in the business world. “Be liked

and you will never want”.(Bedford p.1836) Willy tells this to biff while they are talking about

school. The reality is that Willy is not well-liked and not successful but he still tells himself

every week that he’ll “knock ‘em dead next week”. Willy says, “I’m the New England man. I’m

vital in New England”. Willy is not as vital as he thinks. He says this to impress his boys.

Willy’s dreams and illusions also get in the way of having a normal family. His illusion that Biff

will become a great businessman interferes with the father son relationship. Biff believes that

what his father tells him is true and later in life realizes that Willy has formed Biff’s values and

they are not the values Biff believes in. Willy sees himself as one of the founding fathers of the

company he works for and helped name the man who is now his boss. His boss sees his role

differently and soon Willy is without a job and just can’t understand it. “When Willy sees how

his illusion of being well-liked is not true, it kills him and ends his emotional life”.(Nadi) At the

end of the play, Willy’s illusion that if he were to die and Biff received the insurance money,

everything would be better. In reality, the family now has to grieve with their loss and...