Examples Of Ephany In Death Of A Salesman

In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Biff states that his father, Willy, has the wrong dreams. Throughout the play it proves that the statement is correct. Just before Willy’s death, Biff began to experience epiphany in which he realizes the extent of Willy’s fantasies and the effects they have on him. He realizes that Willy lives a life of self deception and false ideals. Throughout the novel Willy chases after a victory that he could never fully understand, but knew it must be achieved. He taught his sons the wrong moral values regarding his insight on how to be successful, but it was not an ethical understanding. In this play, Willy continuously lives in the past, trying to somehow fix the present through it. He always thrives to be “well liked” and does not emphasize on the actual important part (being a salesman). Willy has …show more content…
He does not want anything more than this. He wants to become as successful as his brother Benn and also be a well-liked person. Also, he wants to talk big about his successful sons, about his huge, profitable sells, about the fortunes he has, and this would certainly give him joy and self-esteem. All in all, he wants to be touched by the fortune, again and,then everything will be the same, like it was before in the past.
Unfortunately, through his long, hard-working years, he did not have any success. He tries as best as he can, but unsuccessfully. Also, he always asks his brother Benn for free advices on his business, money, sales, likability and etc but the answer from Benn is always the same; “William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich!” Willy believes that personality, hard work and innovation, are the keys to success, but remembering all his failures, he does not understand why he is not able to make it. In that way, he desperately tries to find the answers, starting from his brother Benn to Biff s best friend