Theme Of Morality In Death Of A Salesman

In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is sympathized with for being a product of society. He represents the archetype of an individual who has been dealt a hand of cards that have turned him into a, seemingly, senile and ill-mannered person. However, it is not as black and white as it is made out to be; society does not turn a man into something so horrible. Mr. Loman has done egregious acts and said things that lead to the conclusion that he is a hypocritical, flagrant human being. Society may lead to the learned behavioral patterns of a person but it does not define a person as a whole. Taking responsibility for one’s own actions is essential in character development. In this endeavor, Willy has failed not only himself but also that of his family. Societal impact effects a person to a small degree, albeit it is completely possible for an individual to fight against the cultural norms. A young person can go through high school surrounded by peer pressure without ever falling into drug or alcohol abuse. A child who grows up in a ghetto can obtain a degree and go on to make a successful life for himself. Morality is the discerning factor that makes up the individuals persona later in life. Ethics should be instilled in children from their guardians, something Willy failed to do for his two boys. If there is an outside source …show more content…
Loman’s major issue is that he lacks pragmatism. The setting of the story is in a time where ingenuity and industrialization is impacting businesses and culture, yet Willy refuses to change with the times and expects what was once good enough to always be the case. This is proven when he is speaking of how close he was to his boss’s father and that should allow him certain privileges even though he was underperforming in his career ( 1005). Without the ability to accept change, society would have stagnated long ago; racism, segregation and intolerance would run rampant as well as a lack of industrial and technological