Pros And Cons Of The Miserable Life Of Willy Loman

The Miserable Life of Willy Loman Like everything that exists, technology has its pros and cons. Technology, especially recent technology, has been a growing sensation throughout the world within the last half-century. Technology enables us to do things much quicker and easier than before. For example, “communication has been changed dramatically since the telephone” (2). Before the telephone, you had to travel in order to talk to a long-distance relative. With the telephone, you only have to dial a few numbers and, viola; you can talk to your beloved grandmother that is currently 500 miles away. One of the many bad things about technology, however, is “the impact it has had on” material wealth and “popularity” (2). People now care more about …show more content…
As previously mentioned, Willy is extremely upset with his eldest son, Biff. This is because Biff is not successful. On the other hand, Willy’s younger son, Happy, is extremely successful. This is why Willy does not nag him as much. The play says that Happy is a “tall, powerfully made” man and that he has succeeded more than his older brother (p.19, 1). Happy has become successful, but not in much of an honorable way. He consistently takes bribes and commits acts of adultery in order to climb the ladder of the corporation he is in. To many people, Biff would be more admirable than Happy. He is much more caring and honorable and his dreams are different and unique. Biff wants to live his life happily, not worry about money and popularity like his father. But, since Happy has more material wealth and is much more popular than Biff, Willy admires him more. At one point, Willy even asks Biff why he couldn’t be more like Ben. So, not only has Willy killed Biff’s self-esteem, but he has also corrupted Happy into thinking that his lifestyle is a respectable one. This is one huge problem apparent throughout the play caused by Willy’s obsession with material wealth and …show more content…
Willy believes that “selling was the greatest career a man could want” (p.81, 1). He first brings up the idea in his boss’ office when asking for a raise. He says that there was once a man named Dave Singleman. This man was an eighty-four year old salesman who was well-liked around the country and sold things to many people without even leaving his hotel room. Willy says that Dave died the noble death of a salesman and that hundreds of people from across the country attended his funeral. Willy then says that this was the reason he wanted to become a salesman. Willy thought that being a salesman would bring