External Complications In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

The Death of a Salesman was a story about a struggle of a family. They encountered external complications but internal as well. The main conflicts they seemed to face were financial, emotional, and being realistic. This family's financial situation is not one that's uncommon or even unacceptable. In today's society I think their living and financial situation would be considered adequate. In that time period, however, society was not so approving. Willy seemed to be the main character who was concerned about finances. He wasn't making as much as he felt he should have, even in his old age .Nearing the end of his career it should have been the easiest time of Willy's life, but instead he was left to find ways to make up for the income he …show more content…
Ms.Loman wasn't realistic with herself as far as what would help her husbands state of mind. Biff had lived a very privileged lifestyle in his youth. Not only did it seem as though his parents went to all extents to keep him happy, he was very popular and seemed to rarely ever hear the word "No". It seems as though all the people who surrounded him in his youth convinced him that he was a winner with or without work. This played a role in why he seems to be unsuccessful in his adult life. He grew up with the misconception that he was a little more than what he actually was. Willy was unrealistic with himself about himself and about Biff. He felt as though he was well known and that he still had a chance of reaching what he felt was true success. In actuality Willy has really run out of time and opportunity. He's fooled himself into believing he was actually happy with his life, when he was attempting suicide every chance he could. He'd also convinced himself that his sons, especially Biff could still have anything they wanted and would be greater than what they are. He wasn't realistic about their potential.He also had a misconception of his brother, he seemed to idolize him, instead of realizing the faults in stories and being cautious. It seems as though all this contributed to his weakened state of mind in old age. Happy seemed to be the only Loman who was honest with himself about things. He is the most grounded to reality, although we did discover that he'd lied about the true influence he held at his job. This may have been because of the pressure the sons felt to reach Willy's