Willy Lohman’s Dilemma
Nobody lives an easy going life, everyone has to cope with different challenges as they age. The theory of Maslow’s law has eight different steps ranging from physiological needs to self-transcendence. These different levels can be applied and related to one’s own life. In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses Willy Lohman to demonstrate how he did not reach self-actualization because he prevents himself from advancing psychologically by using defense mechanisms against others. Miller attempts to use Willy as a symbol for the average man struggling in American society today because he is not fully understanding what he needs to do in order to live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle to be happy.
Denial is a common defense mechanism used to deal with conflict, Willy Lohman utilizes this mechanism the most in the play. This is problematic because he is farther away from becoming mentally stable. In the beginning Willy completely denies the fact that he is doing poorly at his job. He tells Linda, “The trouble was that three of the stores were half closed for inventory in Boston. Otherwise I woulda broke records”(35). This quote demonstrates Willy denying the reason why he did not make enough money on his business trip. The excuses and lies that he is telling to his family is unhealthy. The different excuses to explain his shortness …show more content…
He applies defense mechanisms to avoid all conflict possible in his life. The nature of human beings has been studied for many years. Everyone has used a defense mechanism at least once in their life. The problem is that some do not know or even recognize when they are using them. Without realizing the prominent issues and conflicts, a person will become just another step farther away from
Nobody lives an easy going life, everyone has to cope with different challenges as they age. The theory of Maslow’s law has eight different steps ranging from physiological needs to self-transcendence. These different levels can be applied and related to one’s own life. In the play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses Willy Lohman to demonstrate how he did not reach self-actualization because he prevents himself from advancing psychologically by using defense mechanisms against others. Miller attempts to use Willy as a symbol for the average man struggling in American society today because he is not fully understanding what he needs to do in order to live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle to be happy.
Denial is a common defense mechanism used to deal with conflict, Willy Lohman utilizes this mechanism the most in the play. This is problematic because he is farther away from becoming mentally stable. In the beginning Willy completely denies the fact that he is doing poorly at his job. He tells Linda, “The trouble was that three of the stores were half closed for inventory in Boston. Otherwise I woulda broke records”(35). This quote demonstrates Willy denying the reason why he did not make enough money on his business trip. The excuses and lies that he is telling to his family is unhealthy. The different excuses to explain his shortness …show more content…
He applies defense mechanisms to avoid all conflict possible in his life. The nature of human beings has been studied for many years. Everyone has used a defense mechanism at least once in their life. The problem is that some do not know or even recognize when they are using them. Without realizing the prominent issues and conflicts, a person will become just another step farther away from