1. The American Dream - Willy longs for the approval of others and also wants to appear personally attractive to all those around him. Although Willy’s likability is very superficial, he believes that a man who is personally liked and attractive will be handed all of the luxuries associated with the perfect American life. However, Willy’s blind faith in his warped version of the American dream leads to his rapid psychological decline, as he is not able to accept the fact that he is not living his American dream.
2. Betrayal - One of Willy’s biggest obsessions throughout the play is Biff. Willy feels as if Biff has shown large amounts of betrayal. Biff promises a great deal of dedication and commitment to his father. He expected so much from …show more content…
This excerpt demonstrates that Willy believes himself to be well liked and successful. His inflated sense of pride is creating a warped version of reality. Willy thinks that people value him greatly and view him as superior. He proposes that by simply hearing the name “Willy Loman” people would drop everything for him.
2. Betrayal
a. WILLY: “Charley, I’m strapped. I’m strapped. I don’t know what to do. I was just fired.”
CHARLEY: “Howard fired you?”
WILLY: “That snotnose. Imagine that? I named him. I named him Howard.”
CHARLEY: “Willy, when’re you gonna realize that them things don’t mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can’t sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you’re a salesman, and you don’t know that.”
i. This quote shows that Willy felt personally victimized and betrayed by Howard. He believes that Howard owed it to him to employ him because he’s known him all of his life and even helped name him. Howard and Charley tried to convey that business isn’t personal and therefore it couldn’t be viewed as a betrayal, however, Willy ceased to listen and continued to feel hurt and betrayed.
b. WILLY: “Don’t you want to be anything?”
BIFF: “Pop, how can I go back?”
WILLY: “You don’t want to be anything, is that what’s behind it?”
2. Betrayal - One of Willy’s biggest obsessions throughout the play is Biff. Willy feels as if Biff has shown large amounts of betrayal. Biff promises a great deal of dedication and commitment to his father. He expected so much from …show more content…
This excerpt demonstrates that Willy believes himself to be well liked and successful. His inflated sense of pride is creating a warped version of reality. Willy thinks that people value him greatly and view him as superior. He proposes that by simply hearing the name “Willy Loman” people would drop everything for him.
2. Betrayal
a. WILLY: “Charley, I’m strapped. I’m strapped. I don’t know what to do. I was just fired.”
CHARLEY: “Howard fired you?”
WILLY: “That snotnose. Imagine that? I named him. I named him Howard.”
CHARLEY: “Willy, when’re you gonna realize that them things don’t mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can’t sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you’re a salesman, and you don’t know that.”
i. This quote shows that Willy felt personally victimized and betrayed by Howard. He believes that Howard owed it to him to employ him because he’s known him all of his life and even helped name him. Howard and Charley tried to convey that business isn’t personal and therefore it couldn’t be viewed as a betrayal, however, Willy ceased to listen and continued to feel hurt and betrayed.
b. WILLY: “Don’t you want to be anything?”
BIFF: “Pop, how can I go back?”
WILLY: “You don’t want to be anything, is that what’s behind it?”