Willy's Dream

Due to the unrealistic aims of their deluded pursuit, the individual may be unable to fulfill their intentions, which can, in turn, compromise their happiness, as well as the happiness of those who are close to them. This is true in the case of Willy as the severity of his ambitions leads him to adopt false ideals, and costs him not only his own well-being but also that of his family. Moreover, it causes him to take part in actions that have drastic effects on himself and his family. For example, because his job requires him to always be on the road, Willy starts to experience loneliness. As a result, he cheats on his wife, Linda, by engaging in an affair with another woman. Although Linda never finds about the affair, this does produce a strain …show more content…
In a conversation with Biff, he claims that “[he doesn’t] know what the hell he’s working for… [even though it’s] what [he should have] always wanted” (1.29). Linda, on the other hand, “[lives] from day to day,” constantly suffering the repercussions of Willy’s delusions, fearing that each day will be his last (1.58). Although she is aware that Willy’s aspirations are essentially rooted in fantasy, Linda is helpless in her situation, and this puts her under a great deal of agony and distress. Thus, it becomes apparent how Willy’s extensive search for “the answer” ultimately jeopardizes his and his family’s happiness. Hence, nothing is good for them; "There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don’t grow any more, [and] you can’t [even] raise a carrot in the back yard" (1.17). The garden of their life is bare, intellectually sterile and without any hope of revitalization. Furthermore, Willy Loman lives in a world where rapid urbanization and crumbling human values corrode his soul substantially. Therefore, his pursuit of happiness becomes a pursuit of empty promises that neither brings him nor his family any closer to