Death of a Salesman

After reading "Death of a Saleman" I've realized how money affects people's personalities and the decisions that they make. Money can make or break a person. When you become obsessed with money it starts to control your life and drive you to make decisions you normally wouldn't even consider. Willy Loman let money drive him into the ground.


Willy worked his whole life to achieve his idea of success. He wanted to be known by the people he worked for and one day be able to work in his robe and slippers. Loman was so upset that he hadn't reached his goal that he started attempting to take his own life. Loman just gave up on the dream and his family had to pay the price. His whole life he acted as though once he was older he would be well known and that his sons would be very successful. When Biff comes home and doesn't have the kind of life that Willy planned, it starts to bother Willy. Another thing that contributes to the Biffs choice of lifestyle was when he found out about Willy's affair. After this event Biff resented his father and began to steal his way out of every oppurtinity for a life as a salesman. You can see tell Willy knows that he is the reason that Biff isn't successful but he doesn't want to admit it to himself.


Part of Willy's problem was he always thought that his life would just work out. If you don't go out and be the best at what you do, then no one will consider you the best. If Willy just realized that no one owed him anything just for being alive then his story would have had a happy ending. Willy's ego got in the way of his success and led to his downfall. He put up this facade and managed to fool his friends and family. The truth comes out at Willy's funeral. Willy always said there would be tons of people when he was laid to rest, but there was no one.


Overall, many amercians have this vision of being rich and famous but not everyone can get there. Sometimes, along the way people lose themselves and their minds.