Who Suffers Most From Willy's Delusions?

The main character in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is Willy Loman.

He is an old salesman who lives in world build up of illusions and memories. His

life is based on dreams which never come true. Willy is trying to accomplish the

American Dream, but in his dream accomplishment successes of his sons, Biff and

Happy, do not exist. Loman's receipt for wealth is personal attractiveness and well

likeness, unfortunately he never achieve these receipts. During his life he follows

his dream, but when things go wrong he fools everybody around including

himself. His memories are filled with amazing stories which always make him the

"hero" that everybody else are proud of. By not living in reality he makes his

children follow the same path and make the same wrong dreams and choices. His

wife, Linda, and his sons keep him up in these mistakes, and that hurts all of them.

The person who suffers the most from Willy's delusions is Biff. He was always in

center of attention as the favorite son whose 'small' sins were easily forgiven.

Since ever he was taught by Willy how to follow the 'perfect formula' to be

successful in life. When Biff realizes that his father's life was based on illusions he

comes back to sad reality and its kind of late to make something of own life.

During the high school years, Biff was the most talented and liked kid for

Willy. Willy thought it will be enough for his son to be someone special in the

future. Even though, Biff was not an angel, and did many things the way he

should not, his defects were ignored and Biff never got punished for any of his

wrongs because 'boys will be boys'. The example here is brought in Willy's

memories, where Biff 'borrows' the ball from coach and he doesn't face any

consequences. "Willy: Sure, he's gotta practice with a regulation ball, doesn't he?

Coach'll probably congratulate you on your initiative!" (1.30.5-7). Now, when he

is adult and he can take responsibilities of his actions he keeps losing

his job

because of 'taking' someone's belongings. When he goes to Oliver to borrow

money he cannot stop himself of taking Oliver's pen without informing him. Willy

never taught his boys what is good and what is bad to do in life, and now there

are the results.

Willy's perfect formula to be successful in life was to have personal

attractiveness and well likeness. He was inculcating it into Biff's mind on every life

step he took. Not education, or other important elements that can influence life in

the future, but to look good and be liked, it was the most significant. Loman

never pushed Biff to study. The sport career was enough to accomplish a great

dream of being successful. When Biff is endangered to fail the math, advice

provided