Was Willy Loman’s family a role model? What were the virtues, teachings, and weaknesses of his fatherhood? Has he ruined his sons’ lives or helped them? Arthur Miller introduces Willy Loman and his views on parenting in “Death Of A Salesman”. Loman has an enormous influence on the kids, as Miller describes it in his play. Willy is misled by his false perceptions of reality, and has instilled this false belief into his children. Willy has a false perception of reality and a false value in society. He is misleading his sons with this. The most important thing is that sons inherit father’s personality and behavior. One common saying is that upbringing influences behavior. Willy’s behaviour reflects the influence a parent has on his children.
Willy’s desire to succeed is portrayed in a play where he gives the illusion of being an extremely well-known and respected salesman. Willy may be seen as a failed salesman by others. They laugh me off, heh. Filene’s. The Hub. Slattery’s. Boston. Watch what happens if you shout out Willy Loman’s name! Big shot”. Willy fails to realize that his dream of becoming a salesman has not come true. He refuses to admit that he has failed in his career. Willy believes that the image he created for himself is false and doesn’t understand why people are making fun of him. Willy’s perception is not accurate. Linda (Willy’s Wife) tells Biff that her father, “He drives 700 miles to get there and nobody knows him. No one welcomes him.” What’s a guy thinking, when he drives 700 miles without earning a cent to go home? “When he’s forced to borrow fifty bucks a week from Charley while pretending to me it’s pay. Willy has a profound influence on Biff. Biff thinks that the only thing that will make him successful is if he lives a life similar to his father’s. Biff explained, “Well, it took me six or even seven years to become successful after I graduated high school. The business could be anything from a shipping clerk to a salesman. It’s a miserable existence. Hap I’ve done twenty to thirty different types of jobs since leaving my hometown before the War, and the results are always the same. What am I doing?” Willy: The man who is successful in business, who has personal interests and who appears, is the one who will get ahead. You will never lack if you are liked. Willy has traumatized his family by pretending to be someone valuable.
Willy Loman does not make a good example. He? Should have taught his boys that honesty is the social norm to respect yourself and those around you. Willy is a bad person and his children will learn to be the same. He claims to love his family and sons by portraying them in a false light. As a parent, we didn’t think he would teach his children to be failures. Biff might tell Willy to borrow a soccer ball from the changing room for practice. Willy chuckles knowingly. Willy prefers Biff to Happy, despite Happy’s attempts to attract his father’s interest. Willy whispers he will open a business bigger than Uncle Charley’s because Charley does not like him. Bernard, Charley’s eldest son, asks Biff if he can study math with Biff, but Willy’s dad distracts Bernard and shows him his University of Virginia sneakers. Biff’s math grade is about to be a failure, and he would not graduate. Bernard says that Biff’s sneakers don’t mean he will graduate. Willy then asks Bernard whether he’s liked. Willy tells his boys that Bernard’s grades are good, but he doesn’t think he’s “well” liked.
Willy wants Biff to excel as a footballer, not a student. Willy is so concerned about Biff’s success that he puts him under a lot of pressure. Willy is right to want his son to become successful. However, he must also ensure that his child receives a quality education. Willy doesn’t want to admit that his path in life is not successful. He would rather live in fantasy than accept reality. Biff is the person who wants to save his father and lead the family into a better direction.
Willy is so focused on Biff that he ignores Happy. What kind father is that? It’s clear that any parent would prefer their child over another. That was my mother in my childhood. She made sure to make my older sibling happy and gave her extra food. Happy follows Willy because he wants to earn the same respect and attention as Biff from his dad. Happy has felt this neglect since he was a young teenager and now feels the urge to satisfy him. Happy is trying to get Willy’s attention by becoming popular and well liked. Happy still wants to make his father happy and impress him as an adult.
Willy Loman’s image is not easily manipulated to fit into some sort of grandeur. He is not a good dad either. Besides, Willy spends time comparing him to successful people and not working to improve himself. It is safe to assume that Willy’s sons would be less successful if Willy had a good reputation and was well liked. He is so enamored with his own fantasies that his family’s happiness means less to him. The setting of “Death Of A Salesman” is difficult to interpret. Willy Loman’s sons were not role models for him. He committed suicide rather than face the truth.
