| The play, Death Of A Salesman, is a | | | | suffered. |
| tragedy not only in the liberal sense of | | | | When Willy Loman finally realizes to |
| the Greeks, who thought that any play | | | | sell the real self (not just the mask), |
| that was serious and dignified was | | | | by actually dying for the money, he is |
| tragic, but also because the main | | | | not there to share the joy. Willy says |
| character of Willy Loman qualifies as a | | | | "Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or |
| tragic figure. | | | | another we were going to make it, Biff |
| The stories of monarchs are stirring, | | | | and I!". This is true and tragic irony. |
| but the story of the common man Willy | | | | The true value conflict for Willy Loman |
| Loman is more stirring because his | | | | is that of materialism versus inner |
| problem of "having the wrong dream" is | | | | happiness. Willy Loman could have had |
| more alarming because it can happen to | | | | inner happiness had he chosen to follow |
| anyone. For a man to marry his mother | | | | his heart, by doing carpentry work and |
| such as Oedipus did is much more remote | | | | living in the country, instead of |
| than for a common man to make the wrong | | | | chasing after money for its own sake and |
| career choice. | | | | living in the city to do it. |
| Willy Loman works hard to provide for | | | | Willy did have the wrong dream. Working |
| his family and to give his son Biff a | | | | with his hands, as Ben says, is "Not |
| good start in life. Willy believes that | | | | like an appointment at all. A diamond |
| if he keeps selling he will be liked | | | | is rough and hard to the touch.". Willy |
| and, therefore, rich. Willy says | | | | needed to work at something, such as |
| "...It's not what you say; it's how you | | | | carpentry, that he could put his hands |
| say it - because personality always wins | | | | on. He needed to create, but was |
| the day.". Willy has been selling | | | | stifled by his environment. He would |
| himself by putting on his personality | | | | have been much happier working with his |
| everyday of his whole life. Charlie | | | | hands and living where the earth was |
| tells Willy that "The only thing you got | | | | open and clean. |
| in this world is what you can sell. And | | | | We can learn a lot from the play Death |
| the funny thing is that you're a | | | | Of A Salesman. It is so important to do |
| salesman, and you don't know that.". | | | | what you love to do. Make sure you're |
| If Willy had sold his carpenter work he | | | | selling the right product or service and |
| might have been more successful, but, | | | | also be proud of it. Do your due |
| instead, he has been suffering a | | | | diligence including checking out the |
| downward spiral by trying to sell his | | | | forum and calling the owner before you |
| personality. The irony is that he has | | | | sign up. If you're working at home it's |
| wasted his life by trying to sell the | | | | important to have the right tools, |
| wrong product. He worked so hard to | | | | programs, and services at your disposal |
| gain wealth "...on the basis of being | | | | so that you can really enjoy what you're |
| liked!...". that his own family | | | | doing. You don't need to "die trying". |