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