Willie's Dream, Reivew on Death of a Salesman

In English class, I followed the teacher to read "Death of a salesman". Although the story takes place in a distant era, it makes me feel inexplicably familiar. There is no doubt that Willie was a tragic figure who ended up taking his own life in extreme ways for the $20,000 insurance payout. But what did he do wrong?

He wants to make money, live in a big house, drive a new car, and works tirelessly for it, not just to satisfy his own vanity, after all, the economic foundation is one of the foundations of a happy family. He wants his children to be successful and likable, which is the unanimous wish of parents all over the world. He's having an affair, and he's proud of it, but also guty, and he's not a hopelessly bad man. Such a strong and weak little person seems to live on the corner of the next street, taking the same subway to and from get off work every day, and buying a cheap lunch at a fast food restaurant at noon. He is our colleague, neighbor, and ourselves. In any city, there are countless Willies who are rushing about to make a living carrying second-rate famous-brand handbags bought at a discount.

Willie's desire for success may be just a little more than others, and it is this little bit that makes him unable to face failure, the heavy mental pressure makes him unable to work, and unable to communicate well with the people around him. Ben in the fantasy world is the representative of this desire, "as long as I go out, I can make a fortune". He embraced this longing and passed it all on to his children, and also perpetuated the sorrow of the next generation.

As a result, a little person who can be seen everywhere, because of a little personal weakness and a little bit of untimely birth, has created a tragedy that costs his life. This is not a fictional story, this is a fate that each of us may face. Who does not have a little vanity and a little unwillingness to fail? Who can really let go of their smart heart even if they hang a "rare and confused" banner in the living room arty? Countless commentary articles analyze Willy's past and present life, social background and literary value. However, facing this kind of fate that can be seen but cannot be avoided, perhaps he can only shake his head silently. This is perhaps the most moving part of the play.

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Willy Loman: My father lived many years in Alaska. He was an adventurous man! We've got quite a little streak of self-reliance in our family, Howard. I thought I'd go out with my older brother and try to locate him and maybe even settle in the North with the old man. And I was almost decided to go - when I met a salesman in the Parker House. His name was Dave Singleman. And he was eighty-four years old, and he'd drummed merchandise in thirty-one states. And old Dave, he'd go up to his room, y'understand, put on his green velvet slippers - I'll never forget - and pick up the phone and call the buyers, without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living. And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career that a man could want. Because what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up his phone and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people? You know, when - when he died, by the way he died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers in the smoker of the NewYork, New Haven and Hartford, going into Boston - when he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral. Things were sad on a lotta trains - for months after that. You see, in those days there was personality in it, Howard. There was respect and comradeship and gratitude in it. Today, it's all cut and dried, and there's no chance for bringing friendship to bear or personality. You see what I mean? They don't know me anymore.
Willy Loman: I'm talking about your father! There were promises made across this desk! You mustn't tell me you've got people to see. I put thirty-four years into this firm, Howard, and now I can't pay my insurance! You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit!

Willie's Dream

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