Willy Loman - Villain, Victim or hero. What is your view?

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GCSE: ENGLISH LITERATURE

Unit 3: Coursework

Arthur Miller (1915- )

Death Of A Salesman

Willy Loman - Villain, Victim or hero. What is your view?

Willy is a common man. He isn't anything special, nor ever was he. He chose to follow the American dream and he chose to lead the life it gave him. Willy made the American dream his culture, and the American dream made Willy its victim.

The American dream is the belief that through sheer hard work alone, any man can gain professional success and thus receive personal gain (wealth, name goods etc.). Failure to fulfil the American dream, is failure in life. Willy Loman is stuck in a vicious cycle brought on by the American dream. He cannot bring himself to admit that he has failed as a salesman due to his self-pride; therefore he must keep trying to succeed. The problem is, that he will never succeed as a businessman, as he doesn't understand how business works. Willy Loman believes that in order to be a successful man in the business world, you need contacts:

"Be liked and you will never want."

Dave Singleman was