Willy fails what he desires to achieve, so starts to try and live the American dream through his sons. When Ben returns rich, he represents all that Willy wishes the boys to be, yet his actions in the past are not firmly established. All Willy really cares about is that Ben has the money and social status to seem successful in society; not how he got there, all he knows is he must live up to the standards set by Ben. I think Ben shows that you must define success for yourself else it will define you. Ben took a chance, decided how he wanted to become rich and achieved it. Willy defines success based on what other people have and they are viewed, therefore not being a personal achievement, but fake values and worth. The need and desperation for success takes over, which is when the lies and deceit begin.
After Ben’s death, Willy starts to envisage Ben as his subconscious voice of reasoning due to his admiration of Ben. Of course we as the reader know that it isn’t Ben voicing his opinions on Willy’s problems. It is Willy’s mind arguing with himself and telling him what the right thing to do is, and trying to justify his own views and decisions. This shows us that Ben is a very close, admired and special character to Willy because he sees him as such good guidance. This suggests that Willy thinks Ben is the one person who understands him best, and is most like him, yet Ben and Willy are complete opposites. Ben is a rich successful happy man, while Willy is a deceitful struggling failure just trying to live up to the standards of his older brother.
Charley is the perfect example of someone who has fulfilled completely the American dream. He has worked hard all his life, been honest, and is now a success. Willy envies this, but cannot understand how he did. He is confused as his own formula for success has broken down, though he would never admit this. Charley helps break down Willy’s belief that to be well-liked is the most important quality in a salesman, and that it is in fact hard work and skill (qualities that charley evidently has shown throughout his career).
When Willy’s career begins to fail, charley, being a decent man, is the one to help him out. He lends him $50 per week so Willy can pretend to Linda that the money is his salary. This is intended to help but in the long run, this probably adds to the problems leading to his downfall. Willy frequently lies to Linda about the amount he earns, when he in fact doesn’t earn a penny. With the emphasis of success and happiness being placed on the way others think of you, when everybody else thinks he is still earning, he is still considered a working man, not necessarily a success but not a failure. Therefore he is satisfied because the views of others are acceptable, so it remains that nothing is done about his lack of money and business. If people had realised he was a phoney earlier, it may have pushed him to work harder to gain success.
Charley, along with Ben, seem to be the reason for Willy’s constant need for approval and respect. He lies to his family about his popularity in different cities and various stories of how well liked he is, to try and match the popularity of Charley and Ben. Charley is envied by Willy, which leads to lies, and more lies. Charley can see Willy and Biffs faults clearly, but is unable to help them.
We notice that Charley brings out the proud side in Willy. He tries to meet Charley’s standards so builds a metaphorical barrier around himself to sustain his dignity, and he becomes proud, despite financially and emotionally needing to give in. Charley offers Willy a job, which could’ve made a success out of it him. He could’ve been in a stable job; exactly what he needed. But his pride takes over and he rejects the job. His abundance of pride is one of Willie’s tragic flaws and Charley’s character helps us to see that.
Bernard is a fine student and a hard worker, taking after his father Charley. He is teased continually by Biff and Happy, and even Willy for being such a ‘swot’, which turns out to be ironic for all of them later in life.
“What’re you talking about? With scholarships to three universities they’re gonna flunk him?”
“But I heard Mr Birnbaum say –”
“Don’t be a pest, Bernard! (To his boys) What an anaemic!”
They taunt him for worrying about school and his future, which is interesting that we see Bernard later on in the play as a successful Lawyer because it frustrates willy that Bernard has achieved all of his dreams and doesn’t seem to have the ‘sparkling personality’ he and his sons have. Bernard is a constant reminder of what biff could/should have been, if biff had taken his advice. It is a complete turnaround from their teenage years, when Biff was popular and Bernard was the unpopular one that was taunted and not accepted; whereas now Bernard is the success and Biff will not be accepted (by people and different careers).
Bernard is a symbol for the hard work needed to achieve the American dream. His presence clearly shows how differently Biff and Happy have been brought up to Bernard.
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All of these three characters affect Willy greatly, whether it be his dreams, parenting or morals. The function of these characters is to enhance our background knowledge of willy which means we gain an improved understanding of him and what has influenced him. They add other outside opinions and views to a play very focused on one family with all the same disillusions. Each of these men show wisdom, intelligence and self-knowledge; all qualities Willy lacks, which provides an interesting contrast. The great success of these characters helps to highlight the tragic flaws that willy possesses, and will cause his failure and downfall.
