This is where the hope of the American Dream comes into the play. Willy is ambitious in wanting Biff to succeed, in the way that he know he did not but does not want to come to terms with. Will seems to be proud of what he does, even though it does not pay a lot of money, and when he knows that Biff is not doing so well he returns back to the past where he remembers the good football days. It is as if Willy returns to the past in times of trouble, where he seeks for happiness in the past, whereas the present has not even come yet.
Willy cannot understand why his two boys are not successful, and this brings a lot of conflict into the play, which is another reason for returning to the past. Biff was popular and was excellent at football, and everything was good for them, even Willy was being paid for what he did. The main point is that at that time there was no argument between him and Biff, and we find out later in the play that Willy has had an affair and Biff knows about it. Therefore going back to the past makes it all better, because Willy and Biff are still ok with each other.
There is such a bond between Willy and Biff in the past that Willy condones the theft that Biff has carried out with the ball that he brought back.
“ sure he’s gotta practise with a regulation ball, doesn’t he? Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative”
Willy misguides his two boys into what is wrong to believing it is right just because he wants to succeed in the “American dream”
Also Willy enjoys exaggerating things to make him feel more successful, instead of coming to terms that he is a failure.
The flashback that he has is based on the time where Biff flunked maths, and Willy thanks God that they are not like Bernard, the term used “Adonises”.
Another visit is Willy is talking to Linda and she is mending stockings, where there is a link between the stockings and the woman, who we learn that Willy has had an affair with. However as Linda is precisouly tying to comfort him, her laugh is mixed merged in with the Womans laugh, which is considered more as a mocking laugh. Willy feels flattered once the woman has come onto the stage, and talking to him making him feel popular and over confident with himself. And as she leaves the room, she mentions “I’ll put you right through to the buyers” its almost as if he was with the woman to gain his success. He is trying to sell himself , but its just not possible because as Willy has said before there is not much to sell, therefore trying it this way would allow him to move up in the success ladder, but not all that simple.
“ I’m fat. I’m very- foolish to look at, Linda.”
When the audience first encounters Ben, he represents the success that Willy is striving for. Before the audience learns of the success that Ben encountered in Africa, they see him on the stage accompanied by an idyllic musical motif similar to that of Willy's father. His father also symbolizes success. However, it is soon clear that Ben actually represents the death that Willy will inevitably encounter. Ben appears to the audience at times when Willy is feeling most low and possibly contemplating suicide.
Ben also criticises Willy when talking about his father, again showing success that Willy could never make.
“ with one gadget he made more in a week than a man like you could make in a lifetime”
Throughout his visit with Ben, Ben repeatedly say “ when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty one. And, by God, I was rich!” Willy only remembers this which Ben said, hence the reason it is repeated many times. It could be that these words were going round in Willys head, showing just how much better Ben was than him, also teaching his boys this way of thinking.
Willy cares a lot about his car and on numerous occasions brings the subject of it when teaching his boys on how successful he is. The car showed status just like the refrigerator that they have, although are not able to pay enough money for it.
In the past he has mentioned that the “Chevrolet, Linda, is the greatest care ever built” he is dependant on the car.
“I can park my car in any street in New England” this could also be reflected onto Willy, he is trying to persuade the everywhere they want him, he is successful, and due to his successfulness they allow his car. If his car is accepted then so is he. However now that he does not have the “Chevrolet” then he has no personality either.
After all his flashbacks his last one leads him to finally do what he has been wanting to do for a long time. Willy, has become obsolete, living in the past and not facing the present tells us that he is running away from accepting he is a failure, from all the problems that have been created.
