It is only at the end of the play that Biff admits he has been a 'phony' too, just like Willy. Willy's sons, Biff and Happy, adopt Willy's habit of denying or manipulating reality and practice it all of their lives, much to their detriment. He considers himself famous as a result of his son's pride in him.
In this scene in the past, Willy can hardly wait to tell the story to his buyers. Instead of acknowledging that he is not a well-known success, Willy retreats into the past and chooses to relive past memories and events in which he is perceived as successful.įor example, Willy's favorite memory is of Biff's last football game because Biff vows to make a touchdown just for him. Instead Willy strives for his version of the American dream - success and notoriety - even if he is forced to deny reality in order to achieve it. Willy Loman is incapable of accepting the fact that he is a mediocre salesman. The three major themes within the play are denial, contradiction, and order versus disorder.Įach member of the Loman family is living in denial or perpetuating a cycle of denial for others. The play is a montage of memories, dreams, confrontations, and arguments, all of which make up the last 24 hours of Willy Loman's life.
Death of a Salesman addresses loss of identity and a man's inability to accept change within himself and society.
