Willy Loman, the protagonist in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, is no more the victimizer of his family than he is a victim himself. Miller explores the possibilities of cyclical mental abuse passed on through familial generations, resulting in failure and confusion of one's priorities and goals. Biff, Willy's eldest son, was the victim of too much love and attention. Happy, the youngest boy was victimized by having received no attention and very little love. Willy's wife, Linda, is a victim of her husband's overzealous promises and lack of execution. Although Willy inflicted such calamity upon his family, there were similar conditions produced in his childhood that were responsible for his clouded judgement, causing him to fall prey to his own family's faulty beliefs, values and treatment. Raised during turn-of-the-century America, Willy is seduced, like many, by the American dream of capitalistic success. Above all, his worst enemy is time as he is a victim of old......
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Approximate Word Count: 2116
Approximate Pages: 9 (260 words per double-spaced page) |