Death of a Salesman- Willy's Escape
Death of a Salesman- Willy's EscapeNo one has a perfect life. Everyone has conflicts that they must face sooner or later. The ways in which people deal with these
personal conflicts can differ as much as the people themselves. Some
insist on ignoring the problem as long as possible, while some attack
the problem to get it out of the way. Willy Lowman's technique in
Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, leads to very severe
consequences. Willy never really does anything to help the situation,
he just escapes into the past, whether intentionally or not, to
happier times were problems were scarce. He uses this escape as if it
were a narcotic, and as the play progresses, the reader learns that it
can be a dangerous drug, because of it's addictiveness and it's
deadliness.
The first time Willy is seen lapsing off into the past is when he
encounters Biff after arriving home. The conversation between Willy
and Linda reflects Willy's disappointment in Biff and what he has
become, which is, for the most part, a bum. After failing to deal
adequately with his feelings, he escapes into a time when things were
better for his family. It is not uncommon for one to think of better
times at low points in their life in order to cheer themselves up so
that they are able to deal with the problems they encounter, but Willy
Lowman takes it one step further. His refusal to accept reality is so
strong that in his mind he is transported back in time to relive one
of the happier days of his life. It was a time when no one argued,
Willy and Linda were younger, the financial situation was less of a
burden, and Biff and Happy enthusiastically welcomed their father back
home from a long road trip. Willy's need for the "drug" is satiated
and he is reassured that everything will turn out okay, and the family
will soon be as happy as it was in the good old days.
The next flashback occurs during a discussion between Willy and
Linda. Willy is depressed about his inability to make enough money to
support his family, his looks, his personality and the success of his
friend and neighbor, Charley. "My God if business doesn't pick up , I
don't know what I'm gonna do!" (36) is the comment made by Willy after
Linda figures the difference between the family's income and their
expenses. Before Linda has a chance to offer any words of consolation
Willy blurts out "I'm Fat. I'm very--foolish to look at, Linda" (37).
In doing this he has depressed himself so much that he is visited by a
woman with whom he is having an affair. The woman's purpose in this
point of the play is to cheer him up. She raises his spirits by
telling him how funny and loveable he is, saying "You do make me...
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