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Finally, there is a sense of release or uplifting at the end of the play. Linda's comment, "We're free" (Miller 1054) seems to encapsulate the family's struggles and inner turmoil. Willy has died in a blaze of glory, utterly convinced he is doing the right thing, and perhaps that has made his last moments happier than they have been in years. He will never know he failed again, and failed his family in the most permanent way. However, there was so much argument, turmoil, and strife in the family, perhaps removing himself was really the thing the family needed. There is a feeling, even though it may be implied, that the family will come together as a result of Willy's death, and that they will survive. There is also a feeling that the two sons will have some impetus to make something of themselves, even if it is because they fear ending up just like their father did.
Biff is the only one to voice what they all know or suspect, and this illustrates how much Willy's lying and secrecy has shaped the family. This is his legacy, a family that distrusts him and cannot speak their minds, for fear they will hurt him, and this vividly illustrates how tragic he is. Biff says, "He's going to kill himself, don't you know that?" (Miller 1047). Yet, knowing this, Biff does nothing to stop Willy, showing his alienation from his father. It also shows that he may not believe Willy will actually do it, showing the contempt he has for his father and his failed dreams. Biff has the power to change the situation, but he will not, and Willy's tragedy is...
He says near the end of the play, "He had the wrong dreams. All, all wrong" (Miller 1054). This is another allusion to the tragedy that is Willy Loman. He leaves behind a legacy of broken dreams, broken sons, and poverty. While he thought he was doing the heroic and noble thing by sacrificing himself for the good of his family, he even got that wrong, and the allusion is that the insurance company will not pay out, because Willy's death was a suicide.
In conclusion, Willy is truly a tragic hero because he lived a tragic and senseless life. He does not understand how to be successful at his job, his family is in turmoil, he cannot monetarily support them, and he has no prospects for the future. He is a pathetic figure who is somehow sympathetic and likeable at the same time. His life is a tragedy, but his death may actually raise him to hero status, because it may bring his family closer together, and instill in them a drive to make something of themselves, so they can throw off the legacy of their father. Willy's death is a failure, the consummate failure in a life filled with disappointments and lost dreams, but the fact that he dies is not what makes him tragic. His death may be the most heroic thing he has ever done, because of the consequences with his family.
References
Miller, Arthur. "Death of a Salesman." Masters of Modern Drama. Haskell M. Block and Robert G. Shedd, ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1962. 1020-1054.
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