Willy Loman's Fate in Death of a Salesman: Victim or Culprit?

Willy Loman's Idealism and Unraveling in Act I

One of the most masterful aspects of Death of a Salesman is the extent to which playwright Arthur Miller leaves ambiguous the question of Willy Loman's culpability for his own condition. On one hand, Willy is part of a capitalist system that values people solely upon their ability to demonstrate a profit for their superiors and maintain the goodwill of their colleagues. Loman is not well-liked enough, and as soon as his sales figures begin to slip he is ostracized by his business associates. According to Willy, he has "gotta be at it ten, twelve hours a day. Other men — I don't know — they do it easier. I don't know why — I can't stop myself — I talk too much" (Miller 24).

Act I makes it clear that Willy's idealistic vision of success within capitalism involves get-rich-quick schemes rather than genuine effort. It also establishes his suicidal ideation, his current career difficulties, and his unraveling psyche. When Biff was young, Willy paid little attention to his son's academics and instead hoped Biff could attend college on a sports scholarship — a shortcut explicitly endorsed by Willy, who turned a blind eye to his son's foolishness. Now both sons appear to be drifting: Happy is dishonest at work, and Biff has never held down a steady job. The lack of values among his sons underlines how Willy is, at least in part, responsible for his own fate, given that he does not seem to possess a core set of values but merely reacts to the world around him. Eventually, however, that world passes him by.

Willy is unable to appreciate what he already has; he is always looking for more. He even cheated on his wife, as revealed in his exchanges with the "Woman" for whom he buys silk stockings, while his wife Linda cannot afford new ones. Willy harbored big dreams rooted in the capitalist ideals he saw around him, but he never pursued them in any effective or honest way.

Capitalism and Complicity in Act II

Act II of Death of a Salesman stresses the extent to which the capitalist system has victimized Willy Loman, while also emphasizing that Willy was complicit in the effects that system had on his fate. Despite the many years he worked as a salesman, Willy is brutally cast aside when his numbers no longer satisfy the company. "I put thirty-four years into this firm, Howard, and now I can't pay my insurance!" he says (Miller 58). Howard tells Willy to ask his sons for help, but his sons are in even more dire financial straits than Willy himself — a direct consequence of his ineffective parenting. The firm is cruel and unfair to Willy, yet Willy is also complicit in his own destruction.

This complicity is evident in his attitude toward Biff. Biff could easily have earned a scholarship to a leading college had he put in minimal academic effort, but he chose not to, throwing his future away out of disgust at discovering his father's infidelity. Willy's actions clearly demonstrate that his choices have serious consequences for those around him, which in turn rebound upon his own life. Although Willy is affected by circumstances beyond his control, he also bears responsibility for the attitudes he holds and the ways his choices negatively shape the lives of his loved ones. He constantly fixates on unimportant fantasies — such as the mythical Ben's urging: "There's a new continent at your doorstep, William. You could walk out rich. Rich!" — while neglecting the real problems within his family (Miller 62).

There are many negative aspects of capitalism in America, and even if Willy had been a good father and salesman, it is possible his firm might have let him go once he aged. But the fact that he bought into capitalism's lies — that wealth is attainable without integrity or hard work — cannot be excused, nor can his failure to parent his sons or remain faithful to Linda.

Linda and Biff: Support and Uncomfortable Truth

The only character who gives complete and unwavering support to Willy throughout the play is his wife Linda. When his sons show disrespect or Willy doubts his abilities as a provider and father, Linda consistently steps in to protect him. To some extent, however, she unintentionally works against him, because she enables his delusional behavior and even turns on his sons in his defense: "Get out of here, both of you, and don't come back! I don't want you tormenting him anymore. Go on now, get your things together!" (Miller 90–91).

Biff is the most honest character in relation to his father, but his honesty enrages Willy, who cannot bear uncomfortable truths. "I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you. You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them! I'm one dollar an hour," Biff tells him (Miller 98). Willy clearly craves his son's love and affection, but he cannot accept Biff as he is and constantly tries to impose his own dreams of success on a man who is plainly unhappy working in an office.