Willy "The Tragic Hero" Loman
Nicholas Clemente
November 6, 2013
Willy Loman is undoubtedly a very proud man. How he sees his life and how it really is, is very different. Willy’s pride eventually leads him to his own demise, causing him to be the tragic hero of today. From his pride, his dementia, and his good intentions from his suicide all contribute to Willy being a tragic hero.
Pride is Willy Loman’s middle name and it is his tragic flaw. Because of this Willy chose a life that focuses only on sales. It seemed that Willy only wanted to be successful financially but would only remain middle class. Ambition drove Willy forward in attempt to gain the finer things in life yet; he could barely pay the mortgage on his house.
It is easy to feel pity for Willy Loman. The first encounter the reader has with Willy immediately shows someone who has lost the battle. He’s emotionless and a complete wreck of a person the moment he walks through the door. Willy is a vulnerable old man just waiting for a big break he deserves but never gets. Toward the end of the play, Willy goes to see his boss Howard. Willy explains to Howard that he would like to have a job in town; this conversation ends badly for Willy when Howard tells him that he can no longer represent the company. Willy worked for that company for thirty plus years, but was treated like it was his first day.
Willy suffers from dementia throughout the play, causing him to argue, talk, and laugh with people who aren’t even there. Ben, Willy’s older brother, is someone Willy often talks to when he is experiencing dementia. Ben talks to Willy about becoming rich a lot. Ben always says,”When I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich." Ben is Willy’s role model and is one of the reasons why Willy continues to work hard.
Willy’s final action is suicide. After arguing with his son Biff about his future, Biff breaks down crying. He tells Willy...