Today, this is the situation with many people. If someones life isn't how they want it to be, they go and attempt suicide. Obviously, that's not the right thing to do. Not everything will turn out how you want it to be. People wont always like or accept you, but you have to accept that. That's something Willy should have done any maybe he would have realized that his life was worth living.
Willy Loman's family wasn't the typical American dream family. He was caught cheating on his wife by his son, he hardly had enough money to survive, and his job and his health were going down the drain. His life was a challenge, most peoples are, but I think he just had to try a little harder. As to why he would go out cheating on his wife, i think their was a lack of respect. When Biff asked him why he did it, he said was just lonely. I feel that he just didn't care or respect Linda enough.
After that incident, I don't think Willy could face communicating to his sons the way he did before, when they were younger. He probably felt ashamed he got caught by his own son. Also, Willy being the father, maybe he felt he should have been a good role model for his sons. But after Biff seen his real side, maybe Willy didn't feel worthy enough to be a role model, a father.
Willy pushed a lot of things aside, including his affair and his suicide attempts. He didn't go to Linda, Biff, or Happy to talk with them or ask them for help. There were many secrets and there wasn't enough communication. I don't think he wanted to deal with them, or as a bigger picture, deal with life.
After reading this, I would like readers to comment mainly on how, and if the story had some kind of flow to it. I'm mainly concerned that it doesn't just sound like a bunch of topics jumbled together.
I agree with your comment that Willy didn't want to deal with his life and/or his family. So the easy way out was taking his own life. Did he think his family would miss him? It's sad to think that someone has to leave this world because they're completely unhappy.
ReplyDeleteYou did a nice job on your writing piece & made some very good points.
Alana, I think this flowed rather well. It is difficult to discuss a whole play (or even part of one) in a single message board post, and I think you've pointed to a number of big issues that Miller examines through his play including Willy's self-worth, his communication with his wife and sons, and his own ambition. Next year, I will ask you to write some polished essays based on these weekly commentaries. I think that a post like this shows a process of thinking through your reading of the play in ways that will lead to more formal analytic and interpretive writing.
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