What Is Willy Loman's Hope For The Future

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Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a play about a mediocre salesman named Willy Loman and his failed hopes for the future. Willy Loman is a prideful man who had little guidance in adolescence, which leads to a difficult time succeeding later in life. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is defined by the characters around him. Through Willy’s interactions with his son, Biff, the audience can see Willy’s fruitless aspirations. In Act One, during flashbacks with Biff, who is a star athlete and well liked at his school, he and Willy’s interactions are optimistic. It is obvious that young Biff adores his father and that Willy is extremely proud of him. Willy remains hopeful for Biff’s future and believes wholeheartedly that Biff will be successful.…show more content…
On page thirty-two, the audience meets the Loman’s geeky neighbor, young Bernard, for the first time when he comes into their yard to tell them that Biff needs to study math. Immediately, young Bernard is met with “What’re you looking so anemic about,” and “Don’t be a pest Bernard,” when he brings up that Biff might not graduate high school if he does not study. Willy mocks young Bernard for working hard, and parades his son’s built stature and high social standing. After he leaves, Willy says “He’s liked, but not well liked,” followed by the advice to his sons, “…Be liked and you will never want.” Straight off the meeting of adolescent Bernard, the audience is presented with the fact that Willy strongly links being well liked with success. Although, when present day Bernard arrives on page ninety-one, it is clearly shown that Willy’s idea is wrong. Present day Bernard is an unquestionably successful lawyer set to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court, and will be staying with friends who have their own tennis court. When Willy hears that Bernard’s friends have a tennis court, his first response was to say that they must be nice people. It is repeatedly illustrated through encounters with Bernard that even when proven wrong, Willy associates being well liked with
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