Death Of A Salesman :: essays research papers

No one has a perfect life. Everyone has conflicts that they must verbal expression sooner or later. The ways in which people deal with thesepersonal conflicts can differ as much as the people themselves. Some aver on ignoring the problem as long as possible, while some attack the problem to get it forth of the way. Willy Lowmans technique in Arthur Millers play destruction of a Salesman, leads to very severe consequences. Willy never really does anything to help the situation, he just escapes into the past, whether intentionally or not, to happier cartridge holders were problems were scarce. He uses this escape as if it were a narcotic, and as the play progresses, the reader learns that it can be a dangerous drug, because of its addictiveness and its deadliness.The first time Willy is seen lapsing off into the past is when he encounters Biff afterwards arriving home. The conversation between Willy and Linda reflects Willys disappointment in Biff and what he has become, which i s, for the most part, a bum. After failing to deal adequately with his feelings, he escapes into a time when things were better for his family. It is not uncommon for one to think of better times at low points in their life in order to cheer themselves up so that they are able to deal with the problems they encounter, but Willy Lowman takes it one step further. His refusal to accept reality is so strong that in his mind he is transported defend in time to relive one of the happier days of his life. It was a time when no one argued, Willy and Linda were younger, the financial situation was less of a burden, and Biff and elated enthusiastically welcomed their father back home from a long road trip. Willys need for the "drug" is satiated and he is reassured that everything will turn out okay, and the family will soon be as happy as it was in the good old days.The next flashback occurs during a discussion between Willy and Linda. Willy is depressed more or less his inability to make enough money to support his family, his looks, his personality and the success of his friend and neighbor, Charley. "My God if business doesnt pick up , I dont know what Im gonna do" (36) is the comment made by Willy after Linda figures the difference between the familys income and their