Death of a Salesman: Willy Loman: The Tragic Hero

In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, a father named Willy Loman eventually commits suicide over losing his dreams and aspirations of him and his elder son, Biff, becoming successful. In the course of a single day he comes to realize that the American Dream, which he has pursued for 40 years, has failed him. Willy's relentless, but naive pursuit of success has not only affected his self-worth but has dominated the lives of his …

…need to `sell' himself to his family, who loves him despite his failings. His suicide, an act in defiance of the system, which until now has defeated him, is also a tragic attempt to salvage something of his dream. According to Miller, it is this readiness to lay down his life to secure his dream that makes Willy a tragic yet heroic figure and one to whom, in Linda's words, ``attention must be finally paid''.