|
|
|
|
|
death of a dumb saslesman
|
|
|
The first important thing to note is the author’s choice to name it a‘ Requiem’ rather than‘ epilogue’. The definition of Requiem in‘ The concise Oxford dictionary’ is‘ special Mass for repose of souls of the dead’. This really reveals what main purpose the author had in mind for this end chapter. The Requiem serves as a tribute to Willy Loman. Sympathy is evoked and reasons for his behaviour are given. Charley gives the central speech–‘ Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman has got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.’ Any blame or anger at Willy is counteracted. It echoes Linda earlier in the play‘ But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid.’ It is made absolutely certain that Willy is sympathised with rather than cursed. Though Biff criticises Willy and argues with him, he still respects him and is compassionate–‘ A fine, troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince’. The dramatic car crash at the end of the previous scene would be a violent ending, and would leave us with many questions. Before he kills himself it looks like things are on their way to getting better, as if Willy realises the importance of himself in the family. We can see that Willy is killing himself to help Biff–‘ Can you imagine that magnificence with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket?’. Its ironic that Willy commits suicide to further Biff’s career when it serves to finish it, but it convinces Happy, the son who was always second best, to carry on like his father. We know that Biff has no need for the money, as the things he appreciates in life are free. He thinks that his family will be thankful–‘ Ben, he’ll worship me for it!’ when we know they won’t. Without the Requiem we wouldn’t know how they would react– if Biff would aspire to be like his father, if they would understand him or forgive him. The Requiem is an assertion of a vaguely happy ending, with hope in the form of Biff. With the Requiem we know that Willy’s suicide just convinced Biff further of the danger of the American dream. Another point that is underlined in the Requiem is the unsuitability of his dreams. Though in the play it is mentioned that Willy enjoyed using his hands, it is not fully recognised how much until the Requiem. Willy never seemed to be happy or inspired enough to be a truly successful salesman, but‘ he was a happy man with a batch of cement’. Happiness is essential to succeed as a salesman–‘ Riding on a smile and a shoeshine’. We wonder if Willy had chosen another path and not‘ had the wrong dreams. All, all wrong’ whether the story would be a happier one. All the characters except, significantly, Happy recognise this. The Requiem emphasises how Willy didn’t really succeed on any level– socially, professionally or personally. The aspect of‘ success’ is a central theme in the play. The notion of the American Dream’s commercial success versus personal success and happiness crops up many times. Willy was not true to himself, and so was not successful. He was always in competition -‘ I’m always in a race with the junkyard!’‘ the man who creates personal interest is the man who gets ahead’.
|
|
|
|
Still Can't Find What Your Looking For? Then Try a Essay Search!
|
