Pride In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

Pride Shown in Death of a Salesman In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, there is a constant theme of pride shown throughout. Pride is constantly brought up in various ways in the play and impacts the plotline greatly. Pride is a main point in two scenes in Act One; when Willy borrows money from Charley and won’t tell Linda and when Willy tells Biff to loan $15,000 instead of $10,000. One common idea shown throughout Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is Willy having pride. He wanted to be successful so badly, that when he doesn’t get it, he doesn’t know what to do with himself. When Willy was younger, he had great connections in the areas he would sell. The people respected him and he took great pride in the fact that his name held value with those people. However, as he aged, so did the people he used to sell to. When he isn’t able to make the amount of sales he used to, he doesn’t know

Biff and Happy want to run a sporting goods and equipment store where they will play exhibition games in order to advertise and get the word of their business out to the people. Willy loves the idea and is very proud that Biff, who he thinks has so much potential, has the opportunity to make it big like he wishes he could have. He thinks the “Loman family name” carries so much weight that Biff should ask for lots of money when he and Happy go and try to get a loan. Biff originally says that he wants to ask for about $10,000 to get the business started. However, Willy’s pride gets in the way again as he feels a Loman only asking for $10,000 is almost disrespectful. Willy tells Biff and Happy to ask for $15,000 instead. Willy can’t let his pride go in this situation. His pride could potentially cost Biff and Happy this opportunity if Howard, the man they are asking for the loan from, thinks they are asking for too