Josh Picker Mr. Blackstone English 11AP 1/17/2023 Willy Loman(s) In Act 1 of Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller establishes that Willy Loman, the main character, is dynamic. Willy’s actions are guided by multiple personalities: different characters within one, each fiercely battling for control of Willy’s life. The war being fought in Willy’s mind is exacerbated by itself; each change of leadership manifests itself in Willy’s actions that harm the people around him. Willy’s true persona is conscious of this, and as he realizes he is losing the people he loves, he grows frustrated and his own true persona is only further corrupted; Willy becomes the person the forces want him to be, not who Willy wants to be. This idea is summed up in the …show more content…
On pages 64 and 65, the angry, grumpy, and stubborn personality fights with the encouraging, lighthearted, and motivated Willy when he gives career advice to Biff. Originally, on page 64, the rigid Willy advises Biff to “talk as little as possible”, to “[not] crack any jokes”, to “Walk in very serious” and that “Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends them money”. Shortly thereafter, on page 65, Willy contradicts himself by advising Biff to “[not] be so modest”, to “Walk in with a big laugh. Don’t look so worried.”, and to “start off with a couple of your… stories to lighten things up…” and to do all this because “personality always wins the day.” The tone of a passage reveals who is winning in Willy’s mind. Originally, the war is being won by the grumpy and strict side of Willy, which suggests that Biff should pitch his idea to his old boss by making himself appear like an upright businessman. This paragraph has a grim tone and is therefore being won by the grumpy side of Willy. Willy wants Biff to “talk as little as possible” and that “everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.” This grumpy tone is …show more content…
But the claim isn’t true, as any claim that claims “everybody” believes anything is false. It’s impossible to have a truly uniform opinion on a matter. Yet, Willy says “everybody” despite that fact because he wants to lift Biff’s spirits. However, right after, he uses the same technique of hyperbole to kill any joy that Biff gained from Willy’s statement. Willy claims that “nobody lends [the kidder] money”. The claim that “nobody” believes anything is once again false as it is, once again, impossible for truly everybody to share a belief. Willy feels the compulsion to shut down any feeling of joy he brings about because he is under the control of his grumpy side, who is exhausted with life. This leadership doesn’t reign for long, though, as just a few lines later, Willy completely changes and suggests that Biff should do the epitomical opposite. To “Start off with a couple of your… stories to lighten things up” and that “personality always wins the day”. This is the precise moment when a shift in tone begins and, therefore, Willy's lighthearted side fights back and takes control of Willy’s mind. Rather than grimly telling Biff to seem like an unauthentic version of himself, an upright