Death of A Salesman :: essays research papers

Amidst Willys late-night yelling, Charley, a neighbor and friend of the family, enters from outside, wondering what only the commotion is about. He starts a card game with Willy in order to specify him down. Out of friendship, he offers Willy a job after hearing about his problems as a salesman. Willy is quick to take offense at this offer, saying that he already has a good job. Later, when Willy brings up the subject of Biff, Charley advises Willy to give up on his son. When a deposit bottle is broken you dont get your nickel back, Charley asserts. moreover Willy is not willing to let go of his illusions about his sons potential for success. Soon, Willy begins to confuse Charley with his brother, Ben. This leads to a flashback of sorts to a scene with Willy and Ben. It seems Ben and his father left to make their fortunes sometime in Willys early childhood, leaving Willy and his mother behind. Its obvious that Willy idealizes Ben because he has made it in the world. Willy is remo rseful that he didnt take his brother up on his offer to fall out his business in Alaska. That was an opportunity of a lifetime, Willy admits. Yet Ben has little time to spend with his little brother. Willy, excited that Ben is there to give advice to his sons, forces Biff and Happy to perceive to their Uncle Ben, hoping that they will learn his business techniques and strike it rich themselves. In this way, Willy sees the potential success of his sons as the only remaining hope of being successful himself. It all seems quite simple to Ben. He tells Biff and Happy, Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich. This ideal, however, proves to be unachievable by Willy and his sons when Willys desperate struggle for success and happiness is never achieved.