The Death of Willy Loman

A controversy surrounded Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman. Was Willy a victim of modern American society, or did he simply lack the morals and ethics to achieve success and happiness? Willy Loman is a victim of the American capitalistic machine, as evidenced through his frequently unsure attitudes concerning the importance place on pride and being well liked, as well as the self delusion he displays in his affair and many other aspects of life.
One of the many false, artificial attitudes modern America instills in its citizens is a very fierce pride, in which they cannot accept criticism and are blind to reality. Willy Loman took such a pride in his work but at the same time viewed himself as a failure. Although Willy “was wonderful with his hands”, he saw any profession in carpentry or construction as a poor measure of success, although he was aware that he took pleasure in putting up a ceiling or repairing a porch.
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