Prompt Revision #3: Open Prompt #4

1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.

                In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman is seen through different viewpoints.  Throughout the play readers feel anger and frustration towards Willy Loman due to his immoral and evil actions, but at other times readers feel guilt and maybe even sympathy towards him.  Willy Loman is a complex character who can evoke the desired emotion from readers when appropriate.  Readers feel anger towards Willy when they find out about his affair and his constant lack of authority when it comes to his son Biff, but readers feel sympathy when they learn about Willy’s situation, and his immense sense of pride.

                At the beginning of the play readers find out that Willy Loman has been having “flashbacks” that readers and his sons blame on Willy just being crazy.  As the play goes on Linda Loman explains that Willy’s salary has been taken away and he’s solely working on commission, Willy has been traveling hundreds of miles per week, and he is suicidal.  At this point Arthur Miller evokes feelings of sympathy from the readers, and also from Willy’s sons who now see Willy in a new way.  Miller conveniently added this piece of information right after readers find out Willy is having an affair, so they don’t feel like he’s only a bad guy.

                Adultery is definitely seen as an immoral action, and Willy Loman is guilty for cheating on his wife with another woman while he is out on his business trips.  Readers find out that this affair may be more than just for fun when the woman says “I’ll put you right through to the buyers.”  This means that Willy could be using her just to get ahead in the business world, and that would just cause more anger towards Willy.  Linda’s kind and understanding attitude towards Willy angers readers even more, because Willy is taking Linda for granted, and going off to fool around with another woman.

            Throughout the play readers learn that Will has a great sense of pride and doesn’t want his family to see him as a failure.  This idea is emphasized when Willy lost his job, and wouldn’t accept a new job from Charley.  At this point readers may be frustrated with Willy, but at the same time they would feel sympathy, and some readers may even be able to relate to what Willy’s going through.

                Lastly Willy has no sense of morals when it comes to his favorite son; Biff.  Biff is a thief and doesn’t care about school, but Willy has no sense of authority, because he believes Biff will get ahead in the real world due to his looks and likeability.  At the beginning of the play Biff steals a football in one of Willy’s flashbacks and when Willy finds out he says “Sure, he’s gotta practice with a regulation ball, doesn’t he?”  This just shows that Willy doesn’t have a good sense of morals and believes Biff can do no wrong; this action evokes anger from readers because Willy isn’t acting as the authority figure, but rather as Biff’s friend.  Also when Biff tells Willy that his math teacher is only failing him because he doesn’t like Biff because Biff imitated him in front of the whole class Willy just asks if the other students thought if it was funny.  This proves that Willy doesn’t discipline his sons for their bad behavior, but just wants them to be well liked.

                Arthur Miller did a great job creating the complex character of Willy Loman who manages to be evil, yet still have readers cheering him on due to the sympathy they feel.  Willy Loman is a very different character who manages to be loved and hated at the same time.