Aurora of a Dream

He is the low man on the totem pole, economically and socially. Linda, his wife, in Act One states, "A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man". Willy represents the average low to middle class American during the 1950's. Willy's house is also a symbol of him as it is described as a small and fragile, seeming against a solid vault of apartment houses. These apartments are the society, uncaring, that surrounds Willy, a little man, boxed in. In Scene One, Willy moans, "The way they boxed us in here. Bricks and windows, windows and bricks". His hopes for a future are boxed inside of him.
             Willy could not be a hero, but in a sense, he is a tragic hero. The reader wants to pity him but doesn't. Willy is a fake. He is unfaithful to his wife and an unsuccessful salesman. Biff, who is a protagonist, knows of Willy's unfaithfulness. Biff shows fury against Linda, who defends Willy. In Act Two, Biff cries out, "You fake! You phony little fake!" Again, Willy is a small man. Biff pleads with him again in Act Two; "Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?" Biff exposes him as a philanderer and a phony but in the end is overtaken by pity, love, and weeps. This is Willy's most powerful achievement, fatherhood. He is loved by his son Biff, embraced and forgiven. Willy is elated that Biff loves him and pronounces in Act Two, "Did you see how he cried to me?" This is odd, it is not that Biff cried for him but he cried to him. .
             Willy tries to justify his wrong doings struggles with the memories that eventually take over his life. Past actions have changed the present drastically. Willy recalls that in the past there was a future as he asks his older Brother Ben, "How do we get back to all the great times?" Willy regards Ben as a man that knew what he wanted, went out and got it. This only adds to Willy's illusion to get ahead in the business world. He feels all one needs is a good appearance and personality.