Arthur Miller writes a modern tragedy about "The American Dream" and what happens to those who do not attain it. For many "The American dream" provides an inspiration and self-awareness, for Willy Loman it only proved to be his demise. Willy's hopes and aspirations are centered on a false belief of what happiness and success in life is. He believes that achievement in the business world is the ultimate goal, and loses his sanity when he is unable to attain it. Willy's only way of dealing with his failure is extend unrealistic hopes onto his son, which in turn kills him when he realizes he has failed at that as well.
             Willy loses his ability to decipher the past from the present. The realization that he is still, at the age of 63, trying to achieve his goals from what he calls "the good old days" plays a part in his lack of keeping his mindset in present time. The flashbacks he has throughout the play all have to do with his intentions for his future. His mind chooses to stay in past because he doesn't have to deal with the harsh reality of the present. He has created a life to where he must lie, even to himself, in an attempt to hold on to what he values most, his pride.
             Willy is a typical anti-hero in the fact that he hurts not only himself, but the ones around him as well. A man's wife and children should be his pride and joy, regardless of his own failures. His treatment towards his family does not coincide with a loving husband and father. Linda, his wife, shows nothing but support and love for her husband. She defends him even to her sons " He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing has happened to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person"(56; act 1). Willy hardly
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