Will Loman, the salesman, portrayed as one of the great specimens of the modern age hard working middle class men. He was a man who loved his wife and children and was dedicated to his career in his search for success, but like all other men he had his claim to contradicting qualities. Willy's own faults and Willy's own damaged characteristics lead him to his demise.
Willy's excessive praise to dignity pushed him along the border of death. Willy Loman was very concerned by how other people regarded him.
"Yeah, but there's no bones in a heartburn."-Charley
"What are you talkin' about? Do you know the first thing about it?" - Willy (pg. 42).
Willy and Charley are discussing Charley's heartburn. Willy makes a remark that Charley has got to learn to take his vitamins to build his bones. Charley answers back correcting Willy's obvious mistake. Willy takes offense to his reply and answers back with an attack on Charley. Charley has contradicted Willy's personal knowledge, and Willy, being a proud man, will scorn this remark that he is anything but knowledgeable. Another perspective on Willy's insulted dignity is the character of Charley, whom is another man representing different beliefs, exactly opposite in beliefs to Willy, and Willy being his confident self will not allow this other man to intrude on Willy's "rightness". This shows of the seriousness of Willy's concern to uphold his dignity. Moreover, this poor proud man's own self classification, and self love put himself out of a job that could have saved his life.
"I don't want your goddam job!" -Willy
"When the hell are you going to grow up?" -Charley (pg. 97).
After being offered a generous job which would no doubt lower Willy's position in his own eyes, Willy turns down the opportunity because he cou
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