In the second reading, the reader begins to unearth more reasons as to why Willy is the way he is. Willy strives to live the perfect “American Dream,” and by doing so, Willy must make his life appear flawless. Willy is so desirable of his own happiness and self achievements that Willy continues to hallucinate recollections of the past, and altering the memories to make his family appear “better.” In one recollection, Willy recalls Charley, whom Willy remembers as being not very “well liked” by the majority of the population. However, after Willy’s past remembrance, the reader finds out that Willy once again contradicted reality, as Charley is better liked than Willy is.
Not only does Willy wish for himself to appear successful, but also his two sons. Bernard, Charley’s son, is in reality more successful when it comes to studying, as Biff is almost “failing math class.” Willy tells his children that they will be more successful not because they are book smart, but because they are more “well liked.”
One of the main characteristics of Willy thus far is the constant struggle for himself to be “well liked.” Willy’s brother and father leaving and becoming more successful than Willy exposed an emotion in Willy that he wasn’t good enough and could not live up to the standards of his family; therefore, Willy constantly battles self resentment. In Willy’s memories, he alters the true memory to seem as if everyone enjoys his company. However, when Willy recalls back onto present life, he realizes that people know him as a “fat walrus” and that he is not as superior of a salesman as he wishes he was—Willy barely makes enough money to support his family. Throughout all of Willy’s constant inner battles, he has ultimately attempted to commit suicide more than once. Will Willy achieve success and be satisfied with the way his life and his family’s life is going, or will the disappointment prove too much for Willy?
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