Identity | Hopelessness | Suicide

Willie Loman is the name of the principle character in Arthur Miller ’s famous play, “Death of a Salesman.” Willie Loman’s ambition in life was to be a super salesman and, at the same time, popular and well-liked. But in pursuing these goals, his rising star began to fall. His sales were dropping off. He was beginning to be regarded as a “has-been.” No longer popular, his old circle of friends got smaller and smaller. Ultimately, he lost the respect of the son who was his pride and joy. Willie was all “stressed out.” Feeling he had nowhere to turn, his life became hopeless and aimless and meaningless. So he committed suicide. In the final scene of the play, the lights focus on Willie’s wife and two sons who are standing at his graveside, on an otherwise bare and dark stage. There is an eerie silence. Then, one son says, “Poor guy, he didn’t know who he was.”