IRONY
OF WILLY LOMAN’S LIFE REFLECTED ON THE ARTHUR MILLER’S THE DEATH OF THE
SALESMAN : PSYCOLOGICAL APPROACH
In literary work, the dream is the
representation of the conflict and suspense occur in daily life that also
influenced by a person’s behavior (Eagleton, 1996:437). It can be said that the
dream appears because of there is certain encouragement to do something. There
is a hope and a desire that usually comes from someone’s experience or
someone’s condition. When a person has a dream or a desire to achieve something
in his/her life, then he/she will tries hard, will be motivated, and supported
to achieve certain satisfaction. There are two types of Dreams, they are a
dream that can be achieved by anyone, whereas it will give satisfaction to
someone. Then, a dream that is difficult to be achieved by someone whereas the
effect of a
dream
that cannot be achieved by a person, it will have an impact on the
disappointment and anxiety which will cause hallucinations. Based on the Wikipedia,
Hallucination is a perception in the conscious situation without any real
stimulation of the senses. As an example, when there was a person experienced
impaired vision where he/she looks an object but the other cannot catch the
same object.
A Drama entitled The Death of
Salesman written by Arthur Miller is a phenomenon of American Drama,
published in 1949. The research concerns on psychological analysis of internal
conflict through to Willy as the main character. This analyze to be analyzed by
psychological approach of theory of dream by Sigmund Freud.
In the psychological literature,
literature is an expression of the soul through language where literature
cannot be separated from the psychological or psychiatric aspects of a person
that raged in the literature (Suwardi, 2008:86). It can be explained that
literature concerns on the human life which is closely related to personality
conditions. Someone’s personality is shown to identify personal character and
also person’s psychological condition. It is influenced by someone’s
experiences. Sigmund Freud stated that person’s psychological condition due to
mental imbalance and also the presence of an inner conflict will lead to stress
or depression. It occurs because of an error in the emotional adjustment
problems where the problems itself resulted in anxiety because of a conflict
that cannot be solved. Likewise, it’s the same thing when a person has a desire
in his life where the desire is actually results in failures that make a person
lives in anxiety. It is a cause of hallucination happened to someone, in which
hallucination is a symptom in patients with mental disorder in which a person
is in a conscious state without any real stimulation of the senses (
http://wikipedia.com). According
Sigmund Freud based on the Psychology of
Literature book titled “Karya Sastra, Metode, Teori, dan Contoh Kasus by
Albertine Minderop”. In this theory is explained that Dreams is someone’s
ambition to reach something that he/she expected in life. Freud links
literature with dreams. Literature and Dreams is considered to give
satisfaction indirectly. Dream as a text that pointing at something different
through symbols itself. Freud also states that there are specific equation
between dream and unhealthy state. For instance, that is severe psychosis
hallucinations.
Hallucinations arise because of a desire that cannot be
realized. Freud was convinced that this condition also occurs in dreams
(Eagleton, 1996:437).
Willy
Loman is the main character and protagonist of the play. He has been a
traveling salesman, the lowest of positions, for the Wagner Company for
thirty-four years. Never very successful in sales, Willy has earned a meager
income and owns little. His refrigerator, his car, and his house are all old -
used up and falling apart, much like Willy. Willy, however, is unable to face
the truth about himself. He kids himself into believing that he is well liked
by his customers in the New England territory and by the company, who is sure
to give him a promotion or opportunity to make more income.
Willy's
dream is to become like Dave Singleman, who was very popular with his clients
and able to do business by just making phone calls. Because he was so well
liked, when Singleman died, customers from all over his region came to his
funeral. Willy dares to believe that his funeral will be similar to
Singleman’s. Ironically, when Willy commits suicide, almost no one attends the
funeral, proving the error of his philosophies. Throughout his life, Willy
believed that if one was attractive and well liked, everything would be
perfect. The doors would automatically open for such a man, and he was sure to
be successful.
In
order to believe that he and his family are successes, Willy lies to himself
and lives in a world of illusions. He says of himself that he is well liked in
all the towns he visits and by all the customers that he calls on; he also
erroneously believes that he is vital to the New England territory and will
some day receive a promotion for his hard work. He even lies to himself, and
then his boss, about how much he actually earns. Because he wants to prove to
himself that he is well liked, Willy has at least one affair, attracting the
young woman by offering to purchase her a pair of silk stockings. When Biff
discovers his father in the hotel room with the woman, he recognizes Willy for
what he is and calls him a liar and a fake.
Willy
also lives in a world of illusions about his two sons. He is convinced that
Happy is a content, successful young man who will soon become a store manager.
In truth, Happy is a loser, like his father, who lives in his own world of
illusions and contributes to keeping Willy in his fantasies. Although he has
his own apartment and car and claims to have relationships with women, Happy
admits that he is lonely and unhappy, with no clue of how to rise above the
unhappiness. Willy is even more naïve about Biff. Since he is the more
attractive son who has been a successful athlete in high school, Willy has
placed most of his dreams in this older son. Biff, however, fails miserably. He
flunks math and cannot continue his education. He is a compulsive thief, who
has lost every job because of his stealing. Biff even admits he is a “nothing,”
a total failure. Willy refuses to see the truth about Biff, even when the son
tries to tell him. In fact, Willy commits suicide so that Biff will have his
life insurance money. He is certain that Biff can make something of himself
with twenty thousand dollars.
Willy
Loman is a tragic figure who is largely to blame for his own downfall. He is
fired from the Wagner Company because he is no longer effective and gets angry
with and lies to the boss. He misjudges his sons and fails to accept the truth
about either of them. He even puts his wife Linda into the position where she
is totally dependent on him; in order, to protect herself and her family, she
supports Willy’s illusions, even telling him that he is a good provider.
Because Willy has an incorrigible inability to tell the truth, even to himself,
and an unreasonable mode of thinking, he justifies his death by saying that his
sacrifice will save his sons, particularly Biff; the insurance money they
collect will be a tangible remembrance of Willy. The people at the funeral, who
Willy is sure will be in attendance, will prove to his sons that he was
respected and well liked. It is obvious that even until the last moments of his
life, Willy lives a lie.
The
one redeeming quality in Willy Loman is his love for his family, particularly
for his unworthy son, Biff. Even when Biff forces his father to face reality,
Willy is unable to accept the truth as presented to him by his elder son.
Instead, he chooses to commit suicide, believing it will give Biff a better
chance to succeed in life. In his mind, Willy is making the ultimate sacrifice
for his family when he kills himself. Therefore, Willy, in his own mind, dies
as a father and husband, not as a salesman as Miller indicates in the title of
the play.