Willy Loman, the main character in the story, is a business man who works in the New England area. He could very well be considered crazy. He has two sons, Happy and Biff, which he is a very heavy influence on throughout the play. Willy is obviously an influence on the theme of the American dream that permeates through the play. He has faith that Biff would ultimately succeed but he ceases to do so.
Willy’s main part in the play is the development of the theme. Willy strives for success as a business man. To Willy, success is basically being a well liked person. Even though young Bernard was doing better than Happy and Biff, he wasn’t as well liked so he wasn’t successful. Success relates to the American dream in the book with Willy never achieving either of them.
Willy also was a major influence on the other characters of the story. Through the entire story, there was a constant feud between Willy and Biff. It seemed like Willy focused more anger on Biff rather than Happy. It could have been because Willy had suspected such great things from Biff. It appeared as if Willy was trying to have Biff succeed where he failed, to gratify himself. Willy had higher expectations for Biff than he had for himself. Biff was supposed to do big things such as move out west but it never happened. Willy was brought to his downfall by Biff who explains everything to him.
Happy on the other hand, didn’t get yelled at as much. Willy focused more of his angry outbursts on Biff rather than Happy. Willy and Biff together made up the major conflict through the story while Happy and Linda were more minor. Willy never pressured Happy into doing big things therefore Happy had freedom to do as he pleased. Happy was very interested in the women, not in schoolwork. In the eye’s of Willy, Happy is successful because he is a very well liked person Willy is proud of Happy for being such an all around good person and he doesn’t need material things. Willy influences Linda in the way that she is turned from a wife and mother to more of a caretaker of Willy.
