How Pride is Willy?s Tragic Flaw in Death of a Salesman and how it is the central theme of the play

In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, pride is the central theme of the play and plays a role in many of the other themes such as identity, values, legacy, change and honesty. Willy’s identity is heavily influenced by his false sense of pride, as it is the driving force of his decisions, the cause of his behaviour in society and within his relationships. The stubborn nature of his pride hinders his ability to learn from his mistakes and change from his obstructed mindset which has negative consequences that lead him to his own demise and continue to have lasting effects on his family, making false pride his tragic flaw.

In Death of a Salesman, pride is used by Willy as a coping mechanism to the changes within himself, his family and society in which his pride aids him in his self-deception where he does not have to face nor accept his reality, which further consists of his mistakes and their consequences. Willy Loman is excessively prideful despite the fact that the source of his pride is not in any way founded in reality. Steven Centola also demonstrates the theme of pride in Willy’s denial of reality and inability to accept the changes within himself and in the society. Looking at the two works, one can easily see that the identity that Willy heavily assumes is built upon his false sense of pride which plays a directive role in all the decisions that he makes. His unjustified pride goes a long way in preventing him from being able to learn from his mistakes and adapt to the changes taking place around him.

While it is a good thing that Willy is a dreamer, part of his excessive arrogance and pride comes as a result of his unrelenting belief in his dreams. To him, his dreams are not only pristine but are also absolute where they are free from any defects and nothing can be done to change his stand on his country or his dreams of what he wants to accomplish. As a matter of fact, Willy never excises any form of introspection of reflection in a bid to see things as they are and not how they ought to be. This state alone builds the premise for his pride. To start with, Willy never take time to question some of his beliefs and dreams. A good example is when he was having a conversation with Linda about the failures of Biff. It becomes clear that his belief in the American dream is unrelenting where he believes that American dream is superior, which is a belief that he instils onto his sons that has significant impact on Biff especially. Believing that the American dream has no faults demonstrates Willy’s great sense of pride in America as being, “the greatest country in the world.” A country that is full of “beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people” (Miller 126).Willy completely fails to accept the contrast of his opinions displayed in reality. The effects of his denial become symptomatic as he continuously contradicts himself and how he shifts into and out of reality such as how people are suffering which makes his exceptionalism in this context to reflect his false sense of pride where he simply fails to not just see the truth but to accept it.Type of paper Essay (Any Type)

Subject English

Number of pages 3

Format of citation MLA

Number of cited resources 2

Type of service Writing

You must cite from The play ‘Death of a Salesman’ and Steven R. Centola²s ‘Family values in Death of a Salesman’ (attached) Incorporate my ideas in my draft (also attached) especially the thesis which is the first paragraph. The essay must be 7 paragraphs and double spaced.