Themes in Death of a Salesman
... with the woman she says to him, "Willy, Willy, are you going to get up, get up, get up, get up?"(Act II, 114) Willy is in a dream when Biff knocks on the door. This shows that dreams are happening while the theme of sex overlaps it on the surface. Dreams are an illusion for Willy and in this dream he has a women that pleasures him. Therefore the theme of sex is within the thme of dreams because a dream is a illusion and The Women is Willy’s illusion. Secondly, Willy, Biff and Happy are all dishonest. Willy cheats on his wife, Biff "borrows" a football and Happy takes bribes at work. Happy says to Biff when they are talking, "Like I'm not supposed to take bribes, Manufacturers offer me a hundred-dollar bill now and then throw an order their way" (Act 1, 43) Dishonestly is evident in the book, but again, it is a subtext of what is really going on. Dreams are more of what the book is about, rather than honesty because dreams weaven into every crack of the book and other themes within the book. Honesty exists on the surface and the dreams are below the surface. The dreams exist in the true heart of the book which makes the difference because dreams and illusions tell what the book is about and what characters really want. Dreams appear in every context, such as Willy's dream to “earn money” (Act II, 83) and put food on the table. Willy believes he has to make money to support his family and so this becomes his dream or goal in life. Honesty and dishonesty are in the book to show what each character is really like, but not to show what the book is really about. Lastly, all the Loman men are boys. Willy is always telling Biff to "walk in very serious, you are not applying for a boy's job" (Act I, 64). The theme of maturity appears here but it is also Willy's dream for Biff to have a successful job that he keeps for more than two weeks. Willy wants Biff to make money just like him. Willy tells Biff he “see[s] great things for you kids, I think your troubles are over. But remember, start big and you'll end big" (Act 1, 64) Willy has a dream in mind for his boys and that is why he says this to Biff and Happy. Willy helps Biff in maturing by saying t...