Invididual Opportunity in Death of a Salesman

The main character and the author of this story have two very differing ideas about individual opportunity. There is one common theme throughout in the story, and Miller uses his characters evasion of the truth as a means to further his own beliefs about the topic in question. Willy Loman has an unwavering belief throughout most of the story that if an individual works hard, and is well liked, they can accomplish anything. Early on, it is stated that one of his goals is to have a large attendance at his funeral so that his sons will see how well liked he was throughout his travels. His beliefs are put into strong doubt however when he is struggling to make ends meet, and is ultimately fired from his job. Even under these circumstances, Willy believes his sons have it in themselves to be whatever they wish to be. Happy buys this mentality, hook, line and sinker. Biff does too for a time, but he begins to question this line of thinking when he discovers his father has been unfaithful. Biff is really the only character who questions the mentality of individual opportunity throughout the story, Happy and Willy never even come remotely close. Arthur Miller shares a view that contrasts quite sharply from that of his protagonists. He believes that indidivual opportunity is a myth and he evidences this by having Willy, a strong proponent of individual opportunity, fail at nearly ever endevour he puts himself towards. By the end of the story, Willy has died alone and unfulfilled, and Happy appears to be going in a similar direction. Whether Biff will break this cycle himself is difficult to tell.