by Colby Kullman
Ever since being introduced by Arthur Miller in 1949, Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman has provoked controversy and debate. Various critics see Willy Loman as a tragic figure on the level of a Shakespearean character, while others see him as a pathetically disenfranchised pursuer of the American Dream. Within this text, you will explore the various interpretations of this character.
Willy Loman is part of the Major Literary Characters series, edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School. This series is the only major collection of criticism on widely studied fictional figures from world literature, bringing together a diverse array of the finest critical writing from around the world. Each volume includes Harold Bloom’s essay “The Analysis of Character” and introductory essays on title characters.