Death of a Salesmen
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EN 112
3rd Essay Assignment
4/1/2004
Facing the Truth
We all go through our lives telling lies and withholding secrets from others, as others live their lives keeping secrets from us for numerous possible reasons. Sometimes we even become so accustom to telling these artificial truths that we ourselves begin to deeply believe and live them. When these secrets and lies that are involved in a person's life are revealed to society, the effects can be detrimental. Through "Death of a Salesman," and "Oedipus the King", we can fully understand the long-run traumatic effects that can be caused in a person's life by their use of deceptions and dishonest actions.
The main character in "Death of a Salesman", Willy Loman, is very similar to the main character of Oedipus in "Oedipus the King." Willy is an unsuccessful salesman who has always lied and exaggerated the truth to his family and everyone he has ever met because it makes him feel that his life is not as bad as it actually is. For example, Willy portrays his sons as intelligent well-mannered boys, when in actuality they are the complete opposite. Biff is a bully to Bernard because his father wants him to be and he continuously fails in school. Happy is an irresponsible and uncaring person who often lies to others to make his job and life seem better than it actually is, much like his father. Also, Willy lies to his family that he is a well-known and well-respected businessman who is fairly wealthy...