However, Willy conjures Ben each time he experiences overwhelming conflict in an attempt to re-create his life by imagining what could have been. Willy talks about Ben's job offer to the boys, and he appears to realize that the opportunity has been lost. Second, Willy refuses to acknowledge that his opportunity to work for Ben no longer exists. He believes he is talking to two real people who are unaware of each other and engaged in completely different conversations. So it is not surprising that Willy becomes confused during the card game. As far as Willy is concerned, Ben is just as real as Charley. Willy is not just hearing voices he is actively hallucinating. First, he is an interactive creation of Willy's mind.

The fact that Willy observes and speaks to Ben is significant for two reasons. If only he had had the courage of Ben, he might have established himself as a highly successful salesman. If only he had gone to Alaska, he and the boys would be thriving in the great outdoors. If only he had gone to work for Ben, he would be rich. Whenever he feels overwhelmed by his lack of success and blasé existence, Willy re-creates his life based on Uncle Ben's lost proposition. Willy cannot accept his recent failures, nor can he accept the fact that his life has been one of mediocrity. This confusion, along with his anger toward Happy regarding his spending habits, compels him to recall his favorite illusion: Uncle Ben and the diamond mines. Willy experiences confusion in Scene 7 as a result of fusing multiple memories.

Willy is unable to separate his discussion with Ben from his discussion with Charley, so he becomes flustered and loses his composure.

As a result, Charley becomes confused when Willy answers questions that Ben is asking. Willy begins to converse with Ben at the same time he is talking to Charley. He is not real he is just another projection of Willy's memory. Uncle Ben enters, but he is only visible and audible to Willy. Willy ridicules Charley's inadequacy with tools. Charley assures him that Biff will be fine. He reveals his distress over Biff returning to Texas, along with his inability to assist Biff financially. Charley offers Willy a job, but Willy angrily refuses. They talk about vitamins, car trouble, and a trip to California. Willy regrets not acting on the opportunity to go to Alaska when Ben offered it to him.Ĭharley comes over and plays cards with Willy. Willy recalls his Uncle Ben who became wealthy mining diamonds. Willy tells Happy that he came home because he was having difficulty driving, plus he almost hit someone with the car in Yonkers. Happy comes downstairs and attempts to walk Willy to bed. Scene 8 shifts back completely to the present.

Death of a salesman act 1 script