different men who represent sharply contrasting viewpoints and approaches to
life. Charley, who owns the sporting goods store where Willy works, is
down-to-earth and accepting. No great dreamer or illusionist, he has learned to
accept life as it is, and he seeks happiness with his modest means and
comfortable existence. Willy, on the other hand, is a dreamer and a
fantasist, always looking for the big score he has never quite managed to
achieve. He cannot face the harsh realities of life very well, and he clings to
illusions that will eventually destroy him.
Charley’s character also serves to highlight Willy’s failures as a father and husband. Charley’s own sons are successful businessmen, and he is proud of them. In contrast, Willy’s sons, Biff and Happy, are failures. Biff has no career or direction, and Happy is stuck in a life of empty materialism. Willy’s inability to provide for his family or give his sons the guidance and support they need is a major source of his unhappiness and frustration.
Charley’s character also emphasizes Willy’s lack of self-awareness and his inability to take responsibility for his own mistakes. Willy always blames others for his problems, and he refuses to acknowledge his own role in his failures. Charley, on the other hand, is introspective and self-aware, and he has a clear-eyed view of his own limitations and the challenges of life. He also demonstrates real compassion and understanding for Willy, even when he knows Willy is making foolish choices. Charley’s character ultimately provides a stark and compelling contrast to Willy’s, and he helps to illustrate in bold relief the tragic flaws in Willy’s personality and philosophy of life.