Discussion on death-of-a-salesman-p-61-70

[Andrew Viet]

Q: 26. Describe the two ways Willy has attempted suicide. State
possible reasons.

A: Willy has tried to commit suicide by crashing his car and by
choking on carbon monoxide. Linda explains this to us on pages 58 and
59 by telling Biff and Happy that Willy is suicidal. The car crash
that the two boys believed were from his poor eyesight was actually an
attempt to commit suicide, and she says every day she finds Willy in
the basement with a rubber hose taken from the room so he alone can
die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some possible reasons for these attempts could be his financial
situation, his belief that he is not living the American Dream, and/or
because he feels Biff and Happy are not living the American Dream
themselves.

[Ms. Mauricio]

Also look at the feeling it gives Willy when he is "not successful".
If he has not fulfilled the American Dream then in his eyes he may
feel that he has also let down his wife and sons. He may also feel
that his family is better off without him - although this is something
that may be difficult to understand - it is a reality in some cases.