Death of a Salesman Group

Question:

morineo
morineo
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is ironic about Willy Lomans comment "I'm tired to the death" ?

I am aware of the fact that this quotation shows an ironic extent of exhaustion but can you please explay why it is ironic?

Rate question:

Posted by morineo on Tuesday March 31, 2009 at 11:31 AM and tagged with characters, death of a salesman, irony, quotation, willy.

Answers:


  1. afi80fl Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    This can be ironic in that Willy actually dies shortly after making this statement, by killing himself in an automobile collision.  Willy hasn't been well mentally for some time, as evidenced by the fact that he has been using a hose to breathe toxic fumes from the gas heater in the basement.  He also has increasingly been experiencing hallucinations, in addition to flashbacks, and is unable to distinguish fantasy from reality at times, such as his brother Ben affirming his decision to kill himself.

    Willy cannot deal with the pressure life has put upon him.  On top of losing his job as a salesman, his son cannot find and keep a job, and he is unable to keep up with paying all of his bills.  When he says he is tired to the death, he is expressing his sense of physical fatigue, but also, and more importantly, his sense of being finished with living.  He is tired of his life that offers nothing but disappointment. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/death-salesman/willy-loman

    Rate answer:

    Posted by afi80fl on Monday April 6, 2009 at 10:19 AM