s Willy seems like the confused, lost little boy and Biff seems like the big bully, pushing him around and make him feel bad. Sympathy is also gained by Willy when Linda announces to Biff and Happy that she found a hose which Willy has been using to suck gas out of the main and try and kill himself. though its more of a sick pity than sympathy the reader is still on Willy's side. The reader also sympathizes with Willy after his episode in the restaurant when he comes home and begins planting the garden hes always wanted. His pitiful attempt to bring life to the dead area around the Loman house and his need to make things the way they were in a time in which everything seemed so right to him are truly sad.At times in the story Willy is both sympathized with and looked down up at the same time, creating very complex situations. The most prominent example is that of when Willy is having a discussion with Biff in the restaurant. Biff is trying to explain to Willy about his experience with Oliver and the things hes realized, but Willy is off in his own little world almost ignoring Biff. The reader sympathizes with Willy due to his clouded mind, yet is turned away by his arrogance and showmanship attitude. In the beginning of the story Willy is scolding his wife and bad mouthing his sons one moment, then the next hes saying how great his children are and telling his wife how much he loves her. Willy sends the audience on a roller coaster throughout the entire play, gaining sympathy and pity one minute, while the next turning the reader's sympathy and pity elsewhere.Willy Loman is both the protagonist and the antagonist, gaining sympathy from the reader only to lose it moments later. He is his own worst enemy, causing his life to be much harder than it needs to be. If only Willy had realized his faults and accepted life as it is, perhaps the reader would have been his sympathizer the entire play....
