nt. He would not have idolized this foreign man, perhaps choosing more realistic goals and dreams for himself. Bens character is used as a goal for Willy to strive for. In the process, as outsiders, we learn the importance of being proud of who you are and what you have accomplished. Willy never experiences this because he is too busy trying to be like his brother. Miller uses Bens character as a role model for Willy. Through his three appearances in the novel, we are given a chance to view Willy and his interactions with Ben, and his total belief that Ben is a hero. He believes that his boys should be like Ben, which proves that he believes in Bens own self-centered morals about how to get ahead. Ben is such a significant presence in the novel because Willy is constantly chasing him; he is constantly running to catch up to his brother. Even when Ben is just an hallucination in Willys mind, Willy believes in him fully. Ben allows for Willys character to develop. Word Count: 1864...
