Death of a Salesman (1966 U.S. film) work, while a young Gene Wilder presents a comic but sensitive performance as Bernard. In general, critics spoke well of the Xerox-sponsored CBS adaptation The day after it aired Jack Gould praised it in "The New York Times" with a column that began "An evening of exalted theater came to television last night in a revelation of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' that will stand as the supreme understanding of the tragedy of Willy Loman." Joan Crosby of "The Pittsburgh Press" praised all members of the Loman family for their performances and described the performance as "An evening of
Willy Loman Loman is the play's dominant character because "It is his losing battle against spiritual and economic defeat that provides the narrative spine of the play." Loman is a symbolic representation of millions of white collar employees who outlived their corporate usefulness. He lives in a world with delusions about how popular, famous, influential and successful he is and about the prospects for the success of his sons. His wife not only allows these delusions, but also she buys into them, somewhat. His misplaced values of importance and popularity were shaken to the core by his declining ability to leverage those