Ben, Willy's brother, interjects his memory and opinion on Willy when Willy is faced with a decision or regret. We first see Ben as he crops up in Willy's memory, the time he came to see Willy, talk of his success, and depart. Willy regretted not venturing to Alaska with Ben, so he constantly is reminded through Ben's memory of one regret after another.
By the end of the play, Ben serves as Willy's conscious, a memory whom Willy finds the only consolation in and means by which to rationalize his actions. As he plants the garden, Willy tries to get Ben to see eye to eye with him saying, "You gotta consider now. Don't answer so quick. Remember, it's a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition... I've got nobody to talk to Ben..." (pg 1621). He justifies his death, saying his life insurance is worth twenty-thousand-dollars; however, the fact that Willy has to justify his actions with a ghost makes it obvious that he knows his decision is quite obscure. Willy, like many humans, makes up a scenario in his mind to downplay his future action of suicide, hoping that the end will justify the means.
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