Final answer:
Literature often explores character disappointments and coping mechanisms, revealing inner strengths or weaknesses. Willy Loman fails in communicating with his sons due to his own career disappointments, coping through denial, while Linda provides positive support but at times enables Willy's delusions. Characters wear masks as a defense mechanism against societal pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Analysis of Character Disappointments and Coping Mechanisms
Disappointments are a common theme in literature, challenging characters in their journeys. Coping with these setbacks often reveals their inner strength or weaknesses. For example, in discussing why Willy consistently fails to communicate with Happy and Biff, it can be seen that Willy's disappointments in his career and his desire for his sons to succeed lead to a communication gap. He copes with his disappointments through denial and creating an alternative reality where his dreams are fulfilled.
Linda, on the other hand, influences her family by being the emotional cornerstone. She acts as a positive force by supporting Willy and encouraging her sons, albeit sometimes contributing to Willy's delusions. Her coping mechanism is often to maintain peace at the cost of confronting the underlying issues.
Characters may also wear masks to shield themselves from the disappointment of not living up to their own or others' expectations. This can be considered a defdefencechanism, helping them cope with personal and societal pressures, as pointed out in the examination of people not being what they seem in the story.
In conclusion, literature allows readers to reflect on how characters handle disappointments and the various coping mechanisms they employ, often drawing parallels with real-life scenarios and emotional resilience. This connectivity between literature and life encourages readers to consider their responses to similar situations.