Death of Salesman Analysis Essay

Women assume mingled roles in Arthur Millers devastation of a Salesman. Mainly we chance upon them in the syndicate, or the workplace. For us, they dish as windows to observe and formulate an opinion of the chief(prenominal) font, Willy Loman and his boys Happy and jabbing. For reference, the women include, Linda Loman (Willys wife) the boys childhood and current girls/women, The charwoman (Willys mistress), and Jenny (Charleys secretary). Notably, t here(predicate) atomic number 18 some(prenominal) aspects that unify these women.First, they atomic number 18 hooked to the men second, they ar aflamely or materi totallyy babelike third, the men ar mutually dependent on the women for excited or material accepts and fourth, they serve as male ego supporters. Moreover, the women ar portrayed as weak. Granted, societal views of womens roles fuddle drastically changed over the ancient s evening decades, the womens characters in terminal of Salesman drive non.Mille r skillfully navigates us through the past and present in order to capture a terminate image of Willys life. I leave aloneing attempt to do the equal with Linda Loman. I selected her be travail of her distinctive propensity to be to a fault protective of Willy. My intention is non to derogate the relevance of the early(a) women. Yet, my focus on Linda is based on my opinion that she is the commutation female figure and best ambassador to reveal Willys dynamic nature.Willy Youre my foundation and support, Linda. (1216)We be introduced to Linda in the present. For the fourth dimension and even for instantly, she is the ideal Ameri enkindle wife. Caring, nurturing, supportive, and true to her husband and children. Yet, today, one may produce overly supportive. A captive of the sentence period, she is limited and on that pointfore, emotionally and financially dependent on her husband. season here, we are capable to feel her comforting and sheltering nature. She selfless ly protects Willy from his unstable thoughts, his children, and ac cognizeledging his financial failures. Yet, she locoweed non guard him from his depression and unsafe attempts and ideations.The scene opens with Willy prematurely returning from a sales trip. He is explaining to Linda that he could non maintain mental focus and that the railcar kept veering transfer onto the bring up of the passage. As we allow for seed to k straightaway, she is puff up aware that Willys mental stead is declining. She deflects the blame by saying, Oh. Maybe it was the control again. I entert speculate Angelo pick outs the Studebaker. (1213) Willy accepts responsibility, No, its me (1214) Nonetheless, she continues to divert the cause by saying, Maybe its your glasses(1214) Her well-intended elbow grease to be supportive is unfortunately alter Willys serious nervous equipment failure to be ignored. In the literary sense, it is an eccentric of situational irony. Her intention to b e helpful is non actually helping. For us, it is in this atomic number 42 with Linda, that we this instant realize that Willy is undergoing serious internal and international stress. It is manifesting into depression, mumbling, mental and physical wandering, and severe depression. It leave shadow proliferate throughout the bunco, and tragically, be the cause of his final decision.During their conversation we are also introduced to the adult boys, lick and Happy. Linda informs Willy that the boys are both(prenominal) sleeping, and that, Happy likewisek jab on a date tonight. (1214) The report automatically generates rice beer in Willy. Which, we can translate to mean, Willy is in favor of his boys being in the federation of women. As the conversation continues we are do aware of the tension that exists between Willy and his oldest son, Biff. As well, Linda lets us know that Willy has a season. She tells him, You shouldnt present criticized him, Willy, specially aft er(prenominal) he ripe got off the train. You mustnt lose your temper with him. (1215) For me, his temper is validated by his response, When the hell did I lose my temper? (1215)Typically, a non-temperamental someone would not respond in that manner. As they continue on the topic of Biff, we agitate the initiative glimpse of Willys foreign nature. At one moment Willy says, Biff is a lazy bum (1215) While in a follow up comment he says, Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the populace a young man with such(prenominal)personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a catchy worker. Theres one amour close Biffhes not lazy. (1215) Well, which is it? Is Biff lazy, or not? Willys contradictory tendency will be further exemplified. I find a touch of comical irony, when preceding to going to the kitchen, for a glass of milk, he asks, wherefore am I forever and a day being contradicted? (1215)While in the kitchen, we go back in time with Linda and Willy. We understand t hat her support of Willy has endured the test of time, as countenance his inconsistencies. The younger Linda asks, Did you sell anything? (1224) At inaugural Willy says, I did five cardinal rough-cut in Providence and seven hundred gross in Boston. (1224) Linda motives to tabulate his armorial bearing so she retrieves a pencil and topic from her apron pocket. She number-crunches and replies, Two hundredmy beau ideal Two hundred and twelve dollars (1225) one time he realizes that there will be an expectation to produce that money, he back-peddles and says, Well, I didnt figure it yet, but (1225) She is persistent, How more(prenominal) did you do? Then a more realistic figure emerges, Well, II did slightly a hundred and eighty gross in Providence. Well, noit came to close to two hundred gross on the whole trip. (1225) As easily as Linda can do the math, so can we. Willys original report call fors dear(p) 1,200 gross. When realistically his entire trip belike netted 200 gross. If we are inclined to believe that estimate as honest, he has overinflated his sales by six times the actual amount.After realizing that the actual way amount is not enough to big top the monthly expenses, a dialogue ensues that reveals some other incongruence and his insecurity. Willy states, Oh, Ill knock them dead side by side(p) week. Ill go to Hartford. Im rattling well liked in Hartford. You know, the scuffle is Linda, people feignt seem to recognise to me. (1225) Again, in the same sentence he contradicts himself. I cypher we can all relate to whimsy less than at some pane in our lives. Since, I know I can, his previous and following statement elicits empathy on my part. He claims that people are jocularity at him when he goes to his sales calls. He doesnt know the reason, he is fairish aware. Lindas perpetual support of Willy continues, Oh, dont be foolish and Why? Why would they laugh at you? acquiret talk that way, Willy. (1225) She continues to con b ushel him and coddles his delicate ego by replying, But youre doing wonderful, dear. Youre devising seventy to a hundred dollars a week. (1225) There is something to value about her positive outlook.Willy continues to share his flavours about his diminished sense of self-worth. This time, it comes from his critique of his physical image, Im fat. Im very foolish to look at, Linda. I didnt tell you, but Christmas time I happened to be calling on F.H. Stewarts, and a salesman I know, as I was going in to see the buyer, I heard him say something aboutwalrus. And II cracked him right across the face. I wont take that. I simply will not take that. But they do laugh at me. I know that (1226) I would like to draw your direction to the opening move scene where Linda cautions Willy about his temper. We are now in the past, and we chip in a existent example of Willys temper. In this case, it has even erupted into violence. Linda doesnt even bat an mall when he tells her that he hit s omeone. Instead, she is the constant pillar that supports his ego, Willy, darling, youre the handsomest man in the world (1226) Really, Linda? I cant imagine my husband telling me he hit someone and not be compelled to probe him further about the incident. through Willys reminiscent daydreams, we hear the joke of a woman, who will later be revealed as The Woman, his mistress. (1226) Willy has just added another(prenominal)(prenominal) criteria to analyze him against. He is unfaithful to his commit and loving wife. Until now, I could sympathize with Willys insecurities, even understand his need to overinflate his compensation and maybe even relate to his temper. But, positioned against my protest moral standards, I dont care for a womanizer. Nor would I win an exception if the roles were reversed. He pulls away from the repositing and declares, Youre the best there is, Linda, youre a pal, you know that? On the roadon the road I want to grab you sometimes and just snog the li fe outa you. (1226) Anyone who understands simple psychology realizes that it is depravity that moves him to profess affection for his wife. Yet, a learn term he uses provides insight to how he actually views her, youre a pal.These words cannot be misconstrued to mean I approve you, you mean the world to me, and I cant wait to arouse home to you. As a exit of fact, he retreats into his memories and we spend time with The Woman. In this brief moment we can conclude that his mistress provides an outlet when hes on the road, she fuels his ego, and she suits his purpose by being able to point him straightway into the buyers. In return, he fulfills her material need for stockings. (1227)Back from his memory of The Woman, we are still in the past where he is remembering a scene of Linda meliorate her stockings. He commands her to throw them away. Although we already know Biff and Happy from their own antecedent dialogues and Willys memories (which I did not address), it is here t hat Linda provides insight into younger Biff. She tells Willy that Biff must return a football that he stole from the school, and that he is also too rough with the neighborhood girls. (1227) Willy is annoyed with Biff and he explodes at Linda when she urges him to do something about Biffs behavior. (1228). It is distinguished to know, all of Willys past memories and mumblings have occurred slice he went down to the kitchen for that glass of milk.Finally, we stupefy at the kitchen, in the present. This part does not include Linda. Yet, I find it important to include because this exchange contains a preoccupied opportunity. Not that there werent several others. Happy comes down to check on Willy. He finds his return mumbling, and out of reach and sadness, Happy tells him that he will financially provide for the rest of Willys life. In expressing his frustration with Happys claim to retreat him for life, Willy opens an explicit cry for help, Youll break up me for life on sev enty goddamned dollars a week? And your women and your car and your apartment, and youll retire me for life Christs sake, I couldnt get past Yonkers today Where are you guys, where are you?The woods are burning I cant drive a car (1228) And there it is A desperate, agonizing plea for attention, Where are you guys? The woods are burning. He realizes his condition, he is pray to be acknowledged, begging for attention, and begging for help He feels alone in his suffering. I could imagine his desperation, and we would not be human if we too did not feel his pain. The neighbor, Charley enters, and Happy is sent away. In the interest of focusing on Linda, we will fast forward through this part. Yet, during Charleys visit and through Willys memories, we stir an influential character in Willys life (his successful brother Ben). Charley leaves after a heated round of cards. Yet, we delay in the kitchen period Willy heads outside.Linda comes looking for Willy in the kitchen. Both boys co me down to demonstrate their haves apparent sorry condition. Instead of addressing it, she scolds them both for being faultfinding(prenominal) of their let. Happy transfers his anger onto Biff and blames his fathers condition on Biffs failures. This scene foreshadows the underlying trouble between Biff and his father. Linda asks Biff, Why are you so hateful to each other? Why is that? (1235) Biff is reluctant to bind that he is resentful towards his father. She cautions that one day the boys will try to come home and there will be strangers in the house. Biff replies, What are you talking about? Youre not even sixty, Mom. She reminds him that his father is not doing well and goes on to say, Biff, dear, if you dont have any feeling for him, then you cant have any feeling for me. (1235)This is an endearing type that all families are interconnected, and we each play an integral role. In a rabid plea she proclaims, You cant just come to see me, because I love him. She goes on to acknowledge Willys character flaw, I know hes not easy to get on withnobody knows that better than mebut(1235) Willy enters the kitchen and he is delighted to see Biff. His erratic behavior is puzzling, and Biff asks, What the hell is the matter with him? Linda defends Willy, as if from a physical threat, Dontdont go near him Out of disgust, Biff snaps, Stop making excuses for him He always, always wiped the floor with you. neer had an ounce of respect for you. (1235) This is a loaded, emotional and hurtful comment. But, we will easily omit why Biff feels that his father has not cherished his mother.Another scene, that does not straightaway involve Linda, is a mandatory addition. Nearing the end, we come to know that the younger Biff caught his father with The Woman in a hotel, while his father was on a telephone circuit trip. (1267) The experience grants Biff a moment of clarity, it also permanently shatters his image of his father. Ultimately, she is the vizor that Biff jud ges his father by. In that hotel room, the reality of his fathers ostentatious persona crystallizes. He calls him a liar, and a fake. (1268) We will come to understand that this glacial moment created a fissure that could never be filled. Inevitably, it altered the chain of events in Biff and Willys lives, not to bear on Lindas. They remain distant from that moment forward. shortsighted Linda is never directly told about the affair, which is the sole reason of why Biff resents his father, and the net reason that has caused Willy to be so depressed.The about important detail I have saved for last. As I first claimed, I found Linda to be the closely important woman that brings Willy into perspective for us. untimely on, Linda confesses to her boys that Willy has deliberately smashed the car on two separate occasions, (1237) and that she has found a hose in the basement that he intended to connect to a be adrift line. Just prior she delivers a very heartfelt command to her boys . For us, Linda sums Willy up, Willy Loman never do a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. Hes not the finest character that ever lived. But hes a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be salaried. Hes not to be allowed to polish into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person. (1236)There we have it, Willy has attempted suicide and continues to be torment with his ideations. Unfortunately, his final suicide attempt is successful. What a strange word, successful can be when used to describe dying by suicide. But, in Willys mind, through death he could attain financial success, make a lasting impression with his sons (mainly Biff) another form of success to Willy, leave 20K for Linda (huge success), and have everyone acknowledge him with a big send off (success in the form of recognition). As we know, in the end, it did not play out that way. The few people in attendance did not view his deat h as a success. What he left behind was pain.