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Death of a Salesman - A02 at the end of the play (Biff (Anger (Biff…
Death of a Salesman - A02 at the end of the play
Ben
Willy's Conscience
Ben acts as Willy's conscience, show doubt coming in to Willy's mind and fear that suicide isn't the best option.
"I still have a little time"
Contrast to rest of book. Willy knew he was close to death throughout and Ben reflected this imminent death. His appearance now and finally not being rushed suggests Willy may not need to die yet and Willy's fear and doubt over committing suicide.
"He'll call you a coward"
Deep down Willy knows that suicide is a mistake and fears what his sons, especially Biff, think of him. He only wants to leave behind a legacy and be thought back on as a successful and reputable. Willy sees suicide as his only option to achieve this.
F
igure of Death
Convinces Willy that he should kill himself. Again reflects Willy's conscience and his final decision and need to persuade himself to commit suicide.
"The jungle is dark but full of diamonds"
This line is repeated several times and is a clear reflection of Willy attempting to convince himself that suicide is the best option. Again links to death to financial gain and the idea that in order to succeed you need to take a risk or do something scary e.g. Willy needs to kill himself
"[with greater force]"
Gradually becomes more forceful, as Willy becomes more convinced and certain of his decision.
"[with promise]"
Reflects Willy's belief that success is "guaranteed" through suicide
Willy gradually becomes detached from reality and closer to Ben.
"[Willy turns, moves, listening to Ben]"
Willy begins to ignore reality and the family around him, instead focusing on Ben and the promise of success through suicide. This stage direction shows Willy physically moving closer to death and showing that Willy is now set on his decision and nothing can stop him as he is already crossing over into death.
Willy
Mental instability
Miller's stage directions demonstrate Willy's mental instability and emotional breakdown.
"[He is in the blue of night]"
"Blue" = melancholy colour, reflecting Willy's sadness, plus the black of night also reflecting the dark emotional state he is in. The fact he is gardening at night also shows his desperation and how he is breaking down
"[Begins picking up the packages of seeds in confusion]"
Shows Willy's emotional and mental instability and also his embarrassment about it in front of others, particularly his son , from whom he want to be respected and seen as the same father who Biff once idolised.
Willy is seen talking to himself/ talking to Ben in his mind. Ben acts as Willy's conscience and demonstrates how Willy is doubting his choice to kill himself.
"Does it take more guts to stand here the rest of my life ringing up a zero?"
Doubt over his options and Willy's fear that his life will have been pointless and he will leave behind no financial legacy or reputation.
Pity
Believes that suicide will instantly lead to success
"It's a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition"
Irony that the audience can see the reality that he will not get anything from his insurance company and there is no guarantee of money. In addition we pity his family, his sons would prefer a father and Linda, a husband, over financial gain. Willy is blind to this.
"That funeral will be massive!"
Link to Dave Singleman and dying the "Death of a Salesman", belief you can be successful when dead is a misguided and pitiable belief.
Willy has completely lost all hope and thinks the only way to proceed to to kill himself
"They boxed in the whole goddamn neighbourhood!"
Reflects opening, Willy feels trapped then and is still trapped now but now instead of just him it's the whole neighbourhood. Indicating that the situation has worsened for him, no progress just decline. Miller's beliefs on capitalism and it's suffocating nature and the lack of hope for those not made for the capitalist society.
Shows how Willy feels trapped in capitalist society. Even though he is outside, he can't escape it all, Willy has completely lost all hope.
Linda
Trying to hold the family together
She is gentle and caring to Willy, trying to keep him emotionally stable and in reality. She seems to understand the risks and his emotional state so wants to protect him.
"Come, dear"
She is gentle and loving, trying to convince him to come inside, with her, into the real world and remember the good things about his reality, such as his family and wife.
"[almost uttering her fear]" "I want you upstairs"
Linda understands that Willy is suicidal and that for him to stay outside risks him killing himself. She wants to bring him inside but using force is another risk to his mental health so takes a gentle and caring approach. She tries her best but it is ultimately not enough to save him.
She tries to reconcile with her boys and repair the relationships between the two brothers, their father and ultimately restore the family unit. However, this is futile as the breakdown of the family is key to the tragedy and Willy's tragic decline.
"He loves you, Willy"
Trying to repair relationships and show Willy that he is loved and cared for and will be missed if he kills himself. Wants to emphasise the importance of love and relationships over financial success and reputation.
"Stop it!"
She is trying her best to control the situation and protect Willy but doesn't want to increase tensions and exacerbate the situation by intervening too much or by hurting Willy's pride.
Understands Willy's instability
She understands that Willy is suicidal and emotionally fragile, so wants to protect him and care for him as much as she can.
"[sensing the racing of his mind, fearfully, carefully]"
These moments both show her understanding that every word and minute action can have a major impact on Willy due to the state he is in so she wants to be as careful as possible and gentle around him. The fact that they are never verbalised and are only shown in stage directions also shows her understanding that addressing this issue would be too damaging to Willy's pride and could therefore be fatal. She can alter her own behaviour and be careful but can't communicate the same to her boys, so instead of intervening when the boys are making the situation she can only turn away and hope that she can do damage control on the situation afterwards.The situation is clearly upsetting to her as she is aware that her husband will likely soon commit suicide and there is little she can do to prevent this, especially as her sons worsen the situation
"[Linda turns away from them, her hands covering her face]"
Biff
Truth-teller
Telling Willy the truth of the situation, is trying to help but may actually be making the situation worse.
"Pop! I'm a dime a dozen and so are you!"
Trying to explain to Willy that they are not special and that's okay. Quantifies them and gives them a monetary value to explain it in a way that resonates with Willy. Willy focuses on the financial, and can't see that money is not everything.
"I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you.
Refers to his Dad as Willy, reflects their distance and the breaking down of their relationship.
Conveying the message to his Dad that not everyone can be a leader, some people have to follow and that they are in a class position where they can't be in charge and lead.
Tough love
Attempts to get Willy not to kill himself but goes about it in the wrong way. Exposing him to reality in such a brutal way did more harm than good.
Anger
Biff becomes infuriated with his father but is also angry at the situation and mostly at himself. His anger is evident in his speech but is most obvious in the stage directions.
"[Biff seems on the verge of attacking his father]"
"Pop, I'm nothing!"
Is angry at himself as well as his father, mostly for their refusal to see reality and he feels that they have been living "in a dream".
This anger is followed by an immediate break down. Biff has been influenced by his father's behaviour and upbringing (as has Happy). This regret after an emotional outburst could be a foreshadowing of the imminent suicide, and perhaps suggests that if Willy had survived his suicide/ in the afterlife he would regret killing himself.
"[crying, broken]"
"[exhausted]"
This exhaustion also reflects and mirrors Willy's seemingly constant state of emotional and physical exhaustion. The description of Biff as "broken" has also been used to describe Willy's emotional breakdowns. Draws further parallels between the two and shows us the similarities but also the differences between the two.
Happy
Tragic Cycle
Happy continues Willy's delusions and tries to convince everyone, and himself, of a brighter future. An unrealistic one, in which he is married and has a successful career.
"I'm gonna run the department before the year is up"
Shows the influence of Willy's delusions on his sons. While, Biff has managed to see reality, Happy is trapped in the tragic cycle.
"We always told the truth."
Shows his blindness to reality, inherited from Willy. Prefers to live in the delusional world and continues the tragic cycle.