Death of a Salesman
Character analysis
Context
Themes and motifs
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Linda- established early on as being submissive and complicit to both Willy's delusions and manic behaviour, as she has "developed an iron repression" to Willy's "behaviour" (opening stage directions).
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Willy Loman-
Plot
Act 1
Act 2-
Willy's death only represents Willy's partial discovery of the truth of capitalism. Although he finds resolution about his role in the capitalist workforce, Willy fails to recognise his importance in his family life, and the devastating effect his death will have on characters such as Linda. His delusional view on himself in the workforce makes him neglect his familial role as a father and husband. Willy believes his death will benefit his family by providing them with his measly life insurance of $25k. To both him and society, he is merely worth $25k, but he fails to fully appreciate the importance of his role in his family.
Character developments
Willy- Although he develops an understanding of the reality that the nature of capitalism means he wont achieve his goal of the A.D., he fails to appreciate his role at home which is of more value to characters such as Linda.
Opening scene, Miller sets Willy up as a delusional and unsatisfied individual as he almost crashes his car on the way to work and blames it on "maybe it was on the coffee." Linda also makes excuses for him, "but you didn’t rest your mind" - she knows he's unstable and treads carefully around him, "taking off his shoes", and asking "should I get you some aspirin," despite his poor and ungrateful treatment of her.
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Opening stage directions- establishes the Loman house as a representation of Willy's failed and unmaterialised dreams.
Elements of tragedy
X Willy does not achieve the typical self-realisation of a typical tragic hero. While he realises the fraudulent nature of capitalism, and accepts that he will get no further on the corporate ladder, he ends his life, thinking it is for the benefit of his family, while neglecting to change his role and poor behaviour as a father and husband.
Willy is a flawed hero, who experiences a "fall" and evokes pity from the audience.
Biff- although he is not given the same tragic attention as Willy, he arguably has some tragic qualities about him too.
Requiem
Biff - "he had all the wrong dreams. All, all wrong" - this could equally be applied to Biff, as he also had the wrong dreams in the beginning. Happy reflects the ceaseless cycle of hopes and failures within the American Dream, as Happy has not learnt from his father's mistakes, and vows to avenge his dreams.
The stockings- they represent the life Willy should have given Linda/ the one he feels responsible for giving to her. This is emphasised in his guilt as he gives the woman he has an affair with a new pair, whilst at the same time, Linda is mending her old pair. He is angry when he finds her mending them, as it reinforces his failures in the workforce, and as a husband.
Diamonds in the jungle- They are the unattainable A.D., promoted by Ben, Willy's brother who he can never reach the same success. They are also reminiscent of the unjust and fraudulent realities of capitalism, in which to get to the top, you have to force your way through. Risky, yet tangible wealth. Ben's journeys represent financial freedom and prosperity. Freedom from Willy's financial struggles.
Nature, seeds and the garden- seeds represent new life, and hope, which Willy seems to cling to throughout the play. His desire to grow new seeds, despite the garden being uninhabitable for seeds. Linda recognises this, but Willy does not, reinforcing his delusional false hope that he will succeed in his job and the A.D.
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Structure
The play takes place between two different, and interchanging time frames. This is reminiscent of Willy's tragic delusion. His intertwined thoughts which flit from the past to present reflect his delusion and ceaseless hope that things will work out for him.
Quotes