Death of a Salesman: The Relationship Between Linda and Willy
The marriage between Linda and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is typical of the early 20th century in many respects. The wife does not work and the husband acts as the provider for the family, despite the fact that the Loman family is struggling. Linda tries to economize by darning her stockings but she is forced to accept Willy as he is, no matter how imperfect. She often makes excuses for him, including when his sons question his authority. Although Linda is a kind woman, she is also very much an emotional enabler of Willy's many faults.
Throughout Willy's life, Linda acted as his cheerleader, no matter how much money he made. She often validated his sense of being persecuted by the world, even when this perspective was suspect: "Few men are idolized by their children the way you are" she says to Willy in one of the play's many flashback scenes (Miller 25). In Linda's view, husband and wife are one: "He's the dearest man in the world to me, and I won't have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue ... I know he's not easy to get along with -- nobody knows that better than me -- but..." (Miller 38-39). Linda knows that her husband is not perfect but she takes the idea of her wifely duty with utmost seriousness and is always there to defend Willy: "a small man can be just as exhausted as a great man. He works...
Willy Loman's Failures as a Husband, Employee, and Father in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman (1949), depicts the slow disintegration of an ordinary man, a traveling salesman named Willy Loman. Willy is past his prime, and unpleasant realities are beginning to close in on him in a deeply personal way. Willy has by now lost most of his grip on reality. In this
Willy treats Linda carefully, because he is always afraid she will find out about the affair. He lies to her, which is extremely harmful to any relationship, and because he lies to her, he ends up lying to himself. He will not admit, even to himself, that anything is wrong, and he cannot ask for help from his wife or his family. Linda has had to take control of the
One of the only solutions that he had to this issue was to communicate with his family in order to have them see things from his point-of-view and to try to understand him. Even with the fact that Loman attempts to resolve things, he is unable to see the full picture and he is thus stuck in a position that provides him with very little advantages when compared to
Act 2. Discuss the scene between Willy and Ben, consider what advice Willy is asking of Ben, note Bens reply "let me think about it." What might miller be suggesting by it? What importance does this scene have in the play? What themes are evoked in it? Ben's relationship with his brother Willy throughout the play exemplifies Willy's longing for the success that never comes. Ben profits from diamond mines, while
Death of a Salesman Linda: Are they any worse than his sons? When he brought them business, when he was young, they were glad to see him. But now his old friends, the old buyers that loved him so and always found some order to hand him in a pinch - they're all dead, retired. He used to be able to make six, seven calls a day in Boston. Now he
He cannot provide for his family financially, and emotionally he feels bankrupt. That is why the brief, transient sense that Biff likes him provides him with so much joy -- it is the proof, however small, that he has succeeded at something in life. However, even his language of 'liking' echoes the language he uses when speaking of being 'liked' at the office, and almost immediately after speaking to
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