Death of a Salesman

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 takes his valises out of the car and puts them back and takes them out again and he's exhausted. Instead of walking he talks now. He drives seven hundred miles, and when he gets there no one knows him anymore, no one welcomes him. And what goes through a man's mind, driving seven hundred miles home without having earned a cent? Why shouldn't he talk to himself? Why? When he has to go to Charley and borrow fifty dollars a week and pretend to me that it's his pay? How long can that go on? How long? You see what I'm sitting here and waiting for? And you tell me he has no character? The man who never worked a day but for your benefit? When does he get the medal for that? Is this his reward - to turn around at the age of sixty-three and find his sons, who he loved better than his life, one a philandering bum

Act I)

This quote from Willy's wife, Linda, reveals information not only about her as a character, but also about Willie and her sons. Linda goes on a rant in response to her son Biff's criticism of Willy, and in doing so she shows the audience that she is a loyal, devoted woman who supports her husband no matter what. In the play's introduction, Linda is described as admiring and loving toward her husband, despite his changing moods and lack of success, and these feelings are shown in this Act I quote.

Instead of criticizing Willy for not making enough money or for not being honest about where his weekly money is coming from, Linda Loman looks underneath the surface of her husband's actions to find the motivation. She understands that he acts the way he does out of pride and love for his family, and the fact that she understands this makes her a very sympathetic and likeable character.

Linda Loman's loyalty is admirable, and the fact that she stands up to Biff's unfeeling criticism shows her inner strength. Before this point, I saw her as delusional in much the same way as Willy is, and it made me not like her as a character. I wanted someone in the play to acknowledge what was really going on, but no one seemed willing to do so at the start. But when Linda reveals that she knows exactly how unappreciated and useless Willy feels, I saw her as much more savvy and intelligent, and I appreciated the subtle nuances of her relationship with Willy and her role in the family much more clearly.

The quote also shows Willy's character in more detail. He comes across as both clueless and arrogant, assuming that he always has the right answer but woefully inept at creating a successful career at his age. But Linda's discussion with Biff shows that Willy may not be as self-delusional as he seems. He knows that he needs to keep up appearances and that he has a responsibility to support his family, and he is painfully aware that he is failing. So he goes to lengths to hide his failure from his wife and children, all the while trying to deal with his advancing age and decreasing career prospects. Instead of being a man who doesn't know his skills and abilities are no longer wanted or needs. Linda shows that Willy is painfully aware that he is a dinosaur in the land of sales.

If he was not aware of this, he would not feel the need to cover up his failure; the lengths he goes to in pretending everything is okay shows that he understands what is happening to him.

The efforts Linda sees Willy going to in order to protect her from the truth also show his love for his wife and children. He sees himself as the provider - the traditional father-figure, and he wants to be that for his family even when it's no longer possible. While he is annoying and sometimes insufferable, he is also loving and proud. He does not want to simply accept his own lessening role in the family and he fights it in the only ways he knows how. Clearly, this quote shows that Willy is a man of great character, and I felt much more sympathetic toward him after seeing him through Linda's eyes.