In Act 1 of the play, Death of a Salesman, the audience is introduced to the Loman family. Willy Loman, the father of 63 years old and a travelling salesman, Linda Loman, Willy's wife, Biff Loman, Willy's first son, who is 34 years old, and Happy Loman, Willy's youngest son, who is 32 years old.
As the play progresses, the audience is able to see how most of the action revolves around Willy. My first impression of Willy was that he was a normal American family dad. However, when Willy does not seem to be mentally unstable when he mentions the near accidents on the road he made earlier that day and also when he starts to contradict himself, yelling "Biff is a lazy bum!" (Miller 11) but later says, "There's one thing about Biff - he's not lazy" (Miller 11). The audience is further reminded of Willy's mental instability when Biff mentions, "His eyes are going" (Miller 14). When Willy goes through his first daydream or flashback and starts to confuse reality with the past, the audience understands that Willy is truly mentally unstable.
The audience can also assume that Willy's flashbacks or daydreams are caused by Willy's guilt or regrets in his past. For example, when Ben, his wealthy older brother (who died), appears in his daydreams and leaves Willy saying, "William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich!"(Miller 41), Willy wants this type of success for himself and his boys. Willy then relives this moment through his daydreams, in order grasp a glimpse of hope of becoming rich like his older brother. The audience can see Willy as the protagonist of the play. While having pity towards Willy, the audience is also positioned by Miller to have negative feelings towards his relationship with Biff and how he had a mistress.
The audience can also assume that Willy's flashbacks or daydreams are caused by Willy's guilt or regrets in his past. For example, when Ben, his wealthy older brother (who died), appears in his daydreams and leaves Willy saying, "William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich!"(Miller 41), Willy wants this type of success for himself and his boys. Willy then relives this moment through his daydreams, in order grasp a glimpse of hope of becoming rich like his older brother. The audience can see Willy as the protagonist of the play. While having pity towards Willy, the audience is also positioned by Miller to have negative feelings towards his relationship with Biff and how he had a mistress.
Linda Loman is Willy's faithful wife and is portrayed as patient and loving to the Loman family. She serves as the peacekeeper between Biff and Willy when they argue. Despite Willy's harsh words or actions, Linda still loves Willy. The stage directions on page 12 show her as "with infinite patience". She also realizes Willy's deteriorating mentality and tries to comfort him through his struggles. She shows her love when she reassures Willy of his capabilities. Willy complains that he "talks too much. A man oughta come in with a few words" but Linda reassures him saying, "You don't talk too much, you're just lively." (Miller 28). And she continues to do this throughout Act 1.
Not only is Linda loving, but also pragmatic and realistic, choosing not to look towards the past. She tries to bring Willy out of his daydreams or rambles as shown on page 11 when the stage directions state Willy is losing "himself in reminiscences", Linda tries "to bring him out of it" and changes the topic to the new cheese she brought. The audience is positioned to see Linda as a base for the Loman family. She does not go through significant changes throughout Act 1 and continues to try to help Willy and comfort Biff.
Not only is Linda loving, but also pragmatic and realistic, choosing not to look towards the past. She tries to bring Willy out of his daydreams or rambles as shown on page 11 when the stage directions state Willy is losing "himself in reminiscences", Linda tries "to bring him out of it" and changes the topic to the new cheese she brought. The audience is positioned to see Linda as a base for the Loman family. She does not go through significant changes throughout Act 1 and continues to try to help Willy and comfort Biff.
Biff Loman is Willy's first son and is one of the causes of Willy's struggles throughout Act 1. In high school, Biff had "personal attractiveness" (11), "humor and confidence" (15). However, at 34 years, Biff still has "yet to make thirty-five dollars a week" (11) and this upsets Willy. Willy is scared that Biff will end up like himself, unsuccessful and disliked. However, Biff acknowledges his faults, unlike Willy, and tries to create something for himself, such as going "out West" to "raise cattle" (17). Biff's relationship with his father was first strained when he found Willy at a hotel with his mistress. Biff continues to acuse his father of being a "fake"and yells to his mother that Willy "never had an ounce of respect for you" (43).
The audience is positioned to Biff as conflicted between loving his father and hating him for cheating on his mother. Biff is further conflicted with his future and his goals in life. He does not want to follow the same path as his father and yearns to do something for himself. The audience has pity for Biff and he can also be seen as one of the protagonists of the play as well. He is a foil to Willy and his younger brother Happy, because he chooses to accept his reality of failure, unlike Willy or Happy.
The audience is positioned to Biff as conflicted between loving his father and hating him for cheating on his mother. Biff is further conflicted with his future and his goals in life. He does not want to follow the same path as his father and yearns to do something for himself. The audience has pity for Biff and he can also be seen as one of the protagonists of the play as well. He is a foil to Willy and his younger brother Happy, because he chooses to accept his reality of failure, unlike Willy or Happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment