Arthur Millerīs Death of a Salesman

Character

Linda:

She is Willyīs wife and the mother of Biffīs and Happyīs. Linda loves her husband very much and thatīs why she cares more about Willy than about her two sons. Linda is very naive and rather optimistic. Although she tries to protect Willy from reality and its dangers, Willy supresses her.

Linda runs the household and tries to get by on money. She doesnīt complain about anything and thatīs why she cantīunderstand why Willy has committed sucide.

Message

American Dream of financial success

Willyīs dream is to become a very famous and rich salesman. He wants to build a house with a big garden for his wife. At the age of 60 he realizes that his dream hasnīt come true and commits suicide.

For society he loses his worth when he isnīt able to work so hard any longer.

Relationship between father and son

Willy has a troubled relationship to his sons. He has great expectations in his sons, especially in Biff. Willy wants him to get a good job, but Biff wants to become a farmer.

The father canīt understand that his son Biff does not have the same dream as he himself. The trouble is that Willy never listens to his sons when they want to talk to him.

Confrontation with reality

Willy lives an a virtual world and canīt cope with reality. Thatīs why he creates a world of illusions in which he talks to his dead brother Ben, to Linda, to Biff, to Happy and other persons of his past. For the other people it seems as if he was talkng to himself.