Role of Women in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay

Role of Women in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman is of course about a salesman, but it is also about the American dream of success. Somewhere in between the narrowest topic, the death of a salesman, and the largest topic, the examination of American values, is Millers picture of the American family. This paper will chiefly study one member of the family, Willys wife, Linda Loman, but before examining Millers depiction of her, it will look at Millers depiction of other women in the play in order to make clear Lindas distinctive traits. We will see that although her role in society is extremely limited, she is an admirable figure, fulfilling the roles of wife and mother with remarkable intelligence.†¦show more content†¦HOWARDS VOICE. Go on, say something. (Pause.) Well, you gonna talk? HIS WIFE. I cant think of anything. HOWARDS VOICE. Well, talk--its turning.~ HIS WIFE (shyly, beaten). Hello. (Silence.) Oh Howard I cant talk into this . . . HOWARD (snapping the machine off). That was my wife. (1199) There is, in fact, a third woman in Howards life, maid. Howard says that if he cant be at home when the Jack Benny program comes on, he uses the wire recorder. He tells the maid to turn the radio on when Jack Benny comes on, and this automatically goes on with the radio.... (1199). In short, the women in Howards world exist to serve (and to worship) him. Another woman who seems to have existed only to serve men is Willy Lomans mother. On one occasion, in speaking with Ben, Willy remembers being on her lap, and Ben, on learning that his mother is dead, utters a platitudinous description of her, Fine specimen of a lady, Mother (1183), but thats as much as we learn of her. Willy is chiefly interested in learning about his father, who left the family and went to Alaska. Ben characterizes the father as a very great and a very wild-hearted man (1185), but the fact that the father left his family and apparently had no further communication with his wife and children seems to mean nothing to Ben. Presumably the mother struggled alone to bring up the boys, but her efforts areShow MoreRelated Portrayal of Women in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesPortrayal of Women in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Although Death of a Salesman is mainly about a salesman named Willy Loman, the almost hidden presence of the women in the novel goes all too often unnoticed.   Linda Loman seems to be the glue that holds the Loman clan together, as Willy, Biff, and Happy are all deluded in one way or another.   Arthur Miller depicts Willys wife in a very specific way, and this is a very crucial part of the story.   He depicts the other women in the storyRead More Tragic Heroes in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman and Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House1709 Words   |  7 PagesHeroes in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman and Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Dramatists such as Aristotle started to write a series of plays called tragedies. 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