Feminist
During
the 1940’s women within the United States of America were still gaining
political and social influence. Within the play, Linda is characterized as a
supportive, loving wife who endures the faults of her husband. She continues to
defend him despite the fact that she’s treated rudely by Willy randomly. A prime
example of his rudeness within the play would be when he interrupts her
speaking, restricting her from expressing her opinions. In text, she says the
following, “I’ll make a big breakfast.” followed by Willy saying, “Will you let
me finish?” Another example of this would be when Linda was saying, “All the
mothers…” and Willy snapped at her while saying” Shut up!” Another instance in
the text where we saw Linda being treated rudely by her husband and backed up by
her son, Happy, can be found in the following excerpt from the
play;
“Linda:
Oliver always thought the highest of him-
Willy:
Will you let me talk?
Biff:
Don’t yell at her Pop, will ya?
Willy
(angrily): I was talking, wasn’t I?
Biff:
I don’t like you yelling at her all the time, and I’m tellin’ you, that’s
all
Willy:
What’re you, takin’ over this house?
Linda:
Willy-
Willy
(turning on her): Don’t take his side all the time, goddammit!
Biff
(furiously): Stop yelling at her!
Willy
(suddenly pulling on his cheek, beaten down, guilt ridden): give my best to Bill
Oliver- he may remember me. (He exists through the living room
doorway.)
Linda
(her voice subdued): What’d you have to start that for? ( Biff turns away.) You
see how sweet he was as soon as you talked hopefully? (She goes over to Biff.)
Come up and say good night to him. Don’t let him go to bed that
way.
Happy:
Come on, Biff, let’s buck him up.
Linda:
Please, dear. Just say good night. It takes so little to make him
happy.”
In
this entire scene we observe that both Happy and Linda are suppressed in some
manner. We can clearly see that Willy talks to his wife inappropriately without
much consideration, and their son, Happy, unhappy with the treatment of his
mother, decides to speak out and express his mind. However, when he actually
speaks out against his father, who he subconsciously seeks approval from, he’s
met with a sharp rebuttal. Willy feels entitled, as the head of the house, and
feels offended that his son, someone inferior, would question his treatment to
Linda. This is also interesting because at scenes like these, we can see that
Willy handles Linda terribly, without respect, but in other scenes he’s
expressing his love and appreciation for her. He expresses to her at times that
she’s his “foundation” and “support” We can assume that he doesn’t truly
appreciate. In knowing this, it’s ironic and tragic that Linda continues to pour
all her efforts and attention into her husband; even if he’s flawed and treats
her with no respect. Like in the previous quote above from the play, Linda not
only allows for herself to be quieted, but she completely disregards herself at
the end; she only considers (at least outwardly) the comfort and happiness of
her husband. With this scene alone, we can see the mentality that Mrs. Loman
has; that she’s not the priority; that her thoughts and opinions don’t really
count against the aggravation and displacement of her beloved husband. Both
Happy and Linda are experiencing a sense of suppression in this scene, and it
results in anger for Happy’s case. Her affections for her husband can be seen
not only in her careful actions but in their conversations. Her love can be
viewed in quotes such as this, “Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the
world...” Amongst her desire and love for her husband, Linda manages to almost
forget about herself and her own dignity as a person. Further examples that
contribute to the idea/sense of male dominance in the play could be found in the
very beginning where Linda is described to have been taking off his shoes for
him. This might hint at a patriarchal society where the male figure dominates
and take more importance over the female figure; that the female figure is
expected to behave as Linda; to be loving, caring, understanding, and submissive
to her husband. Women in this story can not only be portrayed as rightfully
submissive, but also as restrictive. This idea could be identified in the
following excerpt;
“Linda:
Oh, you’re back?
Ben:
I haven’t much time.
Willy:
No, wait! Linda, he’s got a proposition for me in Alaska.
Linda:
But you’ve got- (To Ben.) He’s got a beautiful job here.
Willy:
But in Alaska, kid, I could-
Linda:
You’re doing well enough, Willy!
Ben
(to Linda): Enough for what, my dear?
Linda
(frightened of Ben and angry at him): Don’t say those things to him! Enough to
be happy right here, right now. (To Willy, while Ben laughs.) Why must everybody
conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you, and someday- (to
Ben)- why, old man Wagner told him just the other day that if he keeps it up
he’ll be a member of the firm, didn’t he,
Willy?
Willy:
Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is
building something he must be on the right track, mustn’t he?
Ben:
What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?
Willy
(hesitantly): That’s true, Linda, there’s nothing.”
From
this excerpt, we observe that Willy feels slightly regretful at the idea of the
lost opportunity, or potential opportunity. Linda is expressing to Willy that he
doesn’t need to embark on such a venture when everything is maintained perfectly
where they are. We can infer that Willy here may feel that his wife, might be
constrictive and possibly holding him back. So, in context of overall image,
women in the story take not only a submissive and non-influential role regarding
decision making, but might also be suffocating to the male figure; such as in
the case between Linda and Willy.
During
the 1940’s women within the United States of America were still gaining
political and social influence. Within the play, Linda is characterized as a
supportive, loving wife who endures the faults of her husband. She continues to
defend him despite the fact that she’s treated rudely by Willy randomly. A prime
example of his rudeness within the play would be when he interrupts her
speaking, restricting her from expressing her opinions. In text, she says the
following, “I’ll make a big breakfast.” followed by Willy saying, “Will you let
me finish?” Another example of this would be when Linda was saying, “All the
mothers…” and Willy snapped at her while saying” Shut up!” Another instance in
the text where we saw Linda being treated rudely by her husband and backed up by
her son, Happy, can be found in the following excerpt from the
play;
“Linda:
Oliver always thought the highest of him-
Willy:
Will you let me talk?
Biff:
Don’t yell at her Pop, will ya?
Willy
(angrily): I was talking, wasn’t I?
Biff:
I don’t like you yelling at her all the time, and I’m tellin’ you, that’s
all
Willy:
What’re you, takin’ over this house?
Linda:
Willy-
Willy
(turning on her): Don’t take his side all the time, goddammit!
Biff
(furiously): Stop yelling at her!
Willy
(suddenly pulling on his cheek, beaten down, guilt ridden): give my best to Bill
Oliver- he may remember me. (He exists through the living room
doorway.)
Linda
(her voice subdued): What’d you have to start that for? ( Biff turns away.) You
see how sweet he was as soon as you talked hopefully? (She goes over to Biff.)
Come up and say good night to him. Don’t let him go to bed that
way.
Happy:
Come on, Biff, let’s buck him up.
Linda:
Please, dear. Just say good night. It takes so little to make him
happy.”
In
this entire scene we observe that both Happy and Linda are suppressed in some
manner. We can clearly see that Willy talks to his wife inappropriately without
much consideration, and their son, Happy, unhappy with the treatment of his
mother, decides to speak out and express his mind. However, when he actually
speaks out against his father, who he subconsciously seeks approval from, he’s
met with a sharp rebuttal. Willy feels entitled, as the head of the house, and
feels offended that his son, someone inferior, would question his treatment to
Linda. This is also interesting because at scenes like these, we can see that
Willy handles Linda terribly, without respect, but in other scenes he’s
expressing his love and appreciation for her. He expresses to her at times that
she’s his “foundation” and “support” We can assume that he doesn’t truly
appreciate. In knowing this, it’s ironic and tragic that Linda continues to pour
all her efforts and attention into her husband; even if he’s flawed and treats
her with no respect. Like in the previous quote above from the play, Linda not
only allows for herself to be quieted, but she completely disregards herself at
the end; she only considers (at least outwardly) the comfort and happiness of
her husband. With this scene alone, we can see the mentality that Mrs. Loman
has; that she’s not the priority; that her thoughts and opinions don’t really
count against the aggravation and displacement of her beloved husband. Both
Happy and Linda are experiencing a sense of suppression in this scene, and it
results in anger for Happy’s case. Her affections for her husband can be seen
not only in her careful actions but in their conversations. Her love can be
viewed in quotes such as this, “Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the
world...” Amongst her desire and love for her husband, Linda manages to almost
forget about herself and her own dignity as a person. Further examples that
contribute to the idea/sense of male dominance in the play could be found in the
very beginning where Linda is described to have been taking off his shoes for
him. This might hint at a patriarchal society where the male figure dominates
and take more importance over the female figure; that the female figure is
expected to behave as Linda; to be loving, caring, understanding, and submissive
to her husband. Women in this story can not only be portrayed as rightfully
submissive, but also as restrictive. This idea could be identified in the
following excerpt;
“Linda:
Oh, you’re back?
Ben:
I haven’t much time.
Willy:
No, wait! Linda, he’s got a proposition for me in Alaska.
Linda:
But you’ve got- (To Ben.) He’s got a beautiful job here.
Willy:
But in Alaska, kid, I could-
Linda:
You’re doing well enough, Willy!
Ben
(to Linda): Enough for what, my dear?
Linda
(frightened of Ben and angry at him): Don’t say those things to him! Enough to
be happy right here, right now. (To Willy, while Ben laughs.) Why must everybody
conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you, and someday- (to
Ben)- why, old man Wagner told him just the other day that if he keeps it up
he’ll be a member of the firm, didn’t he,
Willy?
Willy:
Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is
building something he must be on the right track, mustn’t he?
Ben:
What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?
Willy
(hesitantly): That’s true, Linda, there’s nothing.”
From
this excerpt, we observe that Willy feels slightly regretful at the idea of the
lost opportunity, or potential opportunity. Linda is expressing to Willy that he
doesn’t need to embark on such a venture when everything is maintained perfectly
where they are. We can infer that Willy here may feel that his wife, might be
constrictive and possibly holding him back. So, in context of overall image,
women in the story take not only a submissive and non-influential role regarding
decision making, but might also be suffocating to the male figure; such as in
the case between Linda and Willy.