Willy and Linda

1. Willy and Linda By Kathleen and Nichola 

2. Characteristics of Willy Past 60 years of age, dressed quietly, his exhaustion is apparent and he has mercurial nature, a temper, massive dreams and little cruelties. • From our first introduction to the protagonist by Miller we can already see the in the character of Willy Loman. This is shown by the described in the stage directions at the opening of the play. Miller mentions how he has a mercurial nature, a possible side effect of his tiredness along with his mental state, a factor soon to be explored further at a later point in the play. • Miller also mentions how he is carrying two large sample casessymbolic of the physical andmetaphoricalburden he is being subjected to throughout the play. The physical burden is the job he has to do as a salesman, and the metaphorical burden is the fact he feels that he has to support his familyon his own in order not to let them down. It is also representative of the sins of his past which he is hiding from his caring wife, Linda. deterioration Physical aspects mercurial nature mental state carrying two large sample cases, Physical and burden metaphorical job support his family sins

3. Characteristics of Linda Most often jovial, she has developed an iron repression of her exceptions to Willy’s behaviour, she more than loves him she admires him. • Already we can see Linda fits the persona of the 1940’s. From her stage directions we can see that she works hard to support her husband and keep him happy. is highlighting her , enhancing how she him. • The fact she has to Willy’s behaviour indicates how she seems to have acknowledged the weakened mental state of her husband yet she doesn’t want to have to admit that she is close to losing him. stereotypical housewife (She is taking off his shoes) admires caring nature developed an iron repression

4. Their Relationship devoted love • As already highlighted, Linda shows a towards her husband Willy. In return, Willy states how she is important to him yet he does not seem to have a consistent with her. shows how Linda is providing Willy with the he needs from the people around him at this time. However, this comes in the Act just before the with a lady in Boston. This shows that he is not the partner that he is appearing to be. • ‘ is one of the many moments near the end of Act One in which Linda tries to contribute to the with her sons and Willy simply knocks her down and belittles her in front of her sons, showing he has for her in return for her love for him. temper You’re my foundation and my support Linda strength revelation of his affair truly devoted ‘I’ll make a big breakfast-’ ‘Will you let me finish?’ excited atmosphere little respect

5. Linda’s Contribution to Willy’s downfall • As in most tragedies the downfall of the protagonist is caused by a fatal flaw, with Willy’s and belief in theslowly causing him to not only lose his sanity but also lose his . At the end of Act One Linda reveals to her sons that their father is , with Willy purposely trying to crash the car and attaches a • Linda knows that he is not thinking of anyone but himself by trying to end his own life as he is not thinking of . He is trying to do this to be able to give his family the they need. Linda continues to stand by him and him even though she does not know his reasoning. She even argues with Biff and Happy about the fact that when she removes the rubber piping she continues to moral values Cult of Personality value of his own life suicidal new little nipple on the gas pipe. the consequences to his family money support put it back where it was.

6. The Death of Willy Loman Why didn’t anybody come, maybe they blame him, we were just about free and clear, I can’t understand it, I never had a chance to say goodbye, I can’t cry, We’re free…We’re free • The death of Willy Loman doesn’t seem to change Linda’s view on him as a man. Linda knows that he went to Charley each week for money and yet she still talks about him as though he was . She feels , and saying how ‘She can’t cry, possibly indicating how she is so that Willy finally committed suicide that she is not sure how to feel at that very moment. However Miller highlights the in Willy’s death, as Linda states that she on the day of his funeral. Here we can see that the only way Willy could was to that he had. a successful businessman lost without him can’t It seem to accept that he is dead seems to me that you’re just on another trip.’ overwhelmed irony ‘made the last payment on the house’ get what he wanted give up everything

7. Thank You 