Linda

Question 1

“[she has developed an _____ _______ of her __________ to Willys behaviour]” Act 1

Answer 1

iron repression

exceptions

Question 2

“[she more than _____ him, she _______ him]” Act 1

Answer 2

loves

admires

Question 3

“[calls with some ________]”

Answer 3

trepidation

Question 4

What does trepidation mean?

“[calls with some trepidation]” Act 1

Answer 4

a feeling or fear about something that may happen

Question 5

“Maybe its your ________” Act 1

Answer 5

glasses

Question 6

What is the significance of the quote

“Maybe its your glasses” Act 1 ?

Answer 6

Glasses are a transparent commodity, it is dramatically ironic that Linda would then suggest that it is fault of the glasses when the situation involving Willys mental state is clear and (ergo transparent) to the audience and even Willy who admits “No, its me, its me”. Linda’s passivity of Willy’s mental stability is significant in the desis of the tragedy due to her inadvertent isolation she causes on her husband. The suggestive tone also of the adverb “maybe” indicates Linda’s gender role as a wife in the 1940’s, unable to directly make a statement, Miller in this way imposes the question to the audience of whether it is of actual fault of Linda for Willy’s downfall or rather is it societies in which does not entitle her a voice.

Question 7

“[res_____]” Act 1

Answer 7

resigned

Question 8

“Taken an ______.Should I get you an ______? It’ll ______ you.”

Answer 8

aspirin
aspirin
soothe

Question 9

Explore the quotation

“Take an aspirin. Should I get you an aspirin? It’ll soothe you

Answer 9

Linda’s suppression has socially conditioned her as only being able to physically alleviate Willy’s pain with an “aspirin” rather than mentally as an equal challenge to his dream and self-denial. This is reflected by the fact that Linda needs permission, “should I?” indicating she cannot transcend the patriarchal obligations of a wife that limit her ability to allow Willy the realisation needed to fight his hamartia of self-deciet. Consequently, this dramatically frustrates the audience as Linda possessed the insight Willy needed, yet could not prevent this due to societal boundaries; this is demonstrated by the point that she, without delay, immediately undermined her imperative to “Take an aspirin”, by replacing this authoritative tone in replacement for a more inferior suggestion “should I” . In turn, this prompts a sense of pathos as the audience understand Linda is constrained by her duty as a wife, a point Miller arguably intends to represent the inevitability of Willy’s tragedy as the “embodiment of the common man”. Furthermore, the significance of the verb “soothe” implies a phonetic maternalistic undertone, substantiated as well by her addressing of “Willy, dear”, which possibly takes reference to the Oedipus Complex, in this way Linda as a mother figure could be suggested by Miller to be therefore blind to Willy’s denial of himself and is primarily focused on supporting his physical condition rather than being aware of his mental deterioration. As well, this mother son relationship could prevent Willy from communicating his mental distress as Willy may see Linda as a carer rather than an equal to whom he can be candid with. To Willy’s detriment, this 1940’s patriarchal society thus induces Linda to amplify rather than aid Willy’s tragedy as it could be possible that if she were to discredit Willys success he could emulate his father and abandon the family therefore she asks “should I” allowing Willy his needed authority as the “boss” of the house; as Linda is the central foundation to the family it is her duty to therefore prevent this from occurring. Consequently, Linda can only suppress his physical pain with an “aspirin” due to her own suppression as a mother and wife to obey her husband.

Question 10

What quote suggests Willy tries to communicate to Linda that he is mentally unwell and Linda being passive to his comments? Early Act 1

Answer 10

“I have such thoughts, I have such strange thoughts”
“Talk to them again”
|
Linda does not accept responsibility

Question 11

“[a ribbon in her hair, _______ a _____ of washing]”

Answer 11

carrying

basket

Question 12

What is an interpretation of the stage direction

“[a ribbon in her hair, carrying a basket of washing]”

Answer 12

Miller employs Linda in the role of the dutiful housewife of the 1940’s patriarchal expectations which allows the audience to understand her lack of authority over Willy in present time to act as the “foundation” and “support” of his stability. The “ribbon” perhaps could be argued to signify how Linda is figuratively tied by societal boundaries and therefore unable to help Willy from his hamartia (self deception). Furthermore, It could also be interpreted that the “ribbon” also has associations, stereotypically, to feminine qualities- reflective of Linda’s subordinate role as a wife which is further established through the conventionalised domestic core of “washing”.

Question 13

“[now is ________ a pair of her ____ stockings]” Act 1

Answer 13

mending

silk

Question 14

“[I won’t ____ ___ mending stockings __ ____house]” Willy to Linda Act 1

Answer 14

have you

in this

Question 15

“[She pulls ______ ___ ______ out of her _____ pocket]”

{“Linda puts the ________ in her pocket]” Act 1

Answer 15

pencil and paper
apron

stockings

Question 16

What is the significance of the fact that Linda,

“[She pulls pencil and paper out of her apron pocket]”
“[Linda puts the stockings in her pocket]”
Act 1 ?

Answer 16

The only power that Linda holds, both in intellect suggested by her “pencil and paper”, as well as being good at fixing (“mending”) things such as her “stockings”, is taken away by Willy due to his insecurities of being an insufficient husband unable to provide financially or materialistically for his family. Linda is instead forced to put the potential she has “in her pocket” by Willy, which is reflective of her oppression by the patriarchy society where she is not subject to a voice. The “stockings” could symbolise Linda trying to “mend” her marriage metaphorically however Willy’s blissful ignorance to his infidelity is apparent as he attempts to be passively oblivious rather than fix his marriage. This is significant to the contribution of Willy’s tragic downfall as it is in inability to preserve his familial relations as a father and husband that begin his decent into mental decline from his failure in family life as well as his career. Another interpretation which could be suggested from the stockings is that Willy’s guilt associated to them results in his inability to be reminded of his infidelity; however it could also be superficial from the way that mending stockings creates the appearance that his wife is poor, and that he is therefore unsuccessful.

Question 17

“But he’s a human being, ___ _ ______ _____ __ ____________ __ ___” Act 1

Answer 17

and a terrible thing is happening to him

Question 18

“Attention, attention _____ __ ____ __ _____ _ _____” Act 1

Answer 18

must be paid to such a person

Question 19

“a _____ man can be just as _________ as a ______ man” Act 1

Answer 19

small
exhausted
great

Question 20

What is Miller’s intention when he has Linda say

“a small man can be just as exhausted as a great man” Act 1

Answer 20

Miller perhaps could be communicating through Linda his theory of how Willy represents the “embodiment of the common man” through his universal tragedy. In contrast with classical, Aristotelian, tragedy Miller advocates that there can be a fall even when the there is no figure from a noble or “great” social standing, the fall of an ordinary “small” man can be equally as tragic.

Question 21

“Stop __________ !” Act 1 Willy to linda

Answer 21

Interrupting

Question 22

Willy remarks he will buy some “seeds” Linda replies

“_________ grow any more” Act 2

Answer 22

Nothing’ll

Question 23

What is significant about Linda replying

“Nothing’ll grow any more” Act 2

Answer 23

Miller here suggests that it is too late to rectify Willy’s mistake and “Nothing’ll grow any more” is therefore implying that Willy has reached the point of no return in his tragedy, his fall is inevitable.

Question 24

“[Willy _____ ___ __ his jacket, Linda ______ him]”

“[_______ ___ into the jacket]” Act 2

Answer 24

walks out of
follows
getting him

Question 25

What can be interpreted from the stage directions
“[Willy walks out of his jacket, Linda follows him]”
“getting him into the jacket]” Act 2 ?

Answer 25

This is suggestive of the point that Linda prevents Willy from transcending the falsity of the American Dream through contributing to his self deception, in which the “jacket” represents. Miller employs Linda as the mythos of the play as a peripheral character who symbolises gender entrapment, a contributing factor in which imprisons Willy from being alleviated from societal expectation as he is trapped in his role as the stereotypical ‘breadwinner’ who cannot get “out”. This is also ironic, as structurally Willy has just denounced consumer society, yet Linda is following him with a jacket, a material and fashion possession.

Question 26

“he’s only a _____ ____ looking for a ______” Act 2

Answer 26

little boat

harbour

Question 27

How do the quotes 
"Biff, its in your hands"
"put your arms around him"
"say goodnight"
"give him a smile"

support Linda as the centre of the family who holds them together?

Answer 27

Linda continually attempts to save Willy by controlling through her sons what she thinks will help Willy but cannot do due to her place as a wife. However, all of her suggestions are arguably in diametric opposition to the actual help Willy needs as by suppressing Biff to the regiments of capitalist America, she preserves Willy’s self-deception that the American Dream is real.

Question 28

How do the quotes 
"Biff, its in your hands"
"put your arms around him"
"say goodnight"
"give him a smile"

support Linda as the centre of the family who holds them together?

Answer 28

Linda continually attempts to save Willy by controlling through her sons what she thinks will help Willy but cannot do due to her place as a wife. However, all of her suggestions are arguably in diametric opposition to the actual help Willy needs as by suppressing Biff to the regiments of capitalist America, she preserves Willy’s self-deception that the American Dream is real, a theory that Miller perpetually reviews as false

Question 29

What two interpretations can be made of

“You’re doing well enough” Act 2

Answer 29

1) Linda has never desired the life of wealth or excessive success while knowing that he has “never made a lot of money (Act 1), it is Willy’s own obsession to compare himself to others that cause his fixation that cause his oblivion to the falsity of the American Dream.
2) Linda contributes to Willy’s tragic downfall as he is evidently not suited as a “salesman” yet encourages this instead of encouraging a physically suited job to his abilities

Question 30

“just on ______ ____”- requiem

Answer 30

another trip

Question 31

“We’re ____ and ____” requiem

Answer 31

free

clear

Question 32

Explore

“we’re free and clear”

Answer 32

The mythos Miller presents here is one that creates a sense of pathos for Willy as his death proved valueless in its purpose leaving greater sorrow than joy. There is a chilling atmosphere surrounding Linda while she remarks “we’re free”, as although financially she has been alleviated, she is not “free” figuratively from the absence of his death and in this, Miller powerfully submits the argument that there is in fact tragedy in the “common man”.”We’re free” implies that now their family can escape the constraints from the falsity of the American Dream in which Willy bound them to, suggesting that as Willy’s tragedy is clear to Linda, it won’t be reciprocated. It could having said perhaps refer to the freedom from the suppression of 1940’s capitalist America which they are now realised from after the payment of the mortgage. It is however dramatically ironic to the audience as being “free” indicates liberation of the characters when in fact it was the tragedy which arose from the unending hope in the American Dream and the false “free”dom it promised which resulted in the death of a husband and father, something they will never be “free” from. Miller capitalises on the idea of being “free” as something achieved once the falsity of the dream is recognised, communicating a moral message to the audience.

Question 33

Explore , “[Linda taking off his shoes]”

Answer 33

Through the parenthetic stage directions Miller establishes Linda as the stereotypical housewife which contributes to the idea she cannot act as a challenge to Willy’s tragedy such as by, “[taking off his shoes]”. It could be argued that the religious imagery of Linda “[Linda taking off his shoes]” parallels to classical, Aristotelian tragedy as Willy has been illustrated as of being of high authority in this domestic setting, and so it is clear therefore that his tragic fall is significant and indeed tragic, as he does in fact fall from a position of importance while maintaining the representation of the “common man”. Furthermore, the fact that Linda disguises Willy’s exhaustion through helping him in such a simple task of “[taking off his shoes]”, Miller actually visually demonstrates to the audience the extent of his fatigue that physically reflects his corresponding mental exhaustion. Linda’s passivity through not fighting for Willys improvement observingly contributes to his delusion and ergo augments his tragedy further as she evidently deprives Willy of moments of admission that can also be seen when she refutes, “Maybe its your glasses”

Question 34

“To me you are. [slight pause] The handsomest”

Answer 34

Linda compensates for her withdrawing compliment by saying he is the “handsomest” as if to reassure Willy and support his ego

Question 35

What does Willy’s refusal to acknowledge Linda suggest?

Answer 35

either a lack of care or total exhaustion

Question 36

What is the significance of this?

Answer 36

Willy responds quickly to flattery which smiling signified. However his public face and private face are directly contrasted here. To his wife he defends his light-heartedness; whereas in secret, he knows that he overdoes humour; an example of Willy’s self-knowedlge and contradiction

Question 37

explore

“Attention,attention must be finally paid to such a person”

Answer 37

Linda suggests that Willy is potentially a tragic figure. He too can be reduced to bad behaviour by circumstances beyond his control-such as being on “straight commission”- but commends his high ideals as a person. Linda argues that “a small man can be just as exhausted as a great man,” this reference to Aristotle’s view of tragedy indicates that it is not only important people or “great men” who suffer from a great height; tragedy exists for the common man whom Willy embodies.

Question 38

“a small man ___ ___ _____ ___ ________ __ __ ______ ____”

Answer 38

can be just as exhausted as a great man