Family Dreams in Death of a Salesman
Author(s): Irving Jacobson
Reviewed work(s):
Source: American Literature, Vol. 47, No. 2 (May, 1975), pp. 247-258
Published by: Duke University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2925484 .
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Family Dreams in Death of a Salesman
IRVING JACOBSON
State Universityof New York, Syracuse
has called Death of a Salesman'
perhapsfacetiously,
a "tragedyfor extroverts."2
This differentiates
Willy Loman
figureswho, like Shakefroma dramatictraditionof introspective
speare'sHamlet or Milton'sSamson,confronttheirsituationsin a
a protagonist
solitude.By contrast,
profoundsocialand metaphysical
who cannotbe alone, who cannot summonthe intelligenceand
to scrutinizehis conditionand come to some understandstrength
ing of it-whateveragonyit may costhim-seems disqualifiedfor
to Aristotelian
can bestow.Withreference
thetragicstatureliterature
Sheila Huftelhas remarkedthatLoman fell only from
standards,
"an imaginedheight."3Indeed,to an extenthis drama represents
merelythe collapseof a Philistine.Yet if one does not look upon
forhis adherenceto valueshe
Loman witha scowlofcondemnation
his
hiscontradictions,
forhisanti-intellectualismi,
barelyunderstands,
he does not becausethe fall from
and pettycruelties,
insensitivities
a fall.Loman is not,as critics
a heightonlyimaginedis nevertheless
have too facilelystated,a modernEverymanbut an anomaly,a
of Joeand ChrisKeller,or of
an odd synthesis
bourgeoisromantic,
and
Everymanand Faust. He movesone not with his mediocrity
energiesof his outreachbeyond
failurebut with the frustrated
and failuretowarda relationshipto societyconstantly
mediocrity
denied him.
Lomanwantssuccess,butthemeaningofthatneedextendsbeyond
goods,and status.As Arthur
the accumulationof wealth,security,
"The troublewithWillyLoman is that
Millersaid in an interview,
he has tremendously
powerfulideas."' But he yearnstowardthem
NE CRITIC,
1 Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and
Further
pp. I30-222.
a Requiem, in Arthur Miller's Collected Plays (New York, I957),
referencesto this edition will be noted in the text by page number.
2 Richard Watts, "A Matter of Hopelessness in Death of a Salesman," Ttilane Drama
Review, II (May, I958), 64.
Sheila Huftel, ArthtirMiller: The Burning Glass (New York, I965), p. II-4.
4 Arthur Miller, "Morality and Modern Drama: Interview with Phillip Gelb," Educational Theatre lournal, X (Oct., I958), rpt. in Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman: Text
and Criticism,ed. Gerald Weales (New York, I967), p. I75.
American Literature
248
morethanhe livesby them.What Loman wants,and what success
relatedto his own,and
meansin Death ofa Salesman,is intimately
senseof the family.Familydreamsextendbackthe playwright's,
thepast,reachforwardin timeto project
ward in timeto interpret
imagesof thefuture,and pressurerealityin thepresentto conform
to memoryand imagination.These "ideals,"thesedreams,can be
prominence,
examinedin termsof fourvariables:transformation,
and unity.
synthesis,
I
RobertHogan has notedthatmuch of Miller'swork developed
Miller
tobe at one withsociety."5
fromtheimageofman"struggling
elucidatesthe natureof this strugglein "The Family in Modern
Drama,"wherehe findsall greatdramato be concernedwithsome
aspectof a singleproblem:"How maya man make of theoutside
worlda home?" What doeshe needto do, to changewithinhimself
thesurroundings
or in theexternalworld,ifhe is to find"thesafety,
and honorwhich,eviof love,theease of soul,thesenseof identity
dently,all men have connectedin theirmemorieswith the idea of
family?"'6This concernremainsa constantin Miller'swork.He is
quoted in Psychologyand ArthurMiller by RichardI. Evans as
observingthathis own senseof dramaresidesin theemotionaltensionwithina persondrawnto thepastin orderto orienthimselfto
feeldisplacedfromwhattheyshouldbe,
thepresent.His characters
evenfromwhat they"really"are.7AlthoughMillerdoes not make
explicitreferencehere to childhoodand the family,the sense of
radicalloss and the passionateneed to reattainsome previousand
the same as in "The Familyin
necessarystateseemfundamentally
ModernDrama."
WiththesuccessofAll MySons,wroteMiller,"It suddenlyseemed
that the audiencewas a mass of blood relationsand I sensed a
warmthin the world that was not therebefore."'He attributed
a relatively
socialworld
impersonal
successto thepowerto transform
familialwarmth.His nextplay,probably
intoa home thatoffered
5 Robert Hogan, ArthuirMiller (Minneapolis, I964),
6
I956),
7
p. 8.
Arthur Miller, "The Family in Modern Drama," Atlantic Monthly, CXCVII
36-37.
Richard I. Evans, Psychology and Arthur Miller (New York, I969),
s ArthurMiller, "Introductionto the CollectedlPlays," p. 22.
p. 56.
(April,
Dreams in Death of a Salesman
249
of failurein the Americantheatre,
portrayal
the moststunning
a man'sinability
thistransformation.
Nothing
toachieve
dramatized
in theworld."Instead,
Lomansaysordoescanevokethat"warmth
thatcanonlyseemcruel
tohimwithan indifference
society
responds
withhimevento thepoint
in juxtaposition
to thehopeshe carries
of death.
withan
hisneedin appealingto hisemployer
Lomanarticulates
was
a
there
"In
those
perGolden
days
Age:
imageof thepast,
in it,Howard.Therewas respect,
and comradeship,
and
sonality
no chancefor
gratitude
init.Todayit'sall cutanddried,andthere's
(pp. i8o-i8i). Earlier
friendship
to bear-orpersonality"
bringing
world:Gus
the
business
values
outside
foundthese
Millercharacters
in theMerchant
Marine,in The StoryofGus;9ChrisKellerin the
in All My Sons.'0Lomanoncefoundthemin havingcoffee
Army,
in placeslike
in beingrecognized
withthemayorof Providence,
suchgoodstanding
Filene's,
andtheHub,andbyenjoying
Slattery's,
thathe couldparkhiscaranywhere
withNew Englandpolicemen
a ticket.
His senseof self-value,
then,dehe likedwithout
getting
of recognition
Such gestures
of others.
pendedupontheresponse
fora periodin hislife,wasa homefor
provided
signalsthatsociety,
him,onewherehe mighthopeto makehissonsas happilyat ease
ashe.
associations,
business
whether
wealth,
Prominence,
gainedthrough
the
or publicesteem,
in turning
appearedto be themajorcatalyst
Lomanexpressed
world'sindifference
andadmiration.
intowarmth
andFrank
aweattheprominence
ofThomasEdison,B.F.Goodrich,
wereBen,Dave
imagesofsuccess
Wagner,
butthemostcompelling
the renownedsalesman,
and Biff.The entrepreneur,
Singleman,
in lifeto
possibilities
and thestarhighschoolathleterepresented
whichLomancouldnot attain.Theyweresurrounded
men.At
and, at the
by admiringclassmates
school,Biffwas surrounded
At
sunlight.
crowdsand brilliant
EbbetsField game,by cheering
was
thepeak of his careerand at theend of his life,Singleman
and fellowsalesmen.
surrounded
ofcustomers
bytheaffection
and powerof his
was surrounded
bythemystery
Ben,however,
a wayofbeingathomein the
audacity.
He represented
enterprising
9 Arthur Miller, The Story of Gus, in Radio's Best Plays, ed. Joseph Liss (New York,
1947),
pp.
307-3I9.
10 ArthurMiller, All My Sons, in Arthur Miller's Collected Plays, pp. 58-I27.
250
American Literature
worldthatdiffered
fromMiller'sstatement
aboutthepublicresponse
characto All My Sons and fromtheattainments
of othersuccessful
tersin Death of a Salesman.The worldwas a homeforBen notby
he won fromit but by the commandof his wealth,
the affection
power,and mobility.In the world of financehe was as much a
pioneer,a "greatand wild-hearted
man,"as hisfather.His imaginationand lifeextendedas easilyto Alaska,SouthDakota,and Africa
he
as to New York. Apparentlyindifferent
to social relationships,
neededneitherthehumanwarmthof thefamilynor society'spositiveresponse.His sphereof actionrelatedto thingsand quantities
ratherthanpeople; evenhis sevensonsseemedmorelike commoditiesthanmembersof a family.Therebytheplay implies,not without irony,Ben was morecapableof becomingat ease in theworld
a choice
thanWillyLoman,whoserefusalto join withhis brother,
signaledhis
rootedin an ethicorientedto thefamilyand to society,
financial,
socialand familyfailures.
The world became a home forDave Singlemanin an opposite
fashion.Like Ben,he enjoyedwealth,powerand mobility;butthese
The nature
weremoreentirely
enmeshedwithinsocialrelationships.
in his ability
and extentof hiisprominence
was succinctly
illustrated
to sit in a hotelroom and make his livingby phone,comfortably
attiredin the luxuryof greenvelvetslippers.This imagehas had a
decisivepowerin Loman'slife:
careera mani
AndwhenI sawthat,I realizedthatsellingwasthegreatest
couldwant.'Causewhatcouldbe moresatisfying
thanto be ableto go,
at theage of eighty-four,
or thirty
intotwenty
different
cities,anldpick
and lovedanldhelpedbyso manly
differup a phone,andbe remembered
entpeople?(p. i8o)
Unlike Ben, Singlemanachieveda successthatpresentedhim with
a worldof loyalty,aid, and love. His scopeof actionwas spatially
more limitedin being nationalratherthan international;
but responseto him was morepersonal.For Loman,thesurestindication
of publiclove forSinglemanis thatwhen he died the "deathof a
salesman"in thesmokingcarof a trainon thewayto Boston,people
travelledfromall overthe countryto attendhis funeral.In juxtapositionto Loman's funeralin the "Requiem"of the play,thisreveals the extentto which Singleman'sprominencegrantedhim a
home in societythatLoman cannotachieve.Singlemanmastered
Dreams in Death of a Salesman
25I
his societynot throughthe demonicqualitiesone perceivesin Ben
of man'ssocialand economicimpulses.
but througha synthesis
The worldbecamea homeforBiffLoman when,as an athlete,he
and admirationfromthe people aroundhim. His
evokedaffection
witha choiceofthreecollegescholarships
lifeseemedfullofpromise,
to signifythe abundanceof futuresuccesslifecan offerthe already
When he becamecaptainofthefootballteam,a crowdof
successTul.
him afterclasses,and girlspaid forhim on dates.
girlssurrounded
His friendswaitedforhimafterschool,notknowinghow to occupy
untilhe arrivedto organizethemintosweepingout the
themselves
with
furnaceand hangingup his mother'slaundry.As contrasted
his friendBernard,who was only "liked," Biffwas "well-liked,"
which seemedto granthim, in Loman's view, certainallowances
thatcould not be bestowedupon thosewho receivedless fervent
popularesteem.At theall-starEbbetsField game he was thetallest
player,dressedin gold withthesun all aroundhimwhilethecrowd
"Loman,Loman,Loman!"(p. I71),
shouted
SO
sensed
thathisfather
himraisedbeyondthelevelofthemerelyhumanbytheextentofhis
amongothers.
prominence
quality
forBen,Singleman,and Biffhas an impersonal
Prominence
Loman's repeatedinsistenceupon thevalue of perthatcontradicts
His heroestend
sonalityand whathe calls "personalattractiveness."
tostandamongyetaboveotherpeople.He remarksthatat theEbbets
Field game Biffseemedlike "Hercules-somethinglike that" (p.
have more
171), and his accountsof Ben's being"successincarnate"
the tone of hagiographythan familyanecdote.For Loman these
talents,and
figuresexistless as individualswith actual characters,
of his own needsand his
projections
problemsthanas mythological
forhis life.For
values.This has two kindsof consequences
society's
to him. Alone,the meansforachievingsuccessremaina mystery
thingscan hapthoughhe perceivesBen as a signthat"The greatest
pen!" he can neverdiscoverhow thosethingshappen.When he asks
Ben how to succeedhe receivesnot an answerbut an incantatory
I walkedintothejungle,and when
formula:"WhenI was seventeen
I walked out. And by God I was rich" (p. I57).
I was twenty-one
or useful,and
Ben proveswillingto use violencewhenit is necessary
lead
Loman to
he boastsof his mnemonicpowers;but thesecannot
understandhow Ben becamewealthy,much less how anyoneelse
projectionis
might.Anotherconsequenceof Loman's mythological
252
American Literature
suchas Charlie
qualities,
luminous
without
strikingly
thatcharacters
orLinda,cannotmoveLomandeeplyenoughtohelphim.Charlie's
wheresomeonein
theonlyinstance
represent
aid and friendship
tiewithhim.YetCharlie
likea family
society
doesformsomething
advice,nottransformation.
realistic
canoffer
onlyhelp,notpromise;
inbusiness,
He hassucceeded
butno auraofmagicpowersurrounds
himorhisadvice.
andtotransform
toattainprominence
Theconsequences
offailing
despair.
andultimately
frustration,
society
intoa homeareloneliness,
to takea socialform,hislifeis
BecauseLomanneedsgratification
In his
andabandonment.
criticism,
rejection,
crushed
byindifference,
tiesin the
scenewithHowardWagnerhe appealsto quasi-familial
usedto carryyouin
past-"I was withthefirmwhenyourfather
that"business
is business"
hereinhisarms"(p. I79)-but thereality
At thesametimethat
makeshisappealirrelevant.
andnota family
to rejection
bya son,it also
figuratively,
Wagner'sactcorresponds,
a finallossofhopethatfamily
tiescanexiston a sociallevel.
records
to be at one with
But,stillunableto acceptfailurein hisstruggle
to
Lomanprefers
deathwiththeillusionoftransformation
society,
lifewithout
it.
II
and privilege
The assumption
thatprominence
bringsaffection
Signs
hasledtheLomanstoboastorlieaboutthemselves.
frequently
toas "theoldhumor,
ofprominence,
whatLomanandHappyrefer
theoldconfidence"
(p. I37), canbeusedas a facade.Lomanreturns
"I'm tellin'you,I was sellin'thoufroma business
tripexclaiming,
butI hadtocomehome"(p. I47). His fabricasandsandthousands,
thatan
a polarization
withhisincapacities
tionscreateso extreme
impossible.
Happy
ownorBiff's-becomes
offailure-his
acceptance
in thesceneat Frank'sChopHouse,where
provesmorecalculating
withfalse,glossyimagesforthe
he presents
himself
andhisbrother
women.
sakeofseducing
a persistent
ifminor
attention
comprises
Happy'sneedtocommand
notethroughout
theplay.He admiresand enviesthemerchandise
of
he walksintothestorethewavespartin front
manager-"when
the
dollarsa yearcomingthrough
him.That'sfifty-two
thousand
reference
totheMoses
door. . ." (p. I40). Thedistorted
revolving
Dreams in Death of a Salesman
253
valueshaveabsorbed
theextentto whichmonetary
mythsignifies
one
thathecanbecome"number
Whenheasserts
emotions.
religious
in mind;andthisrepremanager
man,"Happyhasthemerchandise
sentsa decayedideal,oneof merewealthand power,withneither
Happy'sneedtobe
socialprominence.
Ben'sdaringnorSingleman's
also,forhehasneverbeenthe
significance
one"hasanother
"number
attention,
alwaysa poorsecondto Biff.He
solefocusofhisfather's
an adin theLomanhousehold,
present
seemsalwaysto be merely
attenpointshe makesan openbidforhisfather's
junct.At several
Lomanhas noticedhow muchweighthe has
tion,askingwhether
As an adult,Happyenviesthe
neveranswers.
lost;buthisfather
sortof
an underhanded
him
achieving
above
while
of
those
positions
increatures,
"gorgeous
bytakingbribesand seducing
prominence
he describes
Although
executives.
of company
cludingthefiancees
hecannot
senseofcompetition,"
as having"anoverdeveloped
himself
ortakes
sexually,
does
so
levelbutinstead
compete
on an appropriate
intheoffice.
hecanoutboxanyone
past,claiming
inan athletic
refuge
but
ofpseudo-prominence;
He claimsnotreallytowanttheseforms
form,
Happybecomes
thoughin a different
as muchas hisbrother,
theillusion
andstealing
pleasure
a thief,
womenfortransient
stealing
withlies.
ofprominence
theimagesof
andbrother,
Biffdoesnotemulate
Unlikehisfather
menbutrejectstheyearshe has spentridingsubways,
prominent
to spenda
feelingit ridiculous
keepingstock,buyingand selling,
He surrenders
vacation.
forthesakeofa two-week
yearin suffering
torepeata
byrefusing
adulthood
fora prominent
hisopportunities
witha womanin a
hehasfoundhisfather
courseafter
mathematics
conBostonhotelroom.Yethisneedfortheillusionofprominence
in essence,
of
theft-repetitions,
actsofpetty
tinues
withhisrepeated
As an adulthehas
as "initiative."
onceapplauded
behavior
hisfather
in TheMan WhoHad
thesameproblem
as theyoungDavidFrieber
All theLuck:` "I don'tknowwhatthefuture
is. I don'tknowhislifeof
towant"(p. I38). Howevergratifying
whatI'm supposed
himself
in theWest,he has thought
on ranches
simplephysicality
lessthanmature-"I'mlikea boy"(p. I39)-and hasfoundhimself
andwaste.
homewitha senseofincompletion
returning
periodically
andhisexperience
of
appliedbyhisfather,
pressure
Onlytheintense
11 Arthur Miller, The Mani Whto Had All the Lutck, in Cross-Section: ,1 Collectioni oj
New American Wr-iting,ed. Edwin Seaver (New York, 1944), pp. 486-552.
254
American Literature
himin a finalsense
reconciles
failureand theftin Bill Oliver'soffice,
of
to his lifeof simplework,food,and leisurewithoutexpectations
prominence.
Insistingthatitis nota matterofwhatyoudo but"who youknow
locatesthesecret
and thesmileon yourface!"Loman optimistically
expectantthat
of successin "contacts"and "personalattractiveness,"
"a man can end withdiamondshereon the basis of being liked!"
(p. I84). Yet eventhemeansof becoming"liked"evade him,as in
adviceto Biff:
hiscontradictory
likesa kidder,but nobodylends
Be quiet,fine,and serious.Everybody
himmoney.(p. i68)
Startoffwitha coupleof
Walkin witha biglaugh.Don'tlookworried.
toliventhings
yourgoodstories
up. (p. I69)
The inconspicuous
diligenceof a youthlike Bernardis dismissedas
himselfto failurein businessskills,
"anemic."Insteadof reconciling
Loman blamestheresponsesof others:peopledo not "take"to him,
theypasshimby,findhimtoofat,poorlydressed,foolish,a "walrus"
(p. I49). Under stress,his needs demand vicariousgratification
throughthesuccessof hissons.This becomesevidentin hisresponse
toan insultfromhisbrother:
Father.Withone gadgethe mademorein a week
Ben: Greatinventor,
thana manlikeyoucouldmakeina lifetime.
themup, Ben-rugged,wellWilly:That'sjusttheway I'm bringing
liked,all around.(p. 157)
of his own failureby
Because he habituallydeflectsconsciousness
focusingattentionon his sons,Loman cannotacceptBiff'sway of
lifein the West on its own termsbut triesto reabsorbhim into a
culture.Unableto accomplishthis,he perceiveshis
business-oriented
waste."Nothing'splanted.I don'thave a
lifeas an empty,infertile
thingin theground"(p. 209).
III
and transLoman tendsto viewprominence
Blurringdistinctions,
as identical,and thishabitof mind preventshim from
formation
elements
the supportive
enjoyingthe skillshe has and appreciating
between
withinhis own family.Loman neglectsthe distinctions
Dreams in Death of a Salesman
255
throughsheerforce
attempting
different
people,valuesand methods,
of hope to reconcilethe disparate.His decisionnot to join Ben in
businessis rootedin his assertionthat the values of Ben can be
withthoseof Dave Singleman,and thisignorestheconsynthesized
and tangiblecommodities.
trastBenpointsoutbetweensocialgestures
and initiative,
betweencriminality
He also ignoresthe differences
encouraginghis sonsto steal,so thatthe frontstoopof the Loman
house,whichBiffclaimsto contain"moreofhim"thanhis careeras
a salesman,is builtwithstolenmaterials.
values,hopingto
schemesto synthesize
Happy and Biffformulate
dream
Theirshort-lived
and toreuniteas brothers.
attainprominence
and
sports
synthesize
to
attempts
of a Loman ranch in the West
and seriousthepastoraland theurban,playfulness
commercialism,
will
ness,youthand adulthood.Theyimaginethattheirpartnership
theyenjoyedin high school.Biff's
regainthemthepublicattention
wlhobewailsthelossofopenair and
hisfather,
pastoralvaluesreflect
space,the overcrowdedconditionsof citylife,and the absenceof
almostas oftenas he condemnshis sonforbecominga farmflowers
a Loman ranch,Biffcould not onlydo thekind of work
On
hand.
he liked but also "be something."Yet a briefbut revealingbit of
dialogueexposestherapiddeathofthisdream:
Biff:Hap, thetroubleis we weren'tbroughtup to grubformoney.I
don'tknowhowtodo it.
canI!
Happy:Neither
Biff:Thenlet'sgo!
Happy:The onlythingis-whatcanyoumakeoutthere?(p. 140)
The synthesis
theytryto createcollapsesundertheweightofa single
question.Happy's laterplan for a Loman line of sportinggoods
to work together."And the
would also give theman opportunity
beautyof it is,Biff,it wouldn'tbe like a business,"Happy exclaims,
"We'd be outplayin'ball again" (p. i68). Butthisdreamofsynthesis,
upontheneedformoney.
likethatof a Loman ranch,founders
in theplay is Loman's suicide.
The ultimateattemptat synthesis
Leonard Moss has notedthathe choosesdeath "not simplyas an
his own selfescapefromshamebut as a lastattemptto re-establish
The insurancemoneymakes
and hisfamily'sintegrity."'12
confidence
thevaluesof Ben and Singleman.For
it seempossibleto synthesize
12
Leonard Moss, ArthurMiller (New Haven, I967),
p. 45.
American Literature
256
by enteringthe dark,unknown"jungle" of death Loman might
bringout tangiblewealth,"like diamonds,"thusbecomingas much
an adventurer
worldofNew York.
as Ben butwithintheskyscraper
He imagineshimselfthenhavinga funeralas massiveas Singleman's,
Thus in a single act
one that would leave Biff"thunderstruck."
and
achieve
Loman hopesto
transformation,
prominence,
synthesis,
withBiff.
hislostunity
IV
Scattered
imagesoffamilyunityin Death ofa Salesmanevokethe
senseof loss: "All I remember
is a man witha big beard,and I was
in Mama's lap, sittingarounda fire,and somekind of highmusic"
(p. I57). Loman's veryearlyfamilylife remainsthe vaguestof
soundof theflutewhich,
memories,
symbolizedby thehigh-pitched
as Edward Murrayhas noted,acts as an "auditorybinder"in the
play.13It juxtaposesLoman'spastorallongingsforthepastwiththe
overbearingactualitiesof the city toweringaround him. Also,
Loman'simagecontrasts
thequietreposeofthepastwiththerestlessnessthatcharacterizes
therestofhislife.Anotherpassageevokingan
withtheyoung
image of lostfamilyunitycaptureshis relationship
Biff,whenlifewas "so fullof light,and comradeship"(p. 2I3).
Loman wantsto feela unityofgenerations
linkinghis fatherand
Ben withhim and his sons.He appealsto Ben: "You'rejustwhatI
need,Ben, becauseI-I have a finepositionhere,but I-well, Dad
leftwhenI was sucha baby,and I neverhad a chanceto talkto him
and I stillfeel-kind of temporary
aboutmyself"(p. I59). Yet the
need forfamilyunityis juxtaposedagainsttherealityof familydisand Ben leavessoon
Loman'sfatherabandonshisfamily,
integration.
afterward.
Loman violatestheunityofhisfamilywiththewomanin
butby givingherthestockings
Boston,notonlyby sexualinfidelity
thatshouldgo to Linda. Biffleaveshome becauseof his discovery,
and enjoyhiswomen.
and Happy leavesto setup hisown apartment
Sex provesa powerfully
divisiveforceamongtheLomans,separating
parentsfromeach otherand parentsfromsons.Happy abandonshis
fatherin anotherway,bymerelysendinghimawayto Floridawhen
visible.He
Loman's emotionalbreakdownbecomesembarrassingly
to his father'sproblems."No, that's
cannotrespondsympathetically
13
Eclward Murray,ArthurMiller, Daramatist(New York, I967),
p. 34.
Dreams in Death of a Salesman
257
scene,"He's
remarksin therestaurant
he dismissively
notmyfather,"
justa guy"(p. 205).
cannothelp Loman. Slhe
Linda remainedloyal,butherconstancy
role in herhusband'sdreams;and although
can playno significant
she lacks the
she provesoccasionallycapableof dramaticoutbursts,
imaginationand strengthto hold her familytogetheror to help
Loman definea new lifewithoutgrandiosehopes for Biff.Critics
"not
as a character,14
unsatisfactory"
haveattackedheras "profoundly
and a symbolofthe"cash-payment
in theleastsexuallyinteresting,""
from
to acceptdisagreement
But givenLoman'sinability
fixation."16
a
his sonsor Charley,it is hardto supposethathe would tolerate less
and mysupport,"but
acquiescentwife.He callsher"myfoundation
hiscollapse.
cannotprevent
herstability
In "The Familyas a PsychosocialOrganization,"RobertD. Hess
is an
and GeraldHandel havenotedthat"The family'slifetogether
endlessprocessof movementin and aroundconsensualunderstandto conflictand withdrawal-andover again.
ing, fromattachment
are the underlyingconditionsof a
Separatenessand connectedness
In Death
family'slife,and itscommontaskis togiveformtoboth."17
of a Salesman,beginningthe process"overagain" becomesimpossible.The presentactionof the play forcesan explosivereunion,
bringingmembersof the familytogetherin orderto make their
explicitand irrevocable.This patterntypifiesArthur
separateness
Afterthe
Miller'swork; it occursin All My Sons; it characterizes
to
recreate
Attempts
Price.19
The
most
of
and
it
encompasses
Fall;`S
or
home,
return
Biff's
familyunity-likeBen's offerof partnership,
the brothers'schemesto go into businesstogether-havethe dual
effectof illuminatingareas of conflictand foreversealingfamily
membersofffromone another.The peripateticbig dinnerscene
towardtheend of theplay,then,presentsa cacophonyof dissonant
motives;and the centripetalforcesof theirseparatelives prove
11 C. W. E. Bigsby, Confrontationand Commitment: A Stuidy of ContemporaryAmericaniDr-ama 1959-66 (London, I967) p. 35.
15 Henry Popkin, "Arthur Miller: The Strange Encounter," Sewanee Review, LXVII
(Winter, I960), 56.
16 G. Bliquez, "Linda's Role in Death of a Salesman," Modern Drama, X (Feb., I968),
383.
17 Robert D. Hess and Gerald Handel, "The Family as a Psychosocial Organization," in
The Psychosocial Interior of the Family, ed. Gerald Handel (Chicago, I967), p. Io.
iS ArthurMiller,
Afterthe Fall (New York, I964).
19 ArthurMiller, The Price (New York, I969).
258
American Literature
stronger
thantheneed forunitythatbroughttheLomanstogether.
Torn betweenHappy's callousabilityto let him continuelivingin
Loman
illusionand Biff'scruelbut necessarydemandforhonesty,
in
recant
and
a
that
Biff
mightfinally
yieldsto hopeforged despair:
with the insurancemoney.But his death
become "magnificent"
attemptto
changesnothing;it impliesinsteadthata man'sfrenetic
maketheworlda homecan defeattheviabilityof his privatehome,
evencosthimhislife.