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Cruelty In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

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Cruelty can make characters in a story feel more real to a reader when their lives, or even themselves, aren’t perfect. Willy being cruel to Linda in Death of a Salesman is a crucial motivation for the play because she is the one thing he has control over in his life, and because of influences from society at the time. The motivation behind Willy being cruel to his wife could stem from the society at the time. In the 1940s, spousal relationships were focused on the nuclear family with the husband bringing in most, if not all, of the income and the wife staying at home to take care of any children the two of them might have. This idea of the husband being in charge could show that Willy is trying to keep with the social norms. Also, with him losing his job, he wouldn’t be able to provide for himself and Linda without asking for handouts from someone. One form of Willy’s cruelty towards …show more content…

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!
Him being cruel to her could show his attempt to keep his status over her and his attempt to keep her in line, because it is the only way he can show dominance over her. Willy’s harmful actions are significant to the story because they are the motivation behind a large portion of Biff’s concern and dislike of his father. Willy cheating on his wife is a massive plot twist in the story and finding out about it is part of the climax.
WILLY: She’s nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely.
BIFF: You—you gave her Mama’s stockings! [His tears break through and he rises to go] It is known that Willy has been being rude to his wife for a while and he doesn’t stop until he is dead. He might not be doing anything intentionally, but he still does

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