How Does Willy Loman Use A Flashback In Death Of A Salesman

“Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, the main character, Willy Loman is a man living on the cusp of modern America, in the late 1940’s. As more and more new appliances and cars are being manufactured, Willy Loman is constantly trying to obtain the best things for his family. As he slowly starts to lose his mind in this materialistic world, it becomes clear that the only thing he is really concerned about is keeping up with the people around him in terms of success and possessions. Throughout the play, he constantly mentions the fact that he is running out of money and can no longer pay for their new appliances, and he mournfully regrets not going to Africa with Ben, who struck it rich. One of the major themes in “Death of a Salesman”

A symbol in the story were Linda’s stockings. Willy snatches Linda’s stocking from her hands and puts them in the garbage. This shows you Willy’s feelings of guilt about his affair with the other woman since he would give her Linda’s stockings. Miller readily switches from location to location during Death of a Salesman. He uses the flashback device to show Willy at home then switches to a flashback of Willy in a hotel room in Boston. This serves as an ironic counterpoint to Linda 's comment that Willy is idolized by his children; the fact that he is having an affair shows that Willy is not a man worthy of such fervent admiration. He displays the same callous disregard for women that Happy demonstrates as an adult, yet where Happy disregards women with whom he has insubstantial relationships, Willy is unfaithful to the devoted Linda. The flashback also demonstrates that Willy is not a man respected by others. A very important fact is that Biff felt betrayed and did not finish college because he found his father having an affair with another woman, so he did not retake math to spite his father. He could not believe that his father would betray Linda in such a way. Willy attempts to excuse his behavior by telling Biff, “She’s nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely,” (Miller