Death Of A Salesman Gender Roles

In history, patriarchal society protected gender roles by forcing women to submit to the home. The men were the breadwinners, and the women were the housewives. The gender roles are apparent in the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Throughout the play, Arthur Miller discusses the realities of the American Dream by creating Willy Loman and his family as seeming failures of the dream. The play focuses on male relationships such as Willy and his relationship with his boys, Biff and Happy. Additional relationships include Willy’s brother, Ben, and the Loman’s successful neighbors, Charley and Bernard. The men discuss the American Dream they have or have not achieved. However, Willy’s wife, Linda, and other brief female characters appear

There is a lack of female characters in Death by a Salesman as the story tends to focus on the male characters, more specifically, Willy Loman and his sons, Biff and Happy. However, Linda is given much dialogue as she interacts often with Willy which helps readers understand her as a character. The relationship between Willy and Linda appears unhealthy. Willy, who is going through a crisis and possible mental health decline, does not hold back disdain for Linda. Surely, Willy has put Linda in her place as housewife and mother and has handed her no other role. Strain in their relationship is evident right away in the first scene. Linda questions Willy, and Willy replies “with casual irritation” (Miller 13). The Oxford Dictionary defines casual as “relaxed and unconcerned,” suggesting that Willy is not concerned with how he speaks to or treats his wife. Throughout Act One, Willy speaks in a derogatory tone that proposes impatience and vexation towards Linda. As if his irritated tone did not disrespect his wife enough, Willy lies to her, right after she compliments him attempting to help him regain confidence. Willy says, “You’re the best there is, Linda, you’re a pal, you know that? On the road…I want to grab you and sometimes and just kiss the life outta you,” and The Woman’s laugh is heard, and she appears in a flashback, which reveals to the

He repeats the phrase, “the woman has suffered” (Miller 107, 126). Linda is emotionally exhausted, and she wants to finish the house payments. Therefore, Willy receives money from his neighbor, Charley. After Willy obtains the money, he passes away. Consequently, dealing with the finances once again becomes Linda’s responsibility. She is the one to carry on her dream. Linda’s dream was to be “free and clear” (Miller 137). In her mind, when they finished paying off the house, Willy would worry less about money, and they would enjoy themselves. However, Biff states, “[Willy] had the wrong dreams” (Miller 138). Linda tries to cope with the reality that “there’ll be nobody home” (Miller 139). The final dialogue belongs to Linda. She cries as she repeats, “We’re free and clear…we’re free…we’re free…we’re free…” (Miller 139). Consciously, Linda is stating that they have made their last payments and are finally free of the stress of trying to achieve success and wealth. Subconsciously, Linda is free from her submissiveness to Willy-the patriarch in her family. Linda is now aware of her freedom to achieve her quiet dream without