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The Housewife In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

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During WWll, men were drafted and they had to leave their jobs behind, this gave women an opportunity to pick up the slack (Gourley 3). This also left women to juggle being a housewife and the work they did in the men’s absence, resulting in 1 out of 4 women having a job as well as being a housewife during WWll (3). However, after the war men went back to work and some women went back to just being a housewife. Not all women, however, went back to the house; the percent of women working in a professional field increased from 11.9% to 14.2% in 1920 (Deutsch 2). Women kept jobs such as telephone operators and secretaries, leaning towards a more developed job instead of being a housemaid (2). Despite that, the discrimination of women still continued, …show more content…

Linda has a major impact on the main character, willy, she lives for him and will never defy him, even when it is apparent that Willy is not in the right mind. Linda often feeds Willy’s delusions about himself; when Willy started to admit that he was at fault and that he almost hit a kid, linda countered with, “ Maybe it’s your glasses. You never went for your new glasses.” (Miller Act One). She often makes excuses for Willy and by doing that she is helping Willy, and herself, stay static. This is extremely important because what drove Willy to his ultimate demise was the fact that he was living in a delusional world and had just realized how everything he thought was true, was not. This static attitude of theirs also rubbed off on their sons. Happy developed into a static character when he would not admit his faults and never told the truth, much like his father. On the other hand, Biff had enough willpower to break away from his static family and acknowledged his lies and faults, however he wasted more than 30 years of his life in a lie because of the lies Linda and WIlly told him. WIlly had the power to stop all of the lies and delusions early, however it did not help that he had Linda always boosting his ego and making excuses for him, which affected all of her

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During WWII to most men were drafted to join the military. This some what forced many women to take on the jobs most held by men at the time. When the Baby Boom happened, many Americans viewed this as a chance to get women back as household keepers. Many magazines at the time promoted sending women back to housewives. They would post articles like “Cooking To Me Is Poetry” and “Femininity Begins At Home”.

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Roles of Women's in World War 1 and World War 2 Women's lives back in the 20's and 40's had a big change difference within the time frame of the wars. They were the maid of the house hold when the men went off to work or to join the army. Women weren't allow to have jobs when married.

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We learn that Willy is a salesman, who is has only had minor success. Willy blames this on the fact that he is not well liked. In the beginning of the play Willy has had a car accident and his wife Linda wants him to ask his boss if he can work only in New York instead of having to travel. When we see Willy in a flashback he appears to be happy and affectionate with his sons, who seem to return the affection.

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While Linda enabled him, Willy could not help himself too keep ruining the good opportunities he had and turning them into some factious reality. At Willy`s funeral Biff comes to the realization that his father had all the wrong dreams and visions of success. Willy`s only dream was the fake “American Dream” that people believe will happen overnight. Willy`s failed attempts and happiness bonded into one and played a part into him creating this false reality and persona that he was the best salesman and that he was well loved by everyone around him.

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Biff, a consequence of Willy, attempts to bring Willy out of his fantasies and his see the realities of his life, but in the end fails to. The two are different in their ideas, demeanors and personas, yet have some akin characteristics.     Willy and Biff’s physical traits are different. At what point, Willy tells his wife Linda, “I’m fat. I’m very foolish to look at, Linda.”

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