The Role of Linda Loman

The Death of a Salesman: Linda's Role

The Death of a Salesman is one of the most dramatic plays by Arthur Miller, describing the story of a struggling salesman and his misguided perception of prosperity. The protagonist Willy Loman is alluded by the dream of raising to the richness and other business’ successes, but his failures, mistakes, and family disappointments cause him to suffer from dementia, leading to his suicide. Willy’s wife, Linda Loman is loving and extremely devoted, remaining submissive to his husband until the last moment. Willy experiences a stressful life outside their home as he holds the responsibility of providing financial support to the family. On the other hand, the place of Linda is at home and her primary job is to raise the two children, Biffy and Happy. However, Linda’s focus to remain loyal and not to upset her husband results in Willy’s successful suicide, as she fails to let her husband know that she is aware of the failed suicidal attempts. This paper focuses on analyzing the role of Linda Loman in the Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, emphasizing her relationship with both her husband and sons.

Linda's Role in Protecting Willy's Dreams

The chief roles of Linda in the Death of a Salesman are to protect Willy’s dreams in order to avert his suicide and act as an ideal wife who disregards her husband’s loyalty and faithfulness. Throughout the play, Linda protects her husband at all cost, supporting her dreams although she acknowledges the visions seems unattainable. Linda is remarkably sympathetic and highly affectionate about her husband, especially, when Willy is falling into depression and is fired from the job. Linda reflects her sympathy for her husband when Willy is telling her about his discouragements. Willy argues that “I’m fat, I’m very foolish to look at, people laugh at me, I know that” but Linda complements him that, “Willy, darling you are the most handsome man in the whole world” (Miller 24). This quote depicts how Linda feels sorry for her husband, acknowledging the need to motivate his confidence. Therefore, Linda acts as a dependable and dutiful woman, who consistently backs his husband to acknowledge the success of his dreams.

Linda's Protective Nature

Linda depicts her protectiveness for her husband as she talks angrily to her children, telling them they have to treat their father better. Linda states that “Willy was never in the paper, he is not the finest man that ever lived, he is a human being and something terrible is happening to him, he should not be allowed to fall to his own grave like a dog, and attention must be paid to him” (Miller 39). Linda shows how much she is willing to defend her husband even when her children raise compelling arguments against their father’s “crazy” behavior. Linda does everything she could to protect her husband’s dreams in order to avert Willy’s downfall into low spirits. Therefore, Miller describes Linda’s major role is to protect both her husband and his dreams, no matter the difficulties and discouragements she experiences.

Linda as an Ideal Housewife

According to Rudolph, “in the 1950s, women were required to do everything their husband wanted and be submissive to them by following all orders” (Rudolph 145). In the play, Linda can be easily compared to the perfect wives of 1950s because their characteristics are well represented in her. The characteristics that Linda acknowledges include loyalty, devotion, and submission, disregarding his husbands lies and whereabouts. Linda never investigates when her husband tells lies or goes for a job, making her comparable to the 1950s perfect housewives. In the play, Linda’s primary role is to act as an ideal, loyal, and devoted wife to her husband regardless of the outcome. Willy says that “I did five hundred grosses in Providence and seven hundred grosses in Boston” and later he changes his statement that “Well, I did about a hundred and eighty grosses in Providence” (Miller 23). Linda’s husband states that he made $500 and later lowers to $200, but Linda fails to question the truth. Linda exhibits her role as a perfect housewife who does not question her husband’s loyalty and faithfulness. Therefore, in the play, Linda’s primary role is to act as an ideal housewife, offering her full support to her husband.

Linda's Relationship with Willy

In the play, Linda and Willy have an extensively complicated relationship, Linda serving as the primary enabler of her husband’s dreams. As a house manager, Linda cooks meals and takes care for both the home and the two children. Additionally, Linda defends her husband Willy from Biff’s and Happy’s criticisms. Linda feels sorry for her husband, not only for failing to attain his ambitions but also because he is suffering a mental disorder. As Willy is boasting about his significance in the company, Linda confronts her argument because he understands her husband is aging and declining professionally. Willy argues that “they do not need me in New York, I am the New England man and I am vital in New England” but Linda reminds him “you are 60 years old and they cannot expect you to continue traveling every week” (Miller 6). Linda tries to get her husband to slow down, acknowledging that Willy cannot maintain the present pace of traveling long hours. Willy remains in an emotional state of constant denial, claiming that there is nothing more significant than being liked, and if his managers were supportive enough, he could earn a big success. Therefore, Linda lived with her life with her husband thoughtfully and helpfully, offering him support while attempting desperately to keep him focused.

Linda's Understanding of her Sons

Linda understands that her son Biff is one of the primary sources causing Willy’s agony. Linda states that whenever Biff is working as the ranch-hand, her husband complains that he is not living up to his full potential. When Biff goes back home to restructure his life, Willy’s dementia worsens, he becomes extensively erratic and begins to talk to himself. Linda seems to possess a more forgiving and comprehending view about her sons compared to Willy. Linda explains to her husband that, “you should not have criticized Biff, Willy, especially after he just got off the train and you must not lose your temper with him” (Miller 7). In dealing with his delusional expectations and open disappointments, Willy is unable to come into terms with his sons. On the other hand, Linda keeps her ambition in firm control, especially, when it regards her sons. Willy chooses to commit suicide because he is not effective enough in his family and he could not attain the American Dream. Linda fails to confront her husband about his suicide attempts because she does not want to upset him. Therefore, Linda exhibits submissive nature, loyalty, and patience, leading her to become a widow as the play ends.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Death of a Salesman is one of the most dramatic plays by Arthur Miller, describing the story of a struggling salesman and his misguided perception of prosperity. The primary role of protagonist’s wife Linda is to protect her husband’s dreams in order to avert his suicide and act as an ideal wife who disregards Willy’s faithfulness and loyalty. Linda fails to confront her husband about his suicidal tendencies because she does not want to upset him. Therefore, Linda exhibits submissive nature, loyalty, and patience, leading her to become a widow as the play ends.

Work Cited

Miller, Arthur. Death Of A Salesman. 1st ed., Viking Press, 1949, pp. 1-105.

Rudolph, Nicole. "Housewives In 1950S". History, vol 21, no. 3, 2009, pp. 141-259. Wiley, doi:11.1111/j.1468-0426.2009.01565.x.