There is only one woman who has a major role in Arthur MillerÆs classic drama about the toxicity of the American Dream Death of A Salesman, Willy LomanÆs wife Linda. Linda is a devoted and hardworking housewife who tries to keep her family together during a time of despair and tension. As she says of Willy, ôA small man can be just as exhausted as a great manö in defense of her aging and defeated husband (From, p. 13). Despite LindaÆs portrayal in the drama, other women in the play are primarily depicted as whores or mantraps. These women include the Woman, Willy LomanÆs mistress, and Miss Forsythe and Letta, two young women that appear to be prostitutes. The only other woman in the play has a dutiful role comparable to LindaÆs, CharleyÆs secretary Jenny. This analysis will demonstrate that women in MillerÆs worldview appear to be one of two kinds; dutiful and loyal servants or whores.
The portrayal of Linda Loman is that of dutiful and loyal housewife and mother. She works hard to keep her family going on a salary from Willy that is dwindling. Linda is fiercely defensive of her husbandÆs deteriorating condition. He is working on straight salary like a beginner and will eventually lose his job altogether. He drives 700 miles and doesnÆt make a cent. He borrows money from Charley and pretends to Linda that it is his pay. She knows it is borrowed money. She also knows that his sons have pretty much abandoned their father and show little respect for his lifetime of hard work or his current situation. When Linda tells Happy the company took WillyÆs salary away and Happy says he was unaware of that, Linda tells him: ôYou never asked, my dear! Now that you get your spending money some place else you donÆt trouble your mind with himö (From, p. 13).
Linda says of her husband that he is ôonly a little boat looking for a harborö (Miller, p. 76). Linda acts as solace and com
...