In contrast to male characters of the play, female characters lack the vivid, multi-layered human quality that male characters seem to possess. They are flat, two dimensional, lifeless, stereotypical portrayals of such women as a devoted mother, a mistress, and a barfly. Given the complex and compelling traits of the male characters in Death of a Salesman, it is surprising that Miller chose to give so little attention to the female characters. In stereotypical fashion, Miller has conveniently concocted these female characters to serve the men in the play. Linda Loman, central male character's wife merely suffices as the acceptable notion of generic mother figure from its era. Loyal to her husband,

loving to her sons, that is the extent of her significance to the play. For all intents and purposes, she merely exists as a periphery character to complete Willy's family unit. Linda role is to simply server her men in her family. "What a woman: They broke the mold when they made her."(660) Happy exclaims. Perhaps this statement is Miller's feeble attempt to justify that such a woman can exist in the context of richly developed, multi-dimensional male characters in the play. "marginalization of women"(Smith, Susan H.) permeates throughout the Death of a Salesman. Linda Loman is a prime example of this premise. Linda's role in the play is characterized as the devoted wife of Willy. She displays blind devotion and love to her husband, this despite constant degradation and belittling she endures from Willy."Don't interrupt!"(661), "Will you stop!"(660), "Stop interrupting!"(660) Willy shouts at Linda. In this passage Linda's futile attempt to speak her mind is squashed repeatedly despite Linda's support of Willy's views. Smith writes, "Willy's repeated interruption of Linda's speech……anticipates …… silencing of women by men." (Smith, Susan H.) Incapable of her own thoughts and opinions, Linda's character is relegated to a submissive wife of Willy. Despite this de-humanizing treatment from Willy, Linda asks, "Just rest, should I sing to you?"(661) Infinitely loving and devoted to her husband, Linda appears to possess no identity of her own. Moreover, when we examine Linda's dialog in the play, her only concern and preoccupation seems to be about the men in her life. Linda seems incapable of her own feelings, desires, anger, and frustrations. "She does not talk about herself, only about the men." (Smith, Susan). Smith reinforces this premise. As the play unravels before us, I'm constantly reminded of this seemingly stereotypical portrayal of Linda. Her sole purpose seems to be to agree with the men in her family and offer words of encouragement. "Isn't that wonderful!"(659), "Marvelous!"(660) She gleefully exclaims to her family."Her passive, attentive domesticity places her in direct subordination to Willy, Biff, and Happy." (Smith, Susan H.) Linda is stripped of her identity. It is as though her only function in the play is to provide an obligatory role of a wife and a mother as Miller saw fit but nothing more. Consider for a moment the monumental influence a mother has on her child. But in Linda's world, we see no indication of such maternal influence on Biff and Happy. They appear to have inherited only Willy's flawed teachings of life. Miller wants us to accept that Linda contributed virtually nothing in shaping Biff and Happy's personality and values. This premise is even less likely since as a traveling salesman, Willy's role a

Some topics in this essay:
Death Salesman, Linda Loman, Willy Linda, Miss Forsythe, Willy Willy, Susan It's, Biff Happy's, Biff Happy, Susan Smith, Biff Creatures, death salesman, male characters, female characters, miss forsythe, characters play, smith susan, mistress character, male characters play, biff happy, women smith susan, willy shouts, stop interrupting660, stop interrupting660 willy, susan death salesman, female characters play,