Death Of A Salesman Play Analysis

Throughout the history of our country the women have always been underestimated never being allowed to be shown their full potential. From being denied education from not being allowed to vote, women have always had more of a struggle than men. Society has progressed, women are educated, and voting if they want to. There are still problems women face on a daily basis, such as unequal pay among the issues. The plays Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and Fences by August Wilson, the two playwrights investigate the role women had in 1950s America. The responsibilities these women had and their day to day lives helped shaped their families in many different ways. Miller and Wilson are highlighting that the role the women have in these plays
is to be a strong base for the household and support the family. Rose is there to be a role model for Troy and the family, while Linda is their to protect Willy from the truths of reality. These two women can be seen as different by the way they act with their family, and yet similar with the outcome they want for their family in the future.
In Death of a Salesman the reader can see the way Linda makes decisions about Willy and how she is not as responsible as she could have been.
Throughout the book Linda finds out about events Willy is doing to try to harm and kill himself. Linda knows that Willy takes the little pipe of the heater in the basement because the gas it produces is harmful and poisonous. Everyday Linda goes down and takes away, “that little rubber pipe. But, when he comes home,” she puts, “it back where it was.” (60). Linda continues to talk about how she does not know how she can tell him without hurting him and hurting his pride. Deep down Linda realizes the responsible and helpful thing would to tell Willy what she knows, but she refrains from doing so. Willy is planning on taking his life because he thinks that when he does this, life insurance will compensate the family. Linda is teling Biff that, “the insurance inspector came. He said that they have evidence. That all these accidents in the last year----weren’t---weren’t---accidents.” (58). If Willy continues to get into crashes that may turn out to be fatal, the family will not be covered. Linda has kept this information hidden for so long that Willy still thinks killing himself, will give the family. By Linda neglecting to tell this to Willy, her irresponsibility leads to the death of her husband. Finally Linda knows that they boys are causing Willy stress and the one thing she does that is considered to be responsible was to tell her
children to, “get out of here, both of you,”. She knows that this will be her last hope to help save Willy. In Fences Rose tries to act as a role model for her family.
She struggles to do show what is right and make sure her family follows her and becomes the best they can be. Rose frequently feels that she is being disapointed. Rose says, “Don’t you think I ever wanted other things? Don’t you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What me.” Rose feels let down because she finds out that Troy cheated on her. This is confusing for her because she thought she was being a good role model. Being let down by her husband is hard for Rose because this tells her she was not being the supportive wife and person she thought she was being for Troy. Rose get’s put in a hard situation she is furious with Troy. However, she knows she can not leave him because she won’t have a way to survive without him. Rose tells Troy she has“done tried to everything a wife should be. everything a wife could be,”. When Troy dies, he left Rose with his other daughter from the affair. Rose could give up the child, instead she chooses to care for Raynell and make sure she is in a suitable home. Even though she is hurt and Troy is gone she still needs to be a role model for those around her. Rose says, “You can't be nobody but who you are, Cory. That shadow wasn't nothing but you growing into yourself. You either got to grow into it or cut it down to fit you. But that’s all you ot to make life with,”. She goes on to talk about Troy saying she, “doesn't know if he was right or wrong,”, but that, “he
meant to do more good than he meant to do harm. He wasn't always right. Sometimes when he touched he bruised,”. It is important to Rose that she remains strong even when it seems there is no hope. She stays strong and shows her family what to do and how to be a role model for her family. Rose is an example of the ideal woman to look up to and someone to be able to learn from. In both Death of a Salesman and Fences there are women that the two husbands, Willy and Troy have affairs with. In Fences Rose suspects that their is something that Troy is not telling the truth about and he is covering up something. “I am your wife. don’t push me away” Alberta makes Troy happy, he tells Rose that he got Alberta pregnant, and does want to leave her. “Okay, Troy...you’re right. I’ll take care of your baby for you….cause….like you say...she’s innocent.”. Alberta is included in the story to show that Rose can try so hard but she is not always going to be pleasing enough. The same way that Willy cheated on Linda with The Woman because he was not fully satisfied with Linda. These two women symbolize the jobs that the men believe can not be fulfilled by their wives. Miller and Wilson are showing the significance the four women have in the lives of their husbands. Rose is their in her family to be a good role model and her family. She understands how important it is to stay with everyone no matter the struggle of life. Linda is their to protect her family but she struggled to protect Willy from doing what he did for himself. Linda does not know how to talk to Wily and as a result he loses his life. The women are here to help the families to thrive.