Death of a Salesman, Charley's Character Anaysis
Pulling at Charley
Sometimes we see more in a person, a story, a character, or a situation than what is presented forth to us. Joseph A. Hynes argues that Charley’s character from Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, is contradicted when he gives a speech in the Requiem. Hynes argues that it, “pulls Charley out of shape,” and, “ends the play by committing Charley to a mellow defense of Willy’s wildest misconception,” but it does not. Charley speaks up in Willy’s defense in a way that is not mellow, nor out of character because he serves as the one person in this play that views Willy from greater angles; who views Willy in depth and realistically. As a man who isn’t loudly spoken as a character, he sees much more to Willy than his family and colleagues, he sees that Willy is a broken man with identity issues but does want to do the right thing and what’s best for his family, so his defense of Willy serves his role as a character. Miller introduces Charley in Act I, where he describes Charley as, “a large man, slow in speech, laconic, [and] immovable,” (Miller 41). He comes to his neighbor’s house after he hears the ruckus of argument, saying that he couldn’t’ sleep because of heartburn, so Willy plainly states that Charley doesn’t know how to eat. Charley’s response: “I eat with my mouth,” (Miller 42). These simple statements distinguish the two men: as Willy is more incongruous, Charley is more concise. This distinction in personality allows Charley to be a character foil to Willy. Charley speaks with intellect, whereas Willy makes incoherent statements. Charley is successful and mindful, while Willy is rash and lost with his job. Seeing this, he even offers Willy a job to help but he continuously turns it down because his pride doesn’t want to accept that Charley and his family are more successful than he and his; this proves that Willy isn’t only lost with his job, but also lost with himself. His sense of self identity is a clutter of thoughts rather
Sometimes we see more in a person, a story, a character, or a situation than what is presented forth to us. Joseph A. Hynes argues that Charley’s character from Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, is contradicted when he gives a speech in the Requiem. Hynes argues that it, “pulls Charley out of shape,” and, “ends the play by committing Charley to a mellow defense of Willy’s wildest misconception,” but it does not. Charley speaks up in Willy’s defense in a way that is not mellow, nor out of character because he serves as the one person in this play that views Willy from greater angles; who views Willy in depth and realistically. As a man who isn’t loudly spoken as a character, he sees much more to Willy than his family and colleagues, he sees that Willy is a broken man with identity issues but does want to do the right thing and what’s best for his family, so his defense of Willy serves his role as a character. Miller introduces Charley in Act I, where he describes Charley as, “a large man, slow in speech, laconic, [and] immovable,” (Miller 41). He comes to his neighbor’s house after he hears the ruckus of argument, saying that he couldn’t’ sleep because of heartburn, so Willy plainly states that Charley doesn’t know how to eat. Charley’s response: “I eat with my mouth,” (Miller 42). These simple statements distinguish the two men: as Willy is more incongruous, Charley is more concise. This distinction in personality allows Charley to be a character foil to Willy. Charley speaks with intellect, whereas Willy makes incoherent statements. Charley is successful and mindful, while Willy is rash and lost with his job. Seeing this, he even offers Willy a job to help but he continuously turns it down because his pride doesn’t want to accept that Charley and his family are more successful than he and his; this proves that Willy isn’t only lost with his job, but also lost with himself. His sense of self identity is a clutter of thoughts rather