The Personification of Family
The Personification of Family
“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”. As humans we learn to accept those we love despite their strengths and weaknesses. We create bonds that go beyond logic and reasoning. Bonds that overpower the mind and with the proper time allow us to omit our pain. Love stands superior to all faults in a relationship. Such is the imperfection of love that without experiencing pain, love is never really understood. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller presents Linda, the heart of the Loman family, as a mother figure that agrees with Mother Teresa’s quote. Linda is compassionate, understanding, and loving towards Willy, however she is seen as the family destroyer who is partially to blame for Willy’s gradual collapse and false pride. She becomes torn between guilt, retaliation and pity. However, in the Requiem, at Willy’s funeral Linda, though loving him, is unable to cry over her husband’s death.
Trying to ease the tension, Linda stands between her sons and Willy, her husband. She fails as a leading figure, by attempting to determine what’s best for her family. Linda refuses to accept Willy’s failure not only as a father but also as a husband and doesn’t understand why her sons are so unthankful towards him. However she doesn’t really understand Willy’s dream of success and stops him from pursuing his true American Dream. She comforts and encourages Willy to believe in his illusions.
“He’s got a beautiful job here” Linda explained to Ben as he offered Willy a “…preposition… in Alaska.” Willy however is determined to live the true American Dream, which to him is the ability to become prosperous and successful by mere charisma. He believes and teaches his sons that personality and popularity are the keys to becoming successful. Therefore, by exaggerating on how well Willy is doing and boosting his false pride, Linda is successful in convincing him to stay. She persuades
“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”. As humans we learn to accept those we love despite their strengths and weaknesses. We create bonds that go beyond logic and reasoning. Bonds that overpower the mind and with the proper time allow us to omit our pain. Love stands superior to all faults in a relationship. Such is the imperfection of love that without experiencing pain, love is never really understood. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller presents Linda, the heart of the Loman family, as a mother figure that agrees with Mother Teresa’s quote. Linda is compassionate, understanding, and loving towards Willy, however she is seen as the family destroyer who is partially to blame for Willy’s gradual collapse and false pride. She becomes torn between guilt, retaliation and pity. However, in the Requiem, at Willy’s funeral Linda, though loving him, is unable to cry over her husband’s death.
Trying to ease the tension, Linda stands between her sons and Willy, her husband. She fails as a leading figure, by attempting to determine what’s best for her family. Linda refuses to accept Willy’s failure not only as a father but also as a husband and doesn’t understand why her sons are so unthankful towards him. However she doesn’t really understand Willy’s dream of success and stops him from pursuing his true American Dream. She comforts and encourages Willy to believe in his illusions.
“He’s got a beautiful job here” Linda explained to Ben as he offered Willy a “…preposition… in Alaska.” Willy however is determined to live the true American Dream, which to him is the ability to become prosperous and successful by mere charisma. He believes and teaches his sons that personality and popularity are the keys to becoming successful. Therefore, by exaggerating on how well Willy is doing and boosting his false pride, Linda is successful in convincing him to stay. She persuades