Death of a Salesman - Analysis Essay Example

Human emotions are something that we seldom find a way to express clearly: from simple hand gestures, to a disgusted face. To understand his novel more thoroughly, Arthur Miller uses the most understandable method of comprehension, music, to express the emotions of the characters in his play, "Death of a Salesman". The characters, Willy, Linda, Biff, Happy, and Ben, have a certain style of music and instruments portraying them to show the reader what type of emotional person they are. The beginning of the play starts with a soft, sweet, flute medley that announces Willy's gradual trek home from Yonkers. This slow tune of confusion ends abruptly as Willy comes home and tells of his troubles in Yonkers. This sentimental sound is heard once more during Ben's first visit to Willy's house. His story of father and his flute-making business sets a warm tone only to be wrecked by Ben's action of throwing Biff, a young, curious boy, to the ground, helplessly. The final performance of this tune is heard at Willy's sad funeral, where Linda pays her respects to her well-liked husband. Ending on a sad note, the flute appears in time of odd emotions. In the beginning of the play, a state of confusion is felt. During Ben's visit, a state of pride is felt. At the end, a state of loneliness is felt, leading the reader to think if there is an ironic relationship between the flute, representing Willy's father, leaving early and Willy's sad end. The play has a sense of joy in it. Willy's flashbacks always occur toward the same time where the Lomans were happy. Starting with Biff's football days in high school. The music in those scenes would make anyone feel like they were on top of the world, just like Biff and Willy felt. Then comes Ben. Ben is Willy's savior. Always acting like a parental figure, Ben was Willy's answer to everything. A pure, fast paced song represented Willy's hopes. The emotions involved in this type of music were mainly enthusiasm,