Death of a Salesman Group

Question:

untrainable321
untrainable321
Student
College - Senior

What is Linda's role as a mother and wife in the family?

a little more details will help me understand more, instead of a one sentence answear.

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Posted by untrainable321 on Friday March 27, 2009 at 9:15 AM and tagged with character, death of a salesman.

Answers:


  1. afi80fl Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    As a mom, Linda has to assure Biff that he's still loved.  Because he can't hold down a job, Biff is often looked down on by his father, Willy.  There is a great rift between the two, based on his failure to meet Willy's expectations, ever since he lost his scholarship to Virginia based on his grades.  Happy, on the other hand, has not really failed to meet expectations.  He has a job, although it's not a great one.  Instead, he decides to sleep with his boss' fiances to "ruin" them, to get even with them for their authority over him.

    As a wife, Linda must constantly keep Willy grounded.  He is unable to stay in reality for more than a few minutes at a time, constantly fading away into a fantasy existence.  Linda reassures him that things will be alright, looks after the bills, and tries to be a good, supportive wife to him, even though he cheated on her and tries to kill himself most nights.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/death-salesman/summary

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    Posted by afi80fl on Friday March 27, 2009 at 9:26 AM