Student Question
What would Willy's bedroom in Death of a Salesman look like?
Quick answer:
Willy and Linda's bedroom might be shabby, reflecting the family's declining fortunes, but clean and well-kept, since Linda maintains high domestic standards. It might reflect Willy's obsession with the past and with personal success, containing pictures and mementoes of past glories and perhaps also the type of self-help books which claim to provide the reader with the secrets of success in business.
Willy's room, of course, is also Linda's room, and she may well have at least as much impact on it as he does. However, Linda's self-sacrificing nature will ensure that no aspect of the room would irritate him unnecessarily. For this reason, it will be tidy and decorated in a fairly neutral style. The colors will be strong, simple, and not too feminine: plain white walls with accents of blue or green, perhaps. Because Willy spends so much time living in the past, the room might be decorated with family photographs of happier times, with Biff as an athlete in high school and Willy as an eager young salesman.
Willy has a reverence for the business and technical culture of America. He refers to such icons of success as Thomas Edison and B. F. Goodrich. He may well have pictures of these men in his room to inspire him. Willy...
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thinks of himself as a pioneer, as he tells Linda, "When I went north the first time, the Wagner Company didn't know where New England was!" He may, therefore, have pictures of and books by various American pioneers and explorers by his bedside. He also probably has a few books of the "how to succeed in business"genre, works by such inspirational authors as Samuel Smiles and Horatio Alger.
Willy also places great emphasis on his business contacts in New England and the respect he enjoys among them. He tells his sons,
America is full of beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people. And they know me, boys, they know me up and down New England.
At some point, Willy is likely to have picked up some mementoes of his tours around New England, and he has perhaps been given gifts: landscape paintings or knickknacks made from local wood and stone. These would have pride of place in his room.
Finally, the room will show signs of the Loman family's declining fortunes. The curtains, carpet, and bedding might be shabby and in need of replacement. However, they would be kept perfectly clean and orderly, as Linda maintains high domestic standards.
What would Biff's room look like in Death of a Salesman?
Biff's room would reflect his interests, including sports and the outdoors. Thus, he might have seven items that remind him of sports. For instance, he could have a sports banner of his favorite sports teams mounted on the wall. It might be his favorite football team. When we first see Biff in act 1, he is wearing a sweater with the emblem of an S on the front, which presumably is a varsity letter to signify the high school that he attends. He is also carrying a football.
Thus, he might have a banner or several banners decorating the walls of his room and even might have his football S sweater prominently displayed somewhere—perhaps thrown over his desk chair as if to appear that it was tossed there casually when in reality it was placed very carefully so that he can relive his glory days each time he sees it.
It is not only football that he likes. He mentions basketball, as well, and wonders "if Oliver still thinks I stole that carton of basketballs." Thus, Biff is a sports aficionado who might have seven or more items of sports paraphernalia on display.
He might also have a photo or poster that reminds him of the great outdoors, which is where he is happiest. He tells his brother Happy how much he enjoys being on the farm, saying,
There's nothing more inspiring or—beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new colt.
Even though he tries to overcome his love of being on the farm because he knows that it will disappoint his father, he can't help but express his intense feelings about nature. Thus, he might have a poster or figurine of a colt displayed somewhere in his room. He also tells Happy,
with a ranch I could do the work I like and still be something.