Hacer Akgun

English A1

24/03/2014

The portrayal of masculinity in American culture in comparison to femininity in Death of a

Salesman

Arthur Miller uses several devices throughout Death of a Salesman to display the
portrayal of the masculine figure in American culture as well as the typical feminine figure. This
is depicted in the Loman household with two of the more significant female characters, Linda
Loman and ‘the Woman’. Through the playwright’s use of his characters, the audience is able to
distinctly see the differences between men and women and the role that each gender plays in the
American Dream as a theme in the play. Furthermore, it is noticeable how the portrayal of such
gender roles contribute to the downfall of the tragic hero and main character, Willy Loman.

The reader is introduced to two different perspectives of the same character, Willy
Loman. In the present, Willy is rather exhausted of old age and is less confident than his younger
character that we are introduced to in his flashbacks and hallucinations. This perspective of
Willy is more self-assured and vigorous and is portrayed as a more ideal masculine figure in the
eyes of the American society. In the exposition, the author evidently gives the audience quite an
insight on Willy Loman and his viewpoint on the life he lives. He is not content with his outer
appearance, stating that coworkers often call him various names that mock his physique and
humanly features. However, he happens to contradict this several times stating that he is a well-
liked man who receives great attention from those around him. However much Willy is tired and
physically unappealing in the present, he is poised and regarded as a handsome man who is well-
respected in the business world, in his flashbacks. The author uses the two personalities in the
different timeframes to show the reader the type of person that Willy may have preferred to be
(i.e. Willy in his hallucinations) and the type of person he is in the present. Nevertheless, both
perspectives of the same character are influential on Willy’s two sons, Biff and Happy.

Through Willy’s discussions with his sons, particularly with Biff, the audience is able to
see the value of self-image and the impression a man must make on his surroundings in any type
of scenario. Willy strongly believes that success is strictly aligned with the impression a man
makes and whether he is ‘well-liked’ and reputable; “Willy: ... That’s why I thank Almighty God
you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business
world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will
never want. You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. ‘Willy Loman
is here!’ That’s all they have to know, and I go right through.” (Act 1). This quote is extracted
from one of Willy’s flashbacks with his sons. Willy has an over-inflated idea of the impression
he makes in the business world, especially throughout his hallucinations. Willy’s teenage son,
Biff (in the timeframe in this context), is an American football player who is academically
unsuccessful but nonetheless, a star in high school. As Happy speaks of Biff’s reputation in
school, Willy compares both of them to the Greek god of beauty and desire, Adonis. Once again
such a comparison signifies the impression Willy would have wanted his sons to make on their
surrounding in any situation as young, robust, and physically appealing men.

The two more significant female characters presented in the play, the Woman and Linda
Loman, play a significant role in demonstrating the inferior feminine role in the American
cultural. Linda is a typical housewife who always strives for her husband’s pleasure. Willy on
the other hand sees her no more than her capabilities of taking care of the family and being the
housewife she is. Even though he mentions that she is his ‘rock’ and ‘foundation’, he restrains
her from speaking anything of the business world when she interrupts the discussions between
himself and his sons. However, Linda is a character with considerable strength in making some
of the important decisions for the Loman family. For one, she had easily convinced her husband
in declining Bill’s offer to go to Alaska with him. This was something Willy would regret doing
for the rest of his life as a traveling businessman. She also would have had the strength of
helping Willy in realizing his initial dreams of living in the ‘great outdoors’ or working as a
talented carpenter. However, Linda also lives in denial and happens to live her dreams through
her husband. She states that even though he may seem unattractive to others, Willy will always
be handsome and appealing and overall a successful man in her eyes.

Through Biff and Happy’s dialogue, we see that Willy and Happy often view women as
sexual objects that display their masculinity. Happy states that he sleeps with the fiancés’ of his
coworkers to make him feel superior to them. He is capable of doing this due to his ‘personal
attractiveness’ even though he is clearly aware of the damning consequences such exploits may
have on women before they get married. Likewise, ‘The Woman’ is also used in this manner
from Willy’s perspective as she only serves for his ego to make him feel desired in the rush of
his salesman life. In Willy’s hallucinations, she is a character that falls for his status and the
money he makes as Willy portrays himself as a well-respected, well-liked character in his
flashbacks. This also signifies the financial dependence of women in such a society as a result of
gender inequality. Men are of higher status and are independent unlike women, who are possibly
less reputable and are, likewise seen as sexual objects for their dependency.

In conclusion, Miller uses such devices to show the mediocre femininity in comparison to
the masculinity portrayed by the members of the Loman household. Typical women are targeted
as more inferior characters and are seen as objects to fulfill men’s desire. Men on the other hand
are expected to give value to self-image and the impressions that they make. Arthur Miller
portrays this using his characters to signify the role that each of them play in the theme of
consumerism and the American Dream.

Word count: 1044 words (headings excluded)