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Summary A* DEATH OF A SALESMAN NOTES - Family dynamics, Relationships and Love
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A* DEATH OF A SALESMAN NOTES - Family dynamics, Relationships and Love
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Death of a Salesman revision booklet AQA A Level English Lit B
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compare & contrast of the characters Willy Loman and Charley in the play Death of a salesman by Arthur Miller
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Death of a Salesman as a story told through mind and memory of Willy Loman
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Family dynamics, Relationships and LoveThe success of Charley and Bernard is used to illustrate the gap between Willy's delusions
and the real world which doesn't allow him and Biff to have a similar relationship. Charley
and Bernard symbolise an ideal success, happiness and type of opportunity but the
Loman's are trapped in fantasy. They act as foils as Bernard helps Biff academically with
his Maths, as his father helps or tries to help Willy financially, by giving him money and
then offering him a job. Both Bernard and Charley try to make Biff and Willy respectively
face the realities of life. Bernard is always encouraging Biff to study harder and plays
almost a father-like role, telling him he shouldn't drive without a license. Equally, Charley
tries to get Willy to face the realities of working life. Ironically, in spite of the way that Willy
talks about Charley and Bernard, because of their "unmasculine" traits, it is Charley and
Bernard that are the success stories, with Bernard becoming an incredibly successful
lawyer. Bernard was raised with no particular expectations while willy raised his sons to be
bullies and to feel superior to the rest. Charley was supportive of Bernard's academic
achievements while Willy was obsessed with his sons appearance and football.
Biff expresses his love emotionally, always thinking about what his dad would want him to
do and even falling into the capitalist trap because of his love for Willy.
Lindas reassurance shows how weak Wily's self respect is as he seems to depend on
Linda's support to survive such as when she says that he is "idolised" by his sons - which
we know not to be the case yet by Willy hearing it he can face the next day. However,
Linda's support does not prevent Willy from having the affair. He tells Linda that he wants
to "kiss the life outa her" but on the road it is another woman that he kisses when he is
lonely and away from home. His reason for the affair is that he is 'lonely' and no one to talk
to which is untrue. His attitude to Linda when she was mending the stocking showcases
some of the guilt he feels.
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