Importance of Time Lapses in Death of a Salesman :: English Literature

Why does Arthur Miller use epoch lapses in his play Death of a Salesman?What was the playwright trying to reassure us about Willy Loman?In this essay I will be exploring and analysing Death of a Salesmanby Arthur Miller. I will be look the use of flash backs in the playthat aim to emphasise that the departed is always with us. Looking at theflashbacks will also help image the character of Willy Loman. Theaction takes place in Willy Lomans house and mebibyte also in variousplaces he visits in New York and capital of Massachusetts of 1949.The play was set in post war America. This is after the dandyDepression, when people had a different point of view and wanted to attain the American Dream. The American Dream is the longings ofpeople who wanted to violate the country, to amass m one and only(a)y and enjoy acomfortable, not to be at the beck and call of the employer. Thefigure of a salesman was at the cutting edge of the American Dream, aself made person that did not sell his p roducts however his personality.The play shows a series of chronological events which take placeduring one evening and the next day. At intervals throughout the playwe see scenes from Willys past enacted on the same stage at the sametime. On first impression this would seem more likely to confuse the reference rather than reveal, but Miller had strong reasons for stagingthe play in this way.It is my belief that playwright tells us the past is not almostthingwhich is now posterior us. The past is always with us informing andinfluencing our actions. To understand the character of Willy Loman,we moldiness be aware of the emotional burdens he carries with him from thepast.To show an example of these recollections I have selected a scene inAct Two. Willy is sitting in a restaurant where he has been invited bythe boys, in anticipation of the accompaniment that Biff will be able to securea loanword from Bill Oliver. Willy has just been laid off from his oldjob, and is hoping that Biff has some good news for him so that Lindacan be happy as he knows she has always been trustworthy to him and mademany sacrifices. Willy said she has waited and she has suffered.This shows how loyal and hard working Linda has been to the family,sacrificing to save money. Evidence of this is shown by the stockingsthat she sits down with and mends so money can be saved.