Feminist Lense

Tyler Goodspeed

Mrs. Disher

AP Literature

February 9, 2018

Death of a Salesman: Feminist Criticism

            In Millers play, The Death of a Salesman, the entire plot is focused around the characters of Biff and Willy. With males taking up most of the spotlight, one must look closely to uncover the view one would have as a feminist. However, it is easy to see that the women in Death of a Salesman are merely tools used by the men to get what they want. This significantly downplays the role of women in the play as they are usually used for personal gain. This is seen as Willy sleeps with a secretary who has connections to potential buyers, “Woman: I’ll put you right through to the buyers. Willy: Right. Well, bottoms up! Woman: You just kill me, Willy. You kill me. And thanks for the stockings. I love a lot of stockings. Well, good night.” (25 Miller). Willy bribes The Woman with sex and stockings to help improve his sales and effectively uses her until he is eventually discovered. Another prime example of women being downplayed is the interactions between Linda and Willy. Linda is an enabler as she fills her husband full of false hope and outright lying to him to make him feel better, “Willy: You wait, kid, before its all over were gonna get a little place out in the country, and ill raise some vegetables, a couple of chickens… Linda: You’ll do it yet, dear.” (49 Miller). Linda’s constant support and kindness is continually abused by Willy as he routinely snaps at her for a stray comment. Despite the neglect by Willy, Linda continually supports Willy, “Linda: And you tell me he has no character? The man who never worked a day but for your benefit?” (39 Miller). Linda refuses to let anyone attack Willy even when they speak the truth. Sadly, Linda does not realize Willy is both using her and cheating on her. Linda wants to fulfill the role of a supportive and caring mother which society pushed for in the 1940’s. However, she takes this model too far as she allows Willy to walk over her. She won’t even ask Willy for new stockings and continues to mend hers despite him giving stockings to the other Woman. This is a symbol for the lack of love and care Willy has for Linda. The portrayal of women in Death of a Salesman display them as nothing more than tools to further a man’s desire. Nowhere in the play do we see Linda make a stand against Willy as she continually lets him walk over her. Nowhere do we see a woman reject another mans advances. Nowhere do we see women break out of the mold of being pretty, quiet, and submissive that the  men of the time period expected.