Friday, February 14, 2014
Linda Lohman
From the author's description at the start of the play, what do we know about Linda? What can we guess? Does she know about the Woman in Boston? What makes you think that she does or she doesn't? Why does she repeatedly enter with a load of wash? Does Linda help or hinder Willy in overlooking his small sales and his dishonest attempts to make them seem bigger? How else does she influence Willy?
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From the author's description, we know that Linda is more of a quiet, reserved, and dutiful wife. She truly loves Willy and would do anything for him, or rather, would try to look over any faults of his in order to keep the same perception of him. We can guess that Linda is not shown as much love from Willy as what she shows him. I don't think she does know about the woman in Boston, but I don't think it would matter either way if she did or did not know. I think that through her love and admiration for Willy, Linda would overlook that little mishap or just accept it. And then, I don't know if Willy could stick around if he knew that Linda knew about his affair, as Willy does love his wife in some ways. Linda repeatedly enters with a load of wash because that contributes to the idea that she is a dutiful wife who is getting chores done while Willy and the boys are out of the house earning their keep. I believe that the laundry and other chores are just ways that Linda can take her mind off of issues and problems. There is also a contrast created between the woman and Linda with the laundry, as the woman would not have done that chore. After a reflection scene with the woman, Willy tells Linda to stop mending stockings, perhaps as a way to state that his money will provide new stockings to her and that he is able to provide, or perhaps it is to compare Linda and the woman in his mind. Linda helps and hinders Willy when she overlooks his sales. It gives Willy hope and confidence, especially with knowing that his wife supports him and thinks that whatever he makes is great. But if Linda was more honest with Willy, I think Willy would be more honest with himself and realize that he needs to work harder and actually earn those sales that he brags about. Linda is very supportive of Willy, but she almost seems like a mother to Willy instead of his wife. She is taking care of the household, looking after his well-being and is that snuggle blanket where Willy can turn to when he is hurt, but he does not return those efforts. Linda offers a lot of support and care and love for Willy while asking for little in return, and therefore teaches him that he can get all of the love from his wife basically for free. Willy does not want to completely disappoint his wife and therefore keeps his problems, such as his possible suicides, away from his wife instead of confiding in her and trusting her, as a married couple of many years should be able to do. Perhaps Willy does not think himself worthy of Linda and subconsciously tries to keep his distance from her. Overall, Linda has a big impact on Willy and how he lives and how he feels, even if he does not realize it himself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement about Linda overlooking any faults in Willy. Linda Loman definitely has a lot of love and admiration for Willy. I also think it is really insightful on your part, Maria, to make the statement about the mistress never doing the chores Linda Loman would do.
DeleteFrom the start of the play we know that Linda Loman adores Willy. In the book, it hints that Linda Loman has a strong will to repress how she really feels. Linda Loman does know all of Willy's "little cruelties" and accepts them. Linda does know about the woman in Boston because she can always sense when there is something wrong with Willy. Linda knows Willy like the back of her own hand. Linda always enters with a load of wash to symbolize that she is always working. Linda is the realistic image of the life they truly live. Linda is only hindering Willy, involving his career. She constantly tells Willy to speak to his boss, but she doesn't really enforce her words. Therefore, Willy never really takes it to heart until the very end of the book. Other way in which Linda does not really help Willy is his suicide attempts. Linda knows about them, but yet does not confront Willy about them. Linda Loman is always making up excuses for Willy to make him seem better than he truly is, because in her eyes he is somewhat perfect. Linda Loman has much more respect for Willy than she does for herself.
ReplyDeleteI really feel strongly that you encompassed who Linda is in this post. She really lives for Willy and not for herself. She treats Willy as if he is extremely fragile and that she can not say anything to upset him or he will not be able to go on. I think that she feels that Willy can do no wrong. Even if he hurts her feelings or does something that she does not agree with, Linda stands by him and makes up an excuse as to why it is ok.
DeleteMiller does a good job of letting us know some very important information about Linda at the beginning of the play. Right away we can tell how strong she is as a wife and mother and how much she cares for her family. She does her best throughout the entire play to keep her family from fighting. I think she does know about the woman in Boston, but at this point she cares too much about Willy to do anything about it. Also, when she enters with a load of wash, I think it reflects on the fact that she is always hard at work. Linda does her best to keep Willy in high spirits as much as possible. Even though he never does well in his sales, she is always supportive and tells Willy that he will do well next time. Willy listens well to Linda and believes her every time she says that life is going to get better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on everything you said except for the parts concerning Willy and the fact that Linda is a strong wife and mother. I think that she likes to think of herself as being strong for her family, but in all reality she is only strong when it comes to defending Willy's every mistake. In her eyes, Willy can do no wrong and every argument that occurs between Willy and her sons is always either son's fault. I also do not think that Willy believes it when Linda says that life will get better. If he did, why would he have taken his own life?
DeleteI agree that Linda cared too much to bring up the other woman. She would be heartbroken if something happened that broke up her marriage or her family.
DeleteI agree that Linda is a very strong mother and wife. She does not enjoy arguments and seems to love Willy too much to bring up her knowledge of the woman in Boston. Linda thinks the world of Willy and always pushes him to do his best in his job.
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ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning of the play, the reader can tell that Linda is a very caring woman and she always wants the best for her family. She is the one who always tries to keep the peace and be supportive. The author of the play never really comes out and says that Linda knows about Willy’s mistress. I’m not sure if she knows about the woman in Boston, but I would not put it passed her because she is a smart woman. She just loves Willy too much to confront him about the issue. She knows that he has had suicidal moments and does not want to push him over the edge. Showing her repeatedly doing a load of wash shows the reader that she is a very hard worker and is working constantly. Linda is always supportive of her husband, even when his sales are small. She tries to advise him in different ways to help him. No matter how bad Willy feels about life, Linda is always there to help him pick his head back up. She loves him very much and wants him to be happy.
ReplyDeleteFrom the rise of the curtain, Linda is portrayed as a loving wife. She always looks on the positive side of Willy and does everything to make him happy. On the other hand, I think Linda is just like Willy, an actor. While Linda is pleasant on the outside, she is constantly worrying about Willy, her sons, and their home. Because of this, I believe Linda knows about the woman in Boston. She accepts that Willy is a dreamy person who will never be content with what he has... including his wife. She keeps her thoughts to herself not wanting to start new disruptions. Linda keeps a level head knowing she holds the family together by doing whatever is necessary. The load of wash represents how Linda works hard and cares for the family. She constantly is looking at helping Willy. Linda offers unceasing support and motivation through Willy's lies and failures. Her positiveness gets Willy to believe he is successful... resulting trying less. Linda is actually hindering Willy. Linda is Willy's greatest motivation (or second?). Linda could slowly change Willy into a realistic and truly content man if she wanted to.
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