gatsby
Death of a salesman plan “Consider the relationship established between Willy and Linda in the opening of the play (p8-10). What do we learn about their marriage? What clues to future events are subtly being introduced here?
Introduction/Point of argument
Linda loves her husband Willy immensely; she is completely devoted to him, and prioritises him over anything else. Linda is passively supportive and docile when Willy talks unrealistically about hopes for the future and subtly controls him to protect him from the harsh reality, therefore, unintentionally, is the reason for the family’s destruction.
Point 1: POWER IMBLANCE
P Linda has the most power in the marriage, she subtly controls willy:
E ‘Willy: [she is taking off his shoes] these goddam arch supports are killing me.’
E Linda constantly supports willy, agrees with everything he says, and leads him to believe he does no wrong and the world around him are the reasons for his downfalls e.g. ‘Willy: No, it’s me it’s me. Suddenly I realize I’m going sixty miles an hour and I don’t remember the last 5 minutes. I’m- I can’t seem to- keep my mind to it.’
‘Linda: Maybe it yours glasses, you never went for your new glasses’
Linda is like Willy’s arch supports, she supports everything he does whether it is wrong or not and is constantly offering him excuses for his own behaviour, and this support is what is leading him to his death. Willy is confiding in Linda and trying to tell her how he cannot think straight, and Linda immediately tries to blame it on his glasses, as she doesn’t want willy to feel that his mind is becoming delusional.
L Linda subtlety manipulates Willy and tries to control him and tell him how he thinks. This shoes the audience from the outset that Linda is an over protective wife, who uses her power to smother Willy so that he is protected from seeing his own shortcomings
OTHER POINTS TO INCLUDE: imperative language, interrogation.
Point 2: STAGE DIRECTIONS AND SETTING
Introduction/Point of argument
Linda loves her husband Willy immensely; she is completely devoted to him, and prioritises him over anything else. Linda is passively supportive and docile when Willy talks unrealistically about hopes for the future and subtly controls him to protect him from the harsh reality, therefore, unintentionally, is the reason for the family’s destruction.
Point 1: POWER IMBLANCE
P Linda has the most power in the marriage, she subtly controls willy:
E ‘Willy: [she is taking off his shoes] these goddam arch supports are killing me.’
E Linda constantly supports willy, agrees with everything he says, and leads him to believe he does no wrong and the world around him are the reasons for his downfalls e.g. ‘Willy: No, it’s me it’s me. Suddenly I realize I’m going sixty miles an hour and I don’t remember the last 5 minutes. I’m- I can’t seem to- keep my mind to it.’
‘Linda: Maybe it yours glasses, you never went for your new glasses’
Linda is like Willy’s arch supports, she supports everything he does whether it is wrong or not and is constantly offering him excuses for his own behaviour, and this support is what is leading him to his death. Willy is confiding in Linda and trying to tell her how he cannot think straight, and Linda immediately tries to blame it on his glasses, as she doesn’t want willy to feel that his mind is becoming delusional.
L Linda subtlety manipulates Willy and tries to control him and tell him how he thinks. This shoes the audience from the outset that Linda is an over protective wife, who uses her power to smother Willy so that he is protected from seeing his own shortcomings
OTHER POINTS TO INCLUDE: imperative language, interrogation.
Point 2: STAGE DIRECTIONS AND SETTING