Discuss the role
and Character of Linda in Death of a Salesman.
Death of a Salesman's character Linda is an
instrument in analyzing the play through a Feminist lens. Linda, the only woman
mentioned by name within the play, is overlooked and forsaken. The entire play is
centered on Willy and what Willy desires. Linda is merely a tool he uses in
order to enhance his own personal happiness. This is seen through Willy’s
affair and symbolic use of stockings. Willy selfishly cheats on his loyal wife
and buys “the woman” new stockings. Later, Linda is seen mending old stockings
because she is too kind to burden Willy with needing new ones and because she
assumes it is her duty to keep things together—including her stockings. Willy
obviously neglects his wife’s need for new stockings revealing woman’s “second
rate” place within society. Willy also takes advantage of Linda’s “infinite
patience” (17), and makes decisions solely based on himself because he is aware
of this attribute within Linda. Further, the fact Linda is completely oblivious
to Willy’s affair displays her as “stupid”—or at least not as intelligent as
Willy who is able to hide it from her.
