Linda Loman

Despite Arthur Miller’s portrayal of Linda Loman as adapting to her societal niche as a housewife and mother, she is unable to assist her family in achieving happiness. According to critic Julius Novick, Linda “has found her identity and moral compass in preserving protecting, and defending her husband” (Novick 102). Linda even defends Willy’s integrity to her own son Biff when she says “he’s the dearest man in the world to me, and I won’t have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue” (Miller 55). The play Death of a Salesman takes place in the 1950’s, a time where marriage meant a woman had to sacrifice her personal identity and interests in order to nurture a family. Arthur Miller reveals little about Linda’s life before marriage because he wants to

During a flashback, Linda is seen assuring Willy that he is “the handsomest man in the world” and reminding him “few men are idolized by their children the way you are” (Miller 37). By scolding her children for disrespecting her father, she attempts to maintain the notion that Willy is still respected and “well-liked” because she understands how important his self-esteem is in his profession as a salesman. Arthur Miller wants to reiterate the fact that Linda is extremely supportive of Willy in order to show that Linda was doing everything that was expected of her by society. The reason that Linda tries to ensure that Willy’s children still respect him is because she wants one aspect of Willy’s life to remain unchanged as she notices his deteriorating mental health. In a way, Linda is trying to fulfill her role by managing the family, so Willy can perform his role as the financial provider of the family. In a quote by Irving Jacobson, he claims, “Linda has remained loyal, but her constancy cannot help Loman” (Jacobson