*Death of a Salesman--Day 3.

As the reader continues in Death of a Salesman, one begins to understand the reasoning for Willy being in the mental state he is in. Willy feels as if his life has not been successful as he hoped, therefore, Willy is living out his life through Biff. Willy falsifies his own life by making it seem as if he is an optimum salesman, when in reality the company Willy works for “took his salary away.” The constant struggle that Willy feels within himself induces perfection upon Biff. Biff does not wish for the life that Willy wants for him, so Biff never “tries to please people.” The “whistling” spoken of that Biff does while on the job symbolizes the lack of interest within the jobs Biff has, ultimately symbolizing how Biff correlates with his father in that neither are pleased with their lives.

Not only does the title “Death of a Salesman” come from the “death” of Willy’s American Dream, but the reader learns that Willy experiences suicidal thoughts. Willy is so unhappy with the achievements he has failed to accomplish and that his sons have accomplished, that Willy has attempted to take his own life. Although Biff often becomes frustrated with his father’s behavior, at the end of Act I, Biff is seen removing the “rubber tubing” from “behind the heater” in which Willy used to attempt suicide.

Before Act I comes to an end, Willy is reminiscing to Linda about the younger years of Biff. Meanwhile, Biff is down in the kitchen, as a “golden pool of light” is elucidating him. As Willy’s story proceeds, he speaks of how the “sun was around him” and there were “three representatives” from colleges standing by that were going to recruit Biff. Willy deduces how a “star like that…can never really fade away” as the imagery of “light” on Willy begins “fading.” The light illuminating Biff shows content that Willy had towards Biff’s accomplishments, however, once the realization of Willy’s dream for Biff faded, the light fades on Willy as the “gas heater begins to glow” symbolizing the reason for Willy being suicidal is from the loss of the American Dream that Willy envisioned for Biff.

Although Linda portrays a kind, caring character, in reality Linda is not doing any good for Willy. The sensitivity Linda has towards Willy is ultimately driving him towards suicide. Without a stable person in Willy’s life to remind him of where his life is going, all Willy has is the remembrance of his past rather than someone to help him look towards the future. Linda accuses her sons of causing Willy to be the way he is, when in reality Linda should be speaking with Willy about the way he is. Will Linda be able to talk and help Willy before it is too late?