Women’s Treatment in Death of a Salesman - 1463 Words

Women’s treatment in Death of a Salesman December 11, 2012 Abstract In our today’s men and women hold equal rights, however, in times prior to the 1950’s the majority of people would agree men held favorable positions and were said to be superior over women. Unfortunately this behavior still exists in countries. Arthur Miller’s, Death of a Salesman probes into these issues and solidifies how the past plagued woman. Miller categorizes women into two buckets; housewives or whores. The play gave good reason for women to take a look at their lives and essentially helped open their eyes. Some might even say it helped start the women’s movement. Death of a Salesman The play portrays women as being inferior to men and used†¦show more content†¦Biff even commented on this and says â€Å"He always wiped the floor with you† (Miller, 1949, Pg 139). Linda could have done something to stop Willy from killing himself. She unfortunately did nothing and during the REQUIEM, says â€Å"We’re free† (Miller, 1949, Pg 139), this especially tells the audience how Willy’s death has released the entire family from Willy’s suffering. This also gives an indication that Linda is now able to live her life without a controlling, cheating husband that always shoved her aside. Miller’s play demonstrates that women have the ability to accomplish things in life, but sometimes must be freed of those that control them. Women in the business world within this time period are marked as objects of sex simply because they are there and their function is to serve men. In one scene, Willy, deeply and loudly involved in one of his flashbacks, approaches Charleys office to borrow money. Jenny, Charleys secretary, tells Bernard that Willy is arguing with himself and that she cannot deal with Willy anymore. Jenny was insightful and a hard working woman. No doubt she also was anticipating his condescending remarks when Willy says, Howre ya? Workin’ or still honest? (Miller, 1949, Pg 90). Willy is implying her income is made through prostitution. She replies in a polite way, and Willy again turns to sexual innuendo: Not much anymore, Jenny. Ha, ha! (Miller, 1949, Pg 90). Sara Evans, book â€Å"Born for Liberty: AShow MoreRelatedDeath of a Salesman vs. Fifth Business, Feminist Perspective1462 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Essay Fifth Business by Roberson Davies and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Throughout most of history woman have faced an imbalance within their social class opposed to the male gender. They have had fewer rights and much fewer career opportunities, the stereotype that a women’s place is in the home is due to the most socially accepted and common career of wifehood and motherhood. Through the comparison of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fifth Business by Robertson DaviesRead MoreBernard Malamud Short Stories1443 Words   |  6 PagesAkin to the relationship Panessa develops with Mr. Schlegel in â€Å"The Bill,† when Kalish becomes a widow, she is caught in a vicious cycle wherein her pride and self-sufficiency contribute to the anguish she causes herself and Mr. Rosen, the ex-coffee salesman who wants to badly to assist her in her time of need. The symbolism in Both â€Å"The Bill† and â€Å"Take Pity† enhances readers’ understanding of the significance of the theme. Both narratives feature two prevalent symbols – the nuclear family and the storesRead MoreFeminist Analysis Death of a Salesman Essay examples875 Words   |  4 PagesFeminist Analysis of Death of a Salesman What’s great about this play is gives us insight into the past and focuses on an average family and provides lots of material to do a feminist analysis of. The most prominent woman figure in this play is Linda, but the male characters in this play also give us insight into women’s roles and help feed the feminist analyses To get us started, how do the roles and identities of women in this play compare to that of the male figuresRead MoreKleptomania1818 Words   |  8 Pagesimpulse to steal objects that have little or no known value to them. The kleptomaniac could easily purchase the item that was stolen, but research has shown that most do it for the adrenaline rush experienced from stealing. Kleptomania has no treatment. People diagnosed with the disorder are advocated to go through psychotherapy or take an anti-depressant medication. As knowledge of kleptomania grows, society has grown more readily to accept it and many more theories about the cause of the disorderRead MoreEssay about Subjugaiton of women in death of a salesman2254 Words   |  10 Pagesphilandering actions that Happy and Willy promote and Biff ultimately rejects in Miller’s play Death of a Salesman1. Through the subordinate view of women that Willy holds, the treatment of women Happy engages in follow his fathe r’s greedy motives, and biff’s dynamic change in his view of women, Death of a Salesman portrays the subordinate view of women through objectification and subjugation. As a struggling salesman, Willy does not achieve the success and attention that he desires; consequently, he subjugatesRead More Oppression and Depression: The Effects of White Masculinity2725 Words   |  11 Pagescompletely failed, and according to society’s and their own standards, they are not worthy to be considered real men. White masculinity is the ideal design of an adult male. It is a model for every man in America from birth up until the moment of death. This ideal dictates preferences in society for both men and women. John F. Kasson claims that a man is â€Å"valued solely for his beauty, his body openly admired and aggressively pursued by [women] (as well as courted by his own sex)† (Kasson 27). Read MoreConsider the Theme of Transformation in Metamorphosis and the Yellow Wallpaper.3444 Words   |  14 Pagesinsect, by the description given by Kafka, possibly similar in appearance to a cockroach, although the description given does not allow the reader to make any definite identification. He has been the breadwinner of the family, working as a travelling salesman to keep a roof over the heads of his mother, father and younger sister. This is a service that he has got no thanks or recognition for from his parents who do nothing towards the up keep of the household and just expect Gregor to take care of everythingRead MoreFeminist Approach to Witchcraft; Case Study: Millers the Crucible6554 Words   |  27 Pagesan effort to deconstruct the phallologocentric sanctions implicit in Millers account of Abigails fate, Elizabeths confession, and Johns temptation and death.] Arthur Millers The Crucible is a disturbing work, not only because of the obvious moral dilemma that is irresolutely solved by John Proctors death, but also because of the treatment that Abigail and Elizabeth receive at Millers hands and at the hands of critics. In forty years of criticism very little has been said about the ways inRead MoreA Theoretical Perspective on Dowry Deaths in India22724 Words   |  91 PagesPerspective on Dowry Deaths in India Objectives: a) To understand the concept of dowry as has originated and evolved in India. b) To conceptualize modern day consequences of dowry system. c) To refer to various laws in India and find out reasons for ineffectuality. d) To analyze the trend lay down in this regard by way of various judicial decisions. e) To critically analyze the reasons for divergence between the object of law with regard to dowry death and the practiceRead MoreAmerican History Eoc Study Guide5327 Words   |  22 Pagessociety’s problems. (pg. 498) 11) Sweatshop: A small workshop set up in a tenement rather than in centralized factories such as a close and textile company. (pg. 473) 12) Progressive Reforms: The reforms were housing reforms, election reforms, women’s suffrage, society reforms, workplace reforms, reforms in living conditions, and government reforms. 13) Booker T. Washington: He founded the Tuskegee Institute. He believed that Blacks should accept segregation for the time being and should train