Act One: The Woman Quotes

The Woman - Quotations

Miller uses many theatrical devices to recreate Willy’s first memory of the Woman with whom he had an affair with in Boston. Here are some key quotations relating to that memory:

“Scrim”

Music and stage design are used to recreate Willy’s memory.
- A “scrim” (translucent curtain) is used at the left of the house to create the silhouette of the Woman as she intrudes into Willy’s thoughts.

"Handsomest man in the world"

“Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the world”.
- Linda saying this reminds Willy of the attention paid to him by the Woman.
- So his memories of the Woman are triggered by guilt.

"I get so lonely"

“I get so lonely - especially when business is bad and there’s nobody to talk to”.
- Willy tells Linda of his loneliness on the road. This suggests his affair was borne out of loneliness.

"Stockings"

“I won’t have you mending stockings in this house!”
- Not only do the stockings remind him of his infidelity and betrayal of Linda, but the fact that Linda has to mend them also reminds Willy of his failure as the family breadwinner.

"Laugh"

The Woman's "laugh" is heard when Willy’s mind flits to young Bernard and Linda complaining about Biff’s behaviour.
- The audience will learn in Act Two how the Woman is connected to Biff in Willy’s mind.

Compliments and validation

The Woman compliments Willy on his “sense of humour”.
Willy repeats the question, “You picked me?”, finding validation in the Woman’s ‘choosing’ him.

1Introduction

1.1Introductions

1.1.1Author

1.1.2Historical Context

1.1.3Setting

1.1.4Social Issues

2Act One

2.1Key Events

2.1.1Staging

2.1.2Key Events 1&2

2.1.3Key Events 3&4

2.1.4Key Events 5&6

2.1.5Key Events 7&8

2.1.6Key Events 9&10

2.1.7Key Events 11&12

2.2Key Themes & Literary Techniques

2.2.1Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, Settings

2.2.2Family, Reality, Fantasy

3Act Two

3.1Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&2

3.1.2Key Events 3&4

3.1.3Key Events 5&6

3.1.4Key Events 7&8

3.1.5Key Events 9&10

3.2Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride

3.2.2Metaphor

3.2.3Self-Realisation

4Extended Passage Analysis

4.1Act One

4.1.1Staging

4.1.2The Woman

4.2Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office

4.2.2The Final Confrontation

4.2.3The Requiem

5Character Profiles

5.1Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman

5.1.2Linda Loman

5.2Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman

5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy

5.2.3Happy Loman

5.3Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben

5.3.2Charley

5.3.3Bernard

6Key Themes

6.1Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream

6.1.2Fathers & Sons

6.1.3Nature & the City

6.1.4Success

6.1.5Men & Women

7Writing Techniques

7.1Structure

7.1.1Act One

7.1.2Act Two

7.2Realism

7.2.1Introduction

7.2.2Staging

7.2.3Language

7.3Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction

7.3.2Staging

7.3.3Music

7.4Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds

7.4.2Diamonds

7.4.3Alaska & Africa

7.5Motifs

7.5.1Introduction

7.5.2Cars

7.5.3Silk Stockings

7.5.4Money

7.5.5Mythological Figures

8Historical Context

8.1Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression

8.1.2America’s Recovery

9Literary Context

9.1Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction

9.2Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero

9.2.2The Tragic Flaw

9.2.3Recognition

9.2.4Emotional Release

9.2.5Chaos & Disorder

9.2.6Revenge

9.2.7Inevitability

10Critical Debates

10.1Introduction

10.1.1Introduction

10.2The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis

10.2.2The Marxist Reading

10.3The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis

10.3.2The Feminist Reading

10.4The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis

10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.3Post-pastoral

10.5Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy

10.5.2The Critics

11Recap: Main Quotes

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