2.2.4
Family
Fathers and Sons
Fathers and Sons
Willy's difficult relationship with his son and his own father are examined in the play.
Willy and Son
Willy and Son
- Death of a Salesman is structured around the conflict between father and son:
- Willy’s dreams of a golden future for Biff.
- Biff’s frustration at having to live up to an ideal.
Willy and Father
Willy and Father
- Willy’s problematic relationship with his own father, a man he never knew but who he has always idealised, is symbolised in the sound of the flute which opens the play, and which will recur at key moments.
Richard II
Richard II
- Richard II could also be argued to show a similar conflict in that Richard ignores the advice of the ‘father figures’ in the play, John of Gaunt (Richard’s uncle) & York.
- Both attempt to guide and warn Richard (“You pluck a thousand dangers on your head”) but both are rejected, leading to tragedy.
1Introduction
1.1Introductions
2Act One
3Act Two
4Extended Passage Analysis
5Character Profiles
5.1Willy & Linda Loman
5.2Biff & Happy Loman
5.3Other Characters
6Key Themes
7Writing Techniques
7.1Structure
7.3Expressionism
8Historical Context
8.1Historical Context
9Literary Context
9.1Tragedy
10Critical Debates
10.1Introduction
10.2The Marxist Reading
10.3The Feminist Reading
10.4The Eco-Critical Reading
10.5Other Debates
Jump to other topics
1Introduction
1.1Introductions
2Act One
3Act Two
4Extended Passage Analysis
5Character Profiles
5.1Willy & Linda Loman
5.2Biff & Happy Loman
5.3Other Characters
6Key Themes
7Writing Techniques
7.1Structure
7.3Expressionism
8Historical Context
8.1Historical Context
9Literary Context
9.1Tragedy
10Critical Debates
10.1Introduction
10.2The Marxist Reading
10.3The Feminist Reading
10.4The Eco-Critical Reading
10.5Other Debates
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