3.2.2

Metaphor

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Metaphor: The Garden

In both Death of a Salesman and Richard II, the garden becomes a key metaphor to represent the state of chaos and disorder overwhelming its central characters.

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Death of a Salesman

  • As Willy moves closer to his own suicide, he is consumed by the need to plant seeds as “I don’t have a thing in the ground”.
  • Here, the garden represents Willy’s anxieties around not providing for his family or leaving a legacy.
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Richard II

  • In Richard II, the garden represents the kingdom of England.
  • However, as the gardeners point out, under Richard’s reign the garden has become “full of weeds… choked up... ruin'd… disorder'd”.
  • England suffers because of Richard’s mismanagement.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction

2Act One

3Act Two

4Extended Passage Analysis

5Character Profiles

6Key Themes

7Writing Techniques

8Historical Context

9Literary Context

10Critical Debates

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