6.1.3

Nature & the City

Test yourself

Nature

The tension between the city and the world of nature is highlighted in Miller’s long opening stage direction.

Illustrative background for Stage directions Illustrative background for Stage directions  ?? "content

Stage directions

  • The opening stage directions feature motifs representing the natural environment (e.g. the sound of a flute telling of “grass and trees and the horizon”) which compete against images of an “angry” and oppressive cityscape surrounding the Loman household.
Illustrative background for Willy's conflictIllustrative background for Willy's conflict ?? "content

Willy's conflict

  • This contrast between the city and the world of nature symbolises the competing forces inside Willy:
    • His love of the great outdoors.
    • His belief that he can succeed and “build something” in the city.
Illustrative background for Nature v moneyIllustrative background for Nature v money ?? "content

Nature v money

  • Similarly, his son aches to work in a wild and natural environment but knows that the financial rewards lie in the city and that he must “suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors with your shirt off”.
Illustrative background for Appreciating natureIllustrative background for Appreciating nature ?? "content

Appreciating nature

  • Willy and Biff especially appreciate the beauty of nature and are at their most content and peaceful when describing it, whether it is the scenery Willy passes on the road to New England or the sight of new colts in the spring.
Illustrative background for Nature and BenIllustrative background for Nature and Ben ?? "content

Nature and Ben

  • Willy is anxious to justify his living in the city to Ben.
  • He assures Ben that he and his boys “hunt too… there’s snakes and rabbits…” and that Biff is expert at cutting down trees.
Illustrative background for Nature and masculinity Illustrative background for Nature and masculinity  ?? "content

Nature and masculinity

  • Willy associates the natural environment with a chance to prove one’s masculinity.
  • He and his boys can be as self-reliant as Willy’s father was.

The City

The tension between the the city and the world of nature is highlighted in Miller’s long opening stage direction.

Illustrative background for The city Illustrative background for The city  ?? "content

The city

  • In contrast to the natural environment, the city is personified as “hard” and “angry” in the opening stage direction.
  • Miller creates an atmosphere of oppression and threat, particularly with the projections of the “hard towers of the apartment buildings” looming over the Loman’s household.
Illustrative background for Biff's views Illustrative background for Biff's views  ?? "content

Biff's views

  • New York is spoken of as a rat-race: a ruthless and competitive environment where one always has to “get ahead of the next fella”.
  • Biff describes the city as a “nuthouse”, a metaphor which brutally expresses how city-dwellers may be damaged by their environment.
  • Willy can be seen as such a victim.
Illustrative background for Ben's viewsIllustrative background for Ben's views ?? "content

Ben's views

  • Ben is also dismissive of city-life, describing cities as “full of talk and time payments and courts of law”.
  • For Ben, cities are restrictive, full of rules and procedures which do not exist in the frontier lands such as Alaska where a man has to prove his masculinity, to “screw on your fists and… fight” for success.
Illustrative background for Happy's viewsIllustrative background for Happy's views ?? "content

Happy's views

  • Happy also condemns city-life and business as a “racket”, implying that it is a game which can be fixed: he views the city as a corrupt environment.

The Loman's Garden

The Loman back yard and garden also helps to symbolise the conflict between the city and nature.

Illustrative background for The Loman houseIllustrative background for The Loman house ?? "content

The Loman house

  • Willy and Linda’s house has been “boxed in” by developers and, deprived of enough natural light, “nothing’ll grow” in the Loman’s garden: “Not enough sun gets there”.
Illustrative background for The gardenIllustrative background for The garden ?? "content

The garden

  • The Loman’s back yard used to contain “two beautiful elm trees” and “lilacs and wisteria…peonies… daffodils”.
  • All have been lost as the “hard towers of apartment blocks” encroach on their home.
Illustrative background for Imagery Illustrative background for Imagery  ?? "content

Imagery

  • Willy twice cries out that “The woods are burning!”, a phrase he uses to describe his horror and panic at his loss of control over his own life.
  • The imagery is significant.
  • It is the environment that Willy feels closest to which is being lost, the burning woods representing a way of life which is being lost forever.
Illustrative background for Imagery cont.Illustrative background for Imagery cont. ?? "content

Imagery cont.

  • It may also be interpreted as symbolising man-made environmental destruction, in particular, the clearing of woodland to make way for the expansion of the suburbs.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction

2Act One

3Act Two

4Extended Passage Analysis

5Character Profiles

6Key Themes

7Writing Techniques

8Historical Context

9Literary Context

10Critical Debates

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson