The Garden / Seeds

In his moment of crisis, jobless, in debt and abandoned by his sons in the restaurant, Willy starts planting seeds in his garden in the middle of the night. The seeds work as a symbol on different levels.

Events

In his moment of crisis, jobless, in debt and abandoned by his sons in the restaurant, Willy’s impulse is to find a “seed store”.
Much to the waiter’s confusion, Willy worries that “Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground.”
Minutes later, the audience witness the almost surreal sight of watching Willy plant seeds in the middle of the night.

Symbolism

The seeds work as a symbol on different levels.
One reading of their significance is that Willy is obsessed with leaving a legacy, something that will outlast him and help provide for his family.
Another reading could be that he feels he has failed in raising his sons. The seeds provide Willy with a fresh chance of nurturing life.

Shock

Regardless, the fact that this is all Willy can think of doing at this time shows us a mind which is disintegrating.
It is a shocking spectacle, with Biff’s muted “Oh, my God!” speaking for the audience watching on in horror.

Futility

Another factor which makes the sight of Willy planting his garden so shocking is the audience’s knowledge that nothing will grow there.
The Lomans’ house has been “boxed in” by apartment blocks and, deprived of natural light, “the grass don’t grow any more, you can’t raise a carrot in the backyard”.

Suppressed desire

Here, the garden acts as a symbol for the rapid expansion of cities in post-war America but also represents Willy being denied the way of life he, deep down, longs for - living in “those grand outdoors”, relying only on his own labour.

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 & Links

2.2.1Foreshadowing & Inevitability

2.2.2Time

2.2.3Settings

2.2.4Family

2.2.5Reality v 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

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