Money
English Lit: AQA A Level Death of a Salesman, topic 7.5.4
Money
References to money are repeated throughout the play, with characters assessing their value in ‘cash terms’.
Willy's delusions
- In Howard’s office, Willy insists that “I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in the year of 1928”, measuring his value in a financial calculation.
- However through previous scenes with Linda, audiences have probably learned not to take Willy at face value when he talks about how much money he has made.
Biff's calculations
- Biff, in assessing his and Willy’s lives in the final clash with his father, pleads with him to accept that he is only “one dollar an hour” and that they are both “a dime a dozen”.
- Willy, tragically, rejects this valuation.
Willy's worth
- Willy has measured his own worth and has a “guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition” to transform the Lomans’ fortunes.