Death of a Salesmam
...he last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And there’ll be nobody home." The house symbolizes Willy and Linda’s 35-year struggle to own their own home and how ironic it is because as soon as the mortgage Willy worked so hard for is finally paid off, no one is left to live in their house. Another way to demonstrate symbolism is to show conflicts or problems with the society. To begin with, the setting of Death of a Salesman is a symbol that is society-related. Willy feels that the apartment buildings that surround their house are blocking out the sunlight and country atmosphere that the Lomans used to enjoy; this symbolizes Willy’s feeling of being choked by the society in which they live. A similar symbol is the hammock. The hammock that once swings in their back yard represents the earlier carefree society of when Willy and Linda first bought their house. Another symbol reflecting society is the fountain pen that Biff attempts to steal. That pen comes to represent everything Biff rejects about their society – not only stealing, but also the business world in general because of all of its dishonesty. The emphasis placed on these social forces is what leads to the downfall of Willy. The characters in this story each symbolize a specific trait for Willy. Linda Loman stood for many things but one that stood out was...