What does this scene tell us about the character Willy Loman and how does Miller make this scene dramatic?

What does this scene tell us about the character Willy Loman and how does Miller make this scene dramatic

In this scene we are shown the slightly darker side of Willy Loman. Here we discover about his affair, and his senile nature becomes even more evident because of his ghostly flashbacks. Willy’s lack of self-esteem and constant need for re-assurance can also be seen clearly seen. Miller has emphasized some of Willy’s characteristics through his choice of language, music and stage directions, making the scene more dramatic.

The affair is the main focus of this scene and is presented in a strange fashion. It is not entirely clear, but it seems Willy’s flashback involving “the woman” interrupts the memory of his family. This shows that Willy is very confused, because of the unstructured nature of this scene. The difference between the two relationships Willy has: with Linda and “the woman”, show how he treats women, and his view on their roles in his life. It appears that Willy used to think women were for sex and for housework and that he regrets believing this and starts to feel guilty. This could perhaps explain the reason for his flashbacks. The affair that Willy had with the woman makes him seem very uncaring and adulterous. When “He suddenly grabs her and kisses her roughly” we are shocked, not only because he is being disloyal, but also because we saw no evidence of passion in Willy’s relationship with Linda. Willy comments on how he wishes to “kiss the life outa” Linda, although he does not kiss her in this scene. Willy refers to Linda as “a pal”, showing that he used to treat her much like a maid, and their relationship had become more practical rather than loving. He must however care about Linda in some way because her attempts to justify the affair that she is not even aware of, because he feels guilty: “ ’Cause I get so lonely”. It is obvious that Willy wishes to forget the affair because he tries to ignore the memory of “the woman” by talking over the laughter in his first flashback: “He talks through the WOMAN’S subsiding laughter”. He cannot forget about her because he does have the flashback. This laughter makes the scene dramatic by creating a disturbing feeling. If performed the laughter would distract the audience from Willy and create tension, because of curiosity about the laughter.

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The way “the woman” is presented in this scene gives an insight into Willy’s character and she creates a great deal of tension in the play. She seems very ghost-like, and gives her and Willy’s past a mysterious quality that seems to haunt Willy. She “primps at the ‘mirror’”, which makes her appear as a superficial woman, and therefore makes Willy seem quite superficial himself if he has a relationship with her. She also seems to be quite demanding and manipulative when we learn that Willy has given her stockings: “And thanks for the stockings. I love a lot of stockings.” This is a subtle hint that she would like him to buy her more stockings. Not only is she presented as manipulative and demanding but we also see that Willy must be a pushover and easily influenced, to succumb to the woman’s needs. The fact that Willy does not buy Linda stockings seems to have been what reminded him of the woman and caused him to have the flashback about her. He says: “I won’t have you mending stockings in this house”, showing yet again that he does have some feelings towards Linda and appears to regret the affair.

This scene also shows the softer side of Willy, as well as the deceiving. He seems to be quite light-hearted with the woman, showing his sense of humour and ability to have fun. She describers him as “a kidder”, and although she is complementing him for the stockings, there is clearly some truth in what she says in Willy’s actions. He “slaps her bottom” and says “bottoms up!”, which although quite crude, also shows his less serious side. Before we only saw Willy as a provider but in this scene his actions and jokes display his immature nature as well. His insecurities are also clearly visible in this scene because of the conversations with both Linda and “the woman”. When Linda describes Willy as “the handsomest man in the world” he becomes unsure and does not believe her “Oh, no, Linda”. He does not believe her, and needs her to re-assure him that it is true, because she repeatedly compliments him. “The woman” also compliments Willy: “I picked you/ Willy [pleased]: You picked me? / The woman: I did”, and again Willy needs her to confirm what she said to be true. Later in the conversation he mentions this again: “You picked me, heh?”. Willy’s lack of self-confidence makes the reader or audience sympathise with him a bit, and we begin to forgive him for the affair.

The way Miller presents this scene could be somewhat confusing if seen on stage. Having read the play it is clearer, although the mixing of flashbacks is rather puzzling. This could however be very effective in helping the audience or reader to understand what Willy is going through. He himself is having flashbacks and becoming quite senile. Miller might have made this scene confusing, in order for us to feel as bewildered as Willy. This makes the scene more dramatic because one can sympathise more with Willy’s situation