The function of flashbacks in Death of a Salesman.

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English                                                                                                                           Hayley Porter 12NH

        Throughout Death of a Salesman flashbacks are used continuously, typically to present the audience with the Loman family’s background and show deterioration. In act one we see the first flashback at the beginning of the play. As the play starts to go into flashback the backdrop changes from the present ‘Apartment houses’ and the ‘surroundings become covered in leaves.’ The first sign of the Loman’s happy past. Willy is talking sense and telling Biff to watch his schooling, giving him good advice, and then he shows his wealth, polishing the car talking about the hammock that Willy is going to buy, to the punch bag that Willy bought his sons. This all seems too good to be true and as the flashbacks are taking place throughout the play we begin to see a tragic hero uncovered, Willy. The flashbacks show his highs from the past but the reality now is his present, and his falls. As the flashback begins to uncover, We see that the past is arriving on stage before the present has left.

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 Ben a character from the past that is dead is present in flashbacks throughout the play. But at the start his presence he is more diffuse as he spreads with all the characters in the flashback. Later Ben is still apparent but only when Willy is alone in a flashback. As the flashbacks are happening in the past, the present is still there. So as Willy is talking to Ben, Linda is confused to who Willy is talking to.

        The ‘laughter of the past’ is heard during the play from the woman Willy was having an affair with. This ...

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