Consider how play writes make characters speak in play's you have studied and say how the language and tone of these dialogs, conversations, or monologues, contribute to the play as a whole.

Forms of address are important so that we are able to note the relationship characters have between them. They can determine the mood as well as the fighting for power. The modality, ‘May’ is a modality used several timed in ‘Death and the Maiden’. Words such as this one reflect that it is not a friend-to-friend conversation. Also it can be that characters are playing games with language, so that they can confuse the readers. And change their perspective of the situation happening. Gerardo calls Paulina differently when he is annoyed by something. In this case he calls her by her name. On the other hand when Gerardo wants to manipulate Paulina or when he want to distract her he addresses her by words such as “darling”. Moreover in Death of the salesman the same situation happens. Willy uses superlatives as he talks about his suns; he tries to make them look like God’s. They show that he can’t confront reality, as he wants to another life. Secondly Willy addresses Linda by her name, showing gender roles, and the sexist relationships of the time. When men were not sensitive. Finally Biff and Happy refers to Willy as pop. This could show their childish attitude, as well as the respect and love they have to their father moreover it could show that they haven’t grow up, and that Willy thinks of them as baby’s not as the adults they are.

There are remarkably lots of interrogations in both plays. Dorfman uses Paulina as the one asking the questions. Paulina does this, as she wants to know the truth to ‘heal her past wounds’. In a way she wants to repair her past by revealing her abuses and bringing them to light. At the beginning of the play Roberto was the instrument of Dorfman. He was the one making the questions to Paulina, and the one accusing her for the flat tyre. He is a politic and he tries to answer all even the questions that can’t be answered. Interrogations are like light for the characters, they bring hope for the future. That’s why every time a character is interrogated a light is above them. Paulina for instance say: ‘I just want the truth’, she thinks that by asking so many questions and digging up her past she will find peace on her soul. That’s why she points Gerardo with a gun, so that he talks about the affair. As the play develops Paulina changes her sweet character and becomes masculine. She uses questions that seem to be made before to her. For instance she asks Roberto: ‘Fresh water is better than piss hmm?” this quotation revealed that maybe Paulina was force to drank piss, also it has a sexual connotation as she wants to change her role in life and be the aggressor. As well as this question Paulina uses other like for instance: ‘Piss or shit?’ it reveals the role reversal of Paulina and how she is suffering. Gerardo feels offended by this language and excuses Paulina it seems like if Gerardo is more in favour to public opinion than on the suffering of Paulina. Dorfman is trying to raise a question, and this is: how can we reach the truth if lies are becoming a habit? This is important to analyse as the whole play is about the search for the truth. Furthermore we are able to see that a similar phenomenon happens to Willy in Death of the salesman. As he talks to his brother Ben, he asks him many questions that have to do with if he is doing right or wrong in the education he is giving to his suns. This kind of questions show that he is an insecure person, that in reality knows that what he is doing was not the correct choice but that wants to cover it up. Also it shows his need of approval; as he asks questions to Charley, even though in reality don’t take into account Charley’s advises.

Along the fist part of Death and the Maiden, there is a repetition of the word ‘Margaritas’, this word has many connotations it suggested gender roles, as Paulina is an expert in the making of the drink. And also it shows a bond that Gerardo wants to create with Roberto. It is like if Gerardo wants to be very polite with Roberto. Equally in Death of a Salesman, Miller uses the motif of stockings as a way to mend the past. Also it shows gender roles. Likewise they serve as the symbol of Willy’s lack of money. He does not have what he wants. Willy is remained by Linda that they live in credit and that the money they have is not sufficient for their needs. This reality depresses Willy massively.

It is kind of ironic how Willy’s suns are separate from reality. Happy thinks that what he is doing is the correct thing. For instance he say’s: ‘You know how honest I am’ this is ironic as before he said that he is corrupt in his work, as he stills women. Happy is constantly blaming other for his faults and tries to change reality, by using superlatives to elevate his family, so that he can thinks he is successful. On the other hand Biff is more realistic, as he knows they have a problem, and that they are not what they want to be. He says: ‘Hap, the trouble is we weren’t brought up to grub for money, I don’t know how to do it’. This quotation suggests that Biff is more realistic and that he is kind of aware of his life.

Along the whole Death of a Salesman play, there is an important theme running. This is the idea of being well likes. Willy persuades his suns that that is the only way they will be successful in life. Happy believes more than Biff that by adopting that perspective they will be successful in life. He constantly says to Willy “ I have loose some weight dad you notice” this is important as Happy feels his dad will pay attention to him if he looks good. Also it shows that Biff is the centre of attention in the Lowman family.

As Willy talks to Charley he shows that he feels that looks are all what counts. In a way this shows his lack of confidence. Willy likes to insult Charley he tries to play the role of the wise as he talks about vitamins, and about building ceilings. The purpose of this is to make himself look better and feel that he is not the looser he thinks he is. Also it shows that Willy is very jealous about Charley’s position in life, as furthermore, he talks about the success of Charley, and that maybe he needed to be more like him. Willy always uses words of a salesman book, and he tries to imitate Dave Singleman, but in reality he doesn’t do what he preaches, and he wants to be a person he is not. He feels that talking in a way will change the perspective other have on him.

As we could see along both plays, each character adopted and important role in the play. They symbolise a character in life. In my opinion the authors wanted to make the readers identify themselves with one of the characters. For instance in Death and the Maiden, at the end the author used the audience to symbolise the mirror, and for making us see ourselves. It is important to note closely how characters develop. From beginning to end we were able to look at and evolution in Willy, as he ends up sort of understanding how things worked in real life and living more his reality. Biff on the other hand reach to the point were he realise that life is not the way his father made it look like. The way they talk and the way they interact with others, show different aspects in their personality. They develop in very different ways as the situations move on. The authors use this kind of language so readers could be able to note how the environment can affect people’s personality. This was written by Cristina Telles.