"What haunts humanity is its hatred of itself, and it is this 'guilt' which, more than anything else, must be overcome." (Alan Taylor, The University of Texas At Arlington)
What role does guilt play within the context of Death of a Salesman and our lives? Your goal should be to make assertions that broaden other's perception. If you lack wisdom or insight, do some research.
3 comments:
So far so many great things have been said about guilt and its role in Death of a Salesman. The guilt that is apparent in the relationship between Willy and Biff Loman, is unarguably the strongest example of guilt in the play. Willy appears to feel guilt directly in the final family feud in the play when he flashes back to Biff's reaction when he discovered that Willy was cheating on Linda. In actuality, the play suggests that this is what caused Biff to lose hope in the dream of a salesman and provides an explanation as to why he did not attend summer school to improve his math grade. Biff's slow but gradual realization of the lies that Willy constantly fed to his family is undoubtedly responsible for Willy's growing mental problems (ironically). Willy's guilt builds up more and more as he realizes that one of his son's is discovering exactly what he really is.
I also believe that guilt is a crucial factor with regard human morals. Trevor's statement about disregarding morals and its effect on pleasure and enjoyment is very much an accurate one. I think that having a lot of money or at least security from the pressures of society can allow a person to let some of their morals loose. If you believe that, then it should only make sense that the system of aristocracy is the way it is. Those who have enough money to discard their morals and forget entirely about the disadvantaged while gaining more and more concern for preserving their own riches will have no problem pulling some strings behind the scenes to get exactly what they want. That is just a very small example of how guilt or the lack of it can effect society. Peace.
Also, I didn't mean to generalize "the aristocracy"...truth be told, I hope to be filthy rich one day.
Willy feels guilty that he cheats on his wife. Whenever he sees a stocking he goes crazy because of the guilt that it reminds him of. Bernard reveals to Willy that Willy is the reason that Biff did not go to summer school, since Biff discovered Willy's affair. That was the last straw of guilt that made Willy decide to fix everything by commiting suicide.
I think Willy's wife felt guilty at times too. As if she felt that it was her fault that Willy got so mad all the time. She never got mad at Willy when he freaked out, she only comforted him as if to say "im sorry".
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