Death of a Salesman

1. “Willy is gradually addressing-physically-a point offstage, speaking through the wall of the kitchen, and his voice has been rising in volume to that of a normal conversation.”(Act I scene iii) Though not an isolated stage direction (Willy goes back in time quite often) this stage direction has tremendous importance in understanding Willy Loman and contributes to the effect of the drama. As with each occasion Willy goes back in time it is in the period in which Biff and Happy are still in high school. This stage direction contributes to the effect of the drama because it indicates that the worthwhile memories of Willy rested in this time frame. Willy’s constant reliving of this specific time frame suggest that some major event occurred that caused Willy to be in his current chaotic state in all aspects of his life. In the film it is widely apparent when Willy goes to another period of time and is usually introduced by a white flash indicating the flashback and exclamations...