Arthur Miller Quotes

Death of a Salesman, Act 1. Willy arrives home to wife Linda after his aborted sales trip to New England, mentally troubled. He has confessed to lapsing into a trance-like state while driving and almost going off the road in his car. At the beginning of the play, we learn that Willy is considering suicide, admitting to having "strange" thoughts. But Linda does not confront Willy about this, despite the fact that he is in clear need of phychological help and care. She insists that he is just tired and asks him to request a job transfer to New York, so he doesn’t need to travel anymore. Linda’s failure to admit to her husband’s mental problems means that she is a classic enabler who prevents Willy from getting the help he clearly needs. Willy’s words foreshadow his suicide.