1. What is the significance of the symbol of the stocking in this scene? Is there any significance in the stockings being related to the two women in Willy's life?
*The woman talking to Willy*
THE WOMAN: You just kill me, Willy. You kill me. And thanks for the stockings. I have a lot of stockings. Well, good night.
(later on)
(Linda is sitting where she was at the kitchen table, but now is mending a pair of silk stockings.)
LINDA: Just mending my stockings. They're so expensive...
WILLY: I won't have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out! (25).
As stockings are essentially Willy's livelihood, they are a part of him. They represent his success (or lack there of) as a salesman. By giving them to his mistress instead of his wife he reveals where is loyalties lie. As Willy remembers gifting his mistress stockings, his wife is gifting him compliments in the present. Willy exposes his guilt telling Linda "I'll make it all up to you Linda, I'll..." (25). When Linda has to mend old stockings yet is still gracious and so sweet to him, Willy's conscience reminds him of his past transgressions.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comment, I really like your interpretation more than my own! A+ Mikayla
DeleteIt seems like the stockings symbolize a romantic relationship. Willy gives the woman lots of stockings, which shows that he may give her lots of attention. However, Linda has to repair her stockings, which may represent her efforts to repair her marriage and her refusal to give up on their relationship. Willy often treats her disrespectfully, like when he asks, "Will you let me finish?" to Linda even though all she did was provide encouragement to Biff. Willy does not treat Linda very well, but she refuses to let that get to her. She is loyal to her husband and works through the tough spots.
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