Littérature anglophone | Death of a Salesman
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When uncle Ben enters, he is only visible and audible to Willie. He is absolutely not real; he is just another projection of willy’s memories. In this scene Willie experiences confusion. He cannot accept his recent failures, nor can he accept that his life has been one of mediocrity. Whenever Willie is confronted with the truth and is overwhelmed by his lack of success, he recalls his favourite illusion. To avoid facing the truth, he recreates his life based on Uncle Ben’s lost proposition. If only he had gone to work for Ben to Alaska, he would be rich by now, he would have been a successful man. Willy is highly delusional and he is delusional thinking let him to believe that Ben is real. Willy is unable to separate his discussion with Ben from this discussion with Charley. The “card game scene” prepares the shift into the past. As soon as Charlie leaves, we enter the past: “through the wall line of the kitchen”
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Who is Charley?
Charley is a longtime acquaintance of the Lomans’. Charlie is indeed Willy’s next-door neighbour. Charley is a genuine friend of Willy’s, even though Willy is quite jealous of him. Charlie owns a successful business and his son Bernard is a rich and famous lawyer.
In the play, Charlie serves to show Willy’s resentment for successful people. Even if Charlie is a minor character in the play, he helps to bring Willy’s envious nature to the surface. To some extent, it can be said that Charley is Willy’s foil in the play.
In the play, Charlie serves to show Willy’s resentment for successful people. Even if Charlie is a minor character in the play, he helps to bring Willy’s envious nature to the surface. To some extent, it can be said that Charley is Willy’s foil in the play.
Bernard
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Charley
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