The Character of Uncle Ben in Death of a Salesman Essay -- Death Sales

The Character of Uncle Ben in ending of a Salesman The character of Ben in Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman serves a obscure dramatic function. He is Willy Lomans real fellow, the idealized memory of that brother, and an aspect of Willys return personality, and these distinct functions ar sometimes simultaneous. Through his aggressive actions and vibrant speech, the auditory modality is given a strong contrast to Willys self-doubt and self-contradiction. In addition, the encounters mingled with Ben and Willy serve as an extended examination of professional and familial morality. Finally, Ben personifies the inwardness of Willys expectations in regards to both material success and the proper role of a father. The most fundamental of Bens characteristics evident in his language is his haste. Appearing in the middle of Willy and Charleys card game, Bens first words are, I merely have a few minutes (45). He makes his departure shortly later announcing, Ill be late for my tra in (52). During his second appearance, he declares, I havent some(prenominal) time and Ive got to go (85-6). These lines are emblematic. In the two scenes with his brother that are based on Willys memories, Ben comes and goes when he chooses, despite sometimes desperate pleas that he stay. This is in direct contrast to Willy, whose life has been structured around appointments and whose backup depends on the forbearance of near strangers. Because of his position as a travelling salesman, Willy never controls the parameters of his fundamental interaction with other people. He calls upon customers and must depend upon their willingness to follow out him in order to make a living. Willys affair with The Woman is only partially motivated by a need for sexual fulfillme... ...l Ben. The brevity of these meetings also serves to convince Willy of his own inferiority by concealing whatsoever difficulties that might have existed in Bens life. Ben has exactly the wrong degree of interacti on with Willy. If he were entirely absent, he would not haunt his younger brother so. If he were more(prenominal) richly present, he would either have been of more comfort to Willy, or have been revealed as a more fully human, less mythic character. As it is, Ben serves only to remind him of his past loss, evince his current failure, and provide the means of his final destruction. Works Cited Centola, Steven R. Family Values in Death of A Salesman. CLA Journal. 37.1 (1993) 29-41. Jacobsen, Irving F. Family Dreams in Death of A Salesman. American Literature. 47 (1975) 247-58. Miller, Arthur. Death of A Salesman. New York Penguin, 1976.