Open Prompt 12/9

1986. Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot

                The perception of time through a work of literature changes how the audience views and understands the material.  Many authors use time normally by arranging events chronologically and not having any emphasis on the passage of time.  However, other authors make shifts in time noticeable and use it as a part of their work.  Arthur Miller uses time as an important element in portraying the main character, Willy Loman, in his play Death of a Salesman.

                Willy Loman is troubled character who seems to slowly loose his mind as the play progresses.  At the beginning of the play, Willy notices that while he is driving, he is slowly drifting off into memories and forgetting to watch the road.  This worries him because he can’t seem to understand why his mind keeps on wandering.  These memories become more real to him until at the end of the play, Willy slips into events from his past, talking and acting out the memories as if he were really there.  This makes the audience think that Willy is going crazy.

                This shifting of time contributes to the work because one of the main conflicts in this play is Willy struggling to understand everything that is going on in his life.  The changes in time not only help to show how fragmented Willy’s mind is, but also how bewildered he is in a world of unknown.  After Willy’s “flashbacks,” he returns to the real world and is confused at what has happened.  People judge him because they think he is scatterbrained and as a result, don’t want to deal with him.  Willy doesn’t understand what he has done to get disapproval.  The flashbacks also remind him of events in his life that cause him to question things in his life now.  He remembers all the promise Biff had with football and wonders why Biff has not been successful ever since.  He remembers all the promises of a life as a salesman and wonders why his life hasn’t turned out the way he wanted it to.  The events from his past keep creating more and more questions for Willy and contribute to his bewilderment.

                Willy’s confusion at life and society helps the effectiveness of the play because it shows how industrial America destroys dreams and nothing can stop it.  Time is an uncontrollable force and nothing Willy or any of the other characters do can stop it.  Willy falls victim to these changes in time and the only thing he can do is to float along hopelessly.  In the commercialism of America, all Willy wants is money and glory, yet no amount of success can prevent Willy from destroying himself.  In Death of a Salesman, time is used to portray the character of Willy Loman and helps to show the futility of life in industrial America.