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.
Memories are a kind of time travel. Miller's Death of a Salesman uses this to form a layered narrative of Willy's life. The play, in following Willy to the past and present, lets the audience sympathize with him. Because it's not realistic chronologically, Death of a Salesman leans the audience toward a more emotional reading.
Willy's conversations with Ben don't happen in the "present time" of the play, yet they contribute great meaning, as does their repetition. He's haunted by the success that Ben achieved, and sees him as a role model. He frequently quotes how Ben "walked into the jungle" and walked out a rich man. It becomes a kind of fable for him, a legend: the world isn't working out for him, but it's not hopeless; Ben made it through! He returns to that memory when he's confused or overwhelmed, asking for advice. This pattern reveals his insecurities to the audience, and shows one of his motivations. Later, when he's talking over the possibility of suicide with an imaginary Ben, Ben already symbolizes someone who Willy trusts, someone clever. If he can convince Ben, it's a good idea. This image helps portray the gravity of the scene. Ben, in being used as a memory helps to make Willy's way of thinking understandable.
The flashbacks also flashbacks carry the audience along closer to Willy's pace, suspending their understanding of the situation and its causes. For example, Biff's discovery of the Woman is later in the play, after the conflict between him and Willy has been established. Knowing that it is not yet resolved makes watching the fall even more tragic. Without traveling with his memories, Willy would be alienated from the audience. If they didn't travel with him, so much of his increasing tension is brought from the weight of the conflict in his memories as well as the memories' interactions with the present. He's disturbed whenever he sees Linda with stockings, and the connection between those stockings and the Woman's is understood through the twisting of time. By manipulating the order of events, Miller helps the audience understand Willy and why he committed suicide.
This is a really interesting essay! I had never really thought about the flashbacks gaining the reader's sympathy, that's a really cool idea. I did take a peek at the original essay, and I actually thought that the first two paragraphs of that were terrific--actually better than the revision. I think that in trying to make things clearer, you eliminated some of that beautiful plain style you had in the beginning of the original and made things more complicated. I know I do the same thing. In the third paragraph, you did a great job re-ordering it, but I'm still a little lost on your point. I guess I just don't understand your ideas about the conflict with his memories and the Woman and tension... Even if the reader doesn't travel with Willy, he could be in conflict with his past. I think your point about understanding Willy is very valid, but why didn't Miller just have some characters tell us about the past? I think that this play has a lot of arguments to make about the past, which are closer to the core of the meaning of the work as a whole. This is a really good essay, but you just need to delve a little deeper. And you picked such a perfect work for the prompt!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, your ideas are very well thought out. I like the concept of the flashbacks bringing the audience close to Willy, helping them to understand him. I would only suggest that you work a little more on making your essay follow the plain style guidelines. Several of your sentences could be reworded and there are some adjectives that could be removed. Still, the lack of plain style does not detract from the essay. Your point comes across well, and you clearly understood the play. I think this essay would score highly on the AP exam!
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