by Paul Kappel
Geographical Location:
The play is set in Brooklyn, a neighborhood (and one of the five boroughs) of New York City. Brooklyn is known as being a hotspot for many different cultures including Italian, Russian, Irish, Polish, and German Americans. Although this is the physical location for the Loman home, Willy’s imaginary conversations occur in and around New York City and Boston.
Date/Year/Season/Time:
Late 1940’s, taking place over the course of one day.
Economic Environment:
Willy Loman, as a salesman is living soley off of his commissions, and is clearly not able to make ends meet as he frequently seeks loans from Charley. The economic environment is the keystone of this work, with much of Willy’s frustration and agony centering on wealth.
Towards the beginning of the play, we see Willy’s conversations with Ben, his wealthy brother, who had millions by his 21st birthday- Willy is clearly extremely envious of this fame, and although being unable to replicate it for himself, seeks to pass the wisdom to his sons Biff and Happy.
One of the strongest motifs in the play is Willy’s desire for his children’s financial security, something which he will never know. In his internal conversations about their planned sports franchise in Florida, he dwells on the duo turning a profit and making money. Willy does never discover this for himself though and remains stuck in his economic class without ambitions for his own success.
It is likely that due to his brothers amazing and unbelievable ease of making money paired with his back breaking and agonizing over every cent which passes through his wallet, that we find the motivation of Willy’s character.