Death of a Salesman, with its seemingly endless symbolism, tells the story of Willy Loman"'"s final and declining days. During the play Willy Loman, whose pronounced senility conjures up many different viewpoints, interacts with many characters both in the present and in his imagination; one such character is Ben Loman. Willy"'"s elder brother, Ben, is the individual in the play whom Willy admires the most. Ben"'"s distinct representation of death during the play is not easily seen and requires a comprehensive look at the subterranean message. The utterances in the play by Ben referring to the jungle, diamonds, and the departing train are the most outstanding circumstances surrounding ...view middle of the document...
'"'What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?'"' these words spoken by Ben Loman after Linda has rejectedBen"'"s job offer bring Willy to contemplate only the tangible objects of earth, regardless of common sense. '"'Principally diamond minds.'"' along with, '"'Not like an appointment at all. A diamond is rough and hard to the touch.'"' are just two more examples of Ben tempting Willy with the proposition of wealth. Because Willy has sold his only diamond possession and these diamonds, like the aforementioned jungle, are not the same as what the audience believes, the only way to receive these diamonds is the form of the insurance payoff. Willy"'"s lust for diamonds is only closely matched by Ben"'"s; the difference is that Ben must travel to go get them.Ben is as very busy man; he is seemingly always in a rush. This is shown to us many times during the play. In Act I when the audience gets their first glimpse of Ben they see him looking at his watch, and just a few seconds later during another of Willy"'"s dual personality trips and the progressing poker game with Charley, Ben proclaims, '"'William, it"'"s half-past eight!'"' Shadowing this, while Biff is running from the security guard Ben declares, '"'I"'"ll be late for the train.'"' These are just a minute few of the instances in which Ben is in a hurry. Why is Ben always in a hurry? Ben said, in Act I, '"'I have many enterprises, William, and I have never kept books.'"' Enterprises? The only enterprise that Ben is running is the downfall of Willy. Ben does not need books; all of his '"'enterprises'"' are already dead. The only person in the world who ca...
