Open Prompt Revision (01/20/2013)

2007. In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Revision of (12/09/2012)

        In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller depicts the daily challenges that Willy Loman faces as his past haunts him. He struggles to find his place in the present since his past becomes so involved in his life. Evidently, his past causes some turbulence with his family and even himself which may have lead him to his depression and death. Willy's secret extramarital relationship added to the family tension which surfaced a taboo situation in which Willy was not able to deal with his own. 

        Throughout the novel, the laughter and background conversation of Willy and the Woman can be heard. The guilt of cheating on his wife, Linda and being caught by his son, Biff added to much of the weight on his shoulders. He was forced to get a constant reminder from Linda every time she was repairing the silk stockings Willy gave. The guilt become so much for Willy to handle that his temper began to rise every time he laid eyes on those stockings. The stockings took him back to that night in Boston when he gave the Woman a pair of stockings. These stockings hold the deeper meaning of how Willy showed affections to a woman that he was not married to. 

  Incidentally, Willy's actions took a significant toll on Biff's attitude for his education and future. Willy was no longer that role model figure that Biff looked up at. The consequences of Biff's actions led Willy to suffer with the fear of an unstable future. From that day, Biff always showed some hostility towards Willy; that was a price Willy had to pay for his insensitive actions. Willy's past seemed to be a hinderance in his life leading him to life of disappointment and uncertainty. 

        Constant reminder of his past led to Willy taking his own life. His adamant behavior to move on from the past and live in the future cost him his life. As hard as he tried to run away from his guilt is soon caught up with him which lead him to taking his own life. Everyday, the mistakes of his past that he tried to hide from become the obstacles of his life. This in turn affected his mental state and decision making skills. His previous actions had an important role of who Willy was and impact they had on life and family.