Themes

Time is forever.  This theme is controversial because it is positive but also has a very negative side to it.  The idea of continuously getting better as time moves on is significant to being a salesman.  Some people may be born with talent but others work for a while and hard to earn prestige.  However time turns on us as we get progressively older.  Willy Loman is experiencing that because he is getting old, losing his memory, his kids are older and distant and with age comes death.  

Women come second to men.  This may not ring true now but back in the 50's, when the play takes place, women are definitely viewed as lower class.  Willy constantly demands things from Linda, interrupts her and does not really listen or care about her opinion.  Plus he cheated on her which shows how little he cares.  Willy's actions reflect in his sons because they are both womanizers and do not really care about woman's feelings or thought.  Willy remains alpha-male along with most husbands from the time period.

There is constant mentioning of things falling apart in the house.  Willy's life is falling apart.  His kids are bums and are living in the house, Willy is not making enough money, and he is slowly going insane.  The refrigerator is broken, the car, the hot water and the ceiling.  Not only is it breaking hard enough, but more ironic is that he has to pay for all this but is not making enough money to do so.  The tough thing is to judge whether or not WIlly actually knows his life is falling apart.  I'd place my bet on yes.