Open Prompt (Dec. 3, 2011) Revised

2001. One definition of madness is "mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it." But Emily Dickinson wrote

    Much madness is divinest Sense-

    To a discerning Eye-

Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

          Madness is but an oddity, an art in its own art, with abnormal, yet justified, motives hidden deep within the being of the portrayer. In the Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the central character Willy Loman displays a wild eccentricity that penetrates his persona and illuminates his inner soul. Looking beyond the superficial madness of Willy, at a deeper level, his insaneness is a testament to his dependence on the past in order to find hope for the future, a place which he has transformed into his reality.

         The word "Willy" itself indicates his “will” to live life and reap its fruits. Several times during the play, Willy states that it is very important to be "well-liked", reflecting on his struggle through life that has left him squandering for recognition of his inherent talents and skills. This piece of diction also sheds light on Willy's brother, Ben, who is a star character on his way to greater and better success, overriding Willy's efforts and constantly reminding him of the hopeful future that Willy could have pursued for himself. Transitioning from the past to the present several times during the play, Willy finds himself to be in a trance-like state where, in the past, he is confident for the future and in the present, he is reminiscent of his place in the world and his eventual demise to the atrocities of the modern world.

          The setting of the play itself illuminates the eccentricity of Willy. Living in a quaint, American style, cozy and compact house, Willy is constantly reminded of the past, when he dreamt of being the richest among them all, relishing the wealth he would gain. In one instance, when Willy is recalling the past, he is in a scene with Linda, recounting the bills to be paid and expressing anger at the non-functioning refrigerator, furthering Miller's point to demonstrate how Willy's eccentricity is worsened by his frequent trips to the past in his own mind, reminding him of what could have been and shedding light on what is. While Willy may appear to be nothing but a disturbed and demolished man, by closer inspection, one can see how he is merely lost in time and trying to find his place in society where he can be recognized and accepted by society's standards.