Fred Ribkoff's article, Shame, Guilt, Empathy, and the search for Identity In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, critically analyzes the relation between guilt, shame, and identity through the main characters, Willy and Biff. Ribkoff states that in order to understand the tragedy and crisis within the Loman household, the relation between willy and biff's shame and guilt must be understood. Ribkoff fails to understand the true meaning of Biff's wrongful acts, stating that he feels shame and holds the need to "prove oneself to others" and that he longs for empathy from his father. In addition, Ribkoff ignores the significance of Willy's flashbacks, arguing that he never understood Biff's pain and never came into terms with his own shame.
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In order to have guilt, one must feel guilt. It is evident that Willy feels guilty for his wrongful actions towards Linda when he tells Biff about the other woman and says "she's nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely." (Miller 95). This, alone, displays how Willy understand that he is guilty. The fact that Willy attempts to justify his actions, shows that he knows what he has done wrong and he tries to make himself feel better by justifying the means of the situation. He does so by saying that he was lonely, thus, victimizing himself. Willy's guilt is also displayed through his numerous flashbacks. The flashbacks display the internal conflict in his contradicting mind. Willy goes back and forth from the past to the present, contemplating and still attempting to justify what he has done. In similarity, in order to have shame, one must feel shame. Contrary to what Ribkoff states, after feeling guilty for so many years, Willy finally comes into terms with his shame. This is shown in one of the final scenes, when Biff breaks down to Willy. Biff cries out to him, and this is when Willy finally realizes how much he has hurt his son, enough for him to cry, that he feels shame in himself. In his last encounter with his brother Ben, Willy says "Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I!"(Miller 108). By saying this, it displays how he feels extreme guilt for what he has done to not only Linda, but to his whole family, especially Biff. Biff witnessed what Willy wish he hadn't and that mistake has haunted him ever since. Willy battles with himself and it results in him killing himself. He is not able to handle the voices that
In order to have guilt, one must feel guilt. It is evident that Willy feels guilty for his wrongful actions towards Linda when he tells Biff about the other woman and says "she's nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely." (Miller 95). This, alone, displays how Willy understand that he is guilty. The fact that Willy attempts to justify his actions, shows that he knows what he has done wrong and he tries to make himself feel better by justifying the means of the situation. He does so by saying that he was lonely, thus, victimizing himself. Willy's guilt is also displayed through his numerous flashbacks. The flashbacks display the internal conflict in his contradicting mind. Willy goes back and forth from the past to the present, contemplating and still attempting to justify what he has done. In similarity, in order to have shame, one must feel shame. Contrary to what Ribkoff states, after feeling guilty for so many years, Willy finally comes into terms with his shame. This is shown in one of the final scenes, when Biff breaks down to Willy. Biff cries out to him, and this is when Willy finally realizes how much he has hurt his son, enough for him to cry, that he feels shame in himself. In his last encounter with his brother Ben, Willy says "Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I!"(Miller 108). By saying this, it displays how he feels extreme guilt for what he has done to not only Linda, but to his whole family, especially Biff. Biff witnessed what Willy wish he hadn't and that mistake has haunted him ever since. Willy battles with himself and it results in him killing himself. He is not able to handle the voices that