"Death of a Salesman" p. 119 #4

Dramatic suspense is created through Willy's flashbacks. The audience often does not have information that some of the characters do. Throughout the beginning of the play, Biff and Willy seem to have some hidden conflict between them that no one knows about. They both love each other, but there seems to be unexplained tension between them all the time. At some points, they even seem like they are hiding something from everyone else. Linda mentions a woman and Biff immediately responds, "(sharply but contained) What woman?...Nothing. Go ahead." (p. 1577). Linda also seems to be withholding information from the others about Willy. Biff was surprised to show up and the house and see Willy in the state that he was. In addition, Linda did not tell anyone that Willy had been attempting to kill himself until later in the play. The flashbacks seem to seep through Willy's memory into the play to a point where it is difficult to differentiate between what is real and what is past or simply just an idea. Characters like Ben, who is revealed to be dead, reappear throughout the play as Willy continues to talk to them. These flashbacks along with characters not revealing everything they know creates suspense. The audience learns the details of the story piece by piece which creates an unknown sense of suspicion to find the truth in the play.