
Miller uses extremely precise and detailed stage directions, including prop placement, sound and lighting, giving heavy significance to each of these elements and painting an unchangeable picture to ensure that it is preserved in every interpretation of his work. Essentially, Linda believes that she would insult Willy by exposing his plot to commit suicide.īiff states that he has stolen himself out of every job since high school and that during the three-month period when he was completely out of touch with his family he was, in fact, in prison for stealing a suit.Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ (1949) opens with an extensive description of the Loman house.

When Biff mentions that she should have removed the rubber hose from behind the fuse box, she tells him that she would be ashamed to confront Willy about her discovery. Moreover, why did Biff remove the rubber tubing? Also, if Willy removes it himself, Linda will know that Willy has stopped contemplating suicide. Likewise, what would be the probable use for that piece of rubber hose that Linda found? The probably use for the piece of rubber hose Linda found was for Willy to commit suicide by inhaling gas. Linda finds it hidden behind the fuse box in the cellar, and the "new little nipple" she finds on the gas pipe of the water heater leads her to the conclusion that Willy had planned to inhale gas. The rubber hose is a symbol of Willy's impending suicide. Hereof, what does the rubber hose mean in Death of a Salesman?


Literally, the rubber pipe is the implement the main character Willy Loman keeps hidden in his basement for his suicide attempts. The rubber pipe is a dark and morbid symbol in Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman.
