Diamonds

• Diamonds

  Diamonds, the source of Ben’s wealth, represent riches, and therefore, success in Death of a Salesman.
• Willy's diamonds

  • Diamonds, the source of Ben’s wealth, are a symbol that becomes darker and more destructive as the play progresses with Willy eventually finding his diamond in the form of the $20,000 to be paid out of his life insurance policy: “that’s the whole beauty of it! I see it like a diamond, shining in the dark…”
  • But once Willy goes into the “jungle” to find it, there will be no coming back.
• Legacy

  • Part of the power of this symbol for Willy is that he associates diamonds with something concrete - something he can touch and therefore something that is real and lasting: a legacy.
  • Ben is dismissive of Willy’s choice of selling as a career, asking him, “What are you building? Lay your hand on it.”
• Imagery of touch

  • The imagery of touch is developed when Willy tries to convince Ben that “a man can end up with diamonds” in selling through being popular.
  • But Willy admits “you can’t feel it with your hand like timber.”
• Imagery of touch cont.

  • It is only when Willy thinks of the guaranteed pay-out from the insurance policy that Willy is also able to “touch” the diamond: “hard and rough, that I can pick up and touch in my hand.”