Linda's character definitely reads more like a devout wife than a sacrificed parent. If anything, she is more of a mother and caretaker to her own husband than she is to Biff and Happy. Linda has a mission in her life, and in the play: She has to keep Willy within the confines of "normalcy" the best way she can because she knows that he is about to lose his mind, if he has not already done so. Therefore, it is safe to say that, in trying to keep a strong front in the household, by keeping the head of the household afloat, Linda has relinquished all expectations of her as a mother in favor of being a wife.
Notice the description that Miller makes of Linda in the play's directions:
Death of a Salesman
....she has developed an iron repression of her exceptions to Willy’s behavior — she more than loves him, she admires him, as though his mercurial nature, his temper, his massive dreams and little cruelties, served her only as sharp reminders of the turbulent longings within him, longings which she shares but lacks the temperament to utter and follow to their end.
This gives us even more information about Linda's likelihood of being a good parent. Essentially, what we get from this description is that Linda is Willy's follower. She is just like Willy. This may say more about her character than it lets out. It may mean that she, too, lacks the initiative to lead a life that is worth living. It also explains her lack of initiative in taking a more active part in the life of her boys each time she lets Willy take the lead. Most importantly, her devotion to Willy has become so strong that she even attacks Biff and Happy whenever they confront Willy about anything; this even happens when Biff gets upset that Willy shouts at Linda.
All this being said, we cannot just classify Linda as a "bad" parent for her lack of initiative in the care and raising of her children. We may say that she just did not know any better than to follow a flawed husband around, be subservient to him, and try to keep the household together. In such a chaotic environment one must give some credit to her as well. She did it the best way she could.
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