Death of a Traveling Salesman

Welty writes “Death of a Traveling Salesman” in third-person omniscient point of view with full access to Bowman’s inner thoughts and feelings. This creates space for Bowman’s inner thoughts and outward dialogue to be mismatched. That is, in his illness, disorientation, and lack of a unified self, Bowman often wishes to say one thing, but either can’t speak at all or finds that something else comes out of his mouth. When he lies before the hearth, half-asleep, Bowman is overwhelmed with loneliness and longing but first mumbles about selling shoes: “There will be special reduced prices on all footwear during the month of January” (117). Earlier, when Bowman first approaches the woman in front of the house, he wants to say “Good afternoon, madam” but instead stands “[s]tock-still in his confusion” and is silent at first (110). To Sonny, Bowman wishes to “offer explanation and show money” but finds he can only “shrug slightly” (112). The third-person omniscient point of view exposes this disagreement between Bowman’s interior and exterior lives—between what he wishes to do and what he actually does. This conflict is central to developing Bowman’s character, but it also contributes to themes of solitariness and the unconscious.