Mrs. Jernigan's Class discussion
Death of a Salesman, Group 2
date
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newest »
Mod
nov.11th-13-25 (34-46)
nov. 14th-26-38 (47-59)
nov. 18th- 39-51 (60-72)
nov.21st- 52-64 (73-85)
dec. 2nd-65-77 (86-98)
dec. 5th-78-90 (99-111)
dec. 9th-91-103 (112-125)
dec. 12th-104-11 (126-130)
Mod
One:Inside Willy's Head (Maggie)
Some of the most powerful scenes of the play are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. Describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. How do they contribute to our understanding of Willy? Do they shift in pattern? Why?
Two: Tragedy & the Common Man (Charlotte)
According to critic Northrop Frye, “Tragic heroes are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning.”
Miller's tragic figure functions as an instrument of the suffering of others. Follow this thread throughout the play, noting its presence and patterns and explain how the suffering brought upon others by that figure contributes to the tragic vision of the work as a whole.
Three: The American Dream (Annie)
Four: Six:Fate & Actions (Abby)
“And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural agency.” Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces
Cultural, physical, and/or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a Miller's characters. Analyze how surroundings affect these characters and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.
Mod
Another Magician: Something Wicked This Way Comes
After following John Wade through his horrid transformations in O'Brien's In the Lake of the Woods, looks like Fitzgerald provides another chameleon to lead us through this picture show of the Lost Generation. Dick Diver, Carnival Leader/Dream Weaver, takes shape and substance through direct and indirect observations of Rosemary, a lady whose "body hovered delicately on the last edge of childhood" (4). Poor Rosie, she will be drawn to Dick and his high society funhouse, but are her wings strong enough to carry her from its destruction?
The Divers wield culture like "kings," "rajahs," and "princes" (15). As a couple they are as mysterious as the sea- compelling, alluring, yet dangerous like fire. Dick's attentive handling of Rosemary "was all completely there" for "his voice [...] wooed the world" (19). Her reaction to the carnival was simply to let its "expensive simplicity" (21) consume her, but as the narrator quickly reminds us, she was "unaware of its complexity and lack of innocence" (21). Dick's "taking care of her" (21) includes his seductive words as he tells her she "look[s] like something blooming" (22). The god-like nature of the Divers is reinforced by Fitzgerald's characterization of their audience in that they "turned up ashen faces to [them], like souls in Purgatory watching the passage of a mortal" (23). Clearly distinguishing the two groups and the power they wield over others, the narrator gives this perception a duality...a hidden, secretive persona that begins to bleed into the "reality." The veil shifts as an outsider observes a hidden encounter or exchange of words. As she attempts to share her observations, she is silenced. For the Divers have fierce protectors (Cerberus like guardians) driven to guard hidden truths from crushing the "rose-colored" sandcastles built for the amusement and entertainment and seduction of their following.
Mod
Write a 250 word Response (due at the end of class). I have posted a sample on their page to use as a guide. Include the following in your response:
a. A Creative Title
b. Embed Three quotations from your reading into the blog
c. Make a connection to another work of art (film, book, etc.)
d. Post your observations about the story and commentary stating its meaning and significance.
e. Discuss narrative structure of the work and why it matters.
See the sample above.
Mod
Cantos I and II
Artifact:
What the Hell - Read and be ready to discuss
Questions to Consider:
1. While the gates predict what is to come, they also suggest what Dante will question. How indeed will he wrestle with sights so gruesome that he faints or calls on us to inspire him - encourage him - push him onward?
2. Based on how he ran from the she-wolf in the dark woods, what do we expect out of our "I am no Aeneas, no Paul?" Why then is he worthy for this journey?
3. Why is Vergil a significant guide for the exiled poet to follow?
4. What parallels does Dante introduce in the opening scene? How will these repeat as the poem continues?
5. How does Dante evoke visual, auditory, olfactory, and kinesthetic imagery as he guides us through Hell?
6. How has Dante's epic lived on in the modern age? Why?
"Linda: And the boys, Willy. Few men are idolized by their children the way you are" (Miller 37).How has time/age changes willy's relationship with his sons?
Why do they look up to him?
Why doesn't Willy believe in himself?
"The woman: sure thing. You do make me laugh. It's good for me. She squeezes his arm, kisses him. And I think you're a wonderful man" (Miller 39).
Who is the woman?
Why is he cheating?
Is he visiting her instead of doing buisness?
Mod
1. Read over your Moderator's Post.
2. Access and read/view the link.
3. Answer the questions using specific evidence from text to support your observations.
4. Use at least 3 quotes to support.
5. Response should be 250 words.
6. Same blog gradesheet.
Mod
Annie West
Moderator & Response
November 14
Death of a Salesman
Questions:
1. Why do you think Willy is so hard on himself when it comes to money and success?
2. Why does Willy try so hard to impress everyone? (Like is older brother Ben)
3. What do you think causes Willy’s behavior to be worse when Biff is around?
Artifact:
http://livingthebalancedlife.com/wp-c...
The pressure Willy is recieving from his expectant family causes his views on money and success to become far more inhanced. Men in this day and age were expected to make beautiful lives for their beautiful families, and Willie seems to be playing catch up with the most successful men. The pressure stems from a love for his family, but comes off as an attack when Willie asks Linda "Why dont you open the windows in here for gods sake" (17), its rooted in Willies unsatisfaction in his average life. He feels dissapionted in what he is offereing his family and seems to think money and buissiness sucess will change that.Willie feels insecure about his failing buissiness. He tries to comfort his family and build himself up by reassuring everyone "someday [he'll] have his own buissiness" (30). WIllies insecurity must reflect a model he has seen and feels pressured to measure up to. This model could easily be Ben, causing WIllie to put on an act in his presence, just to reassure Ben that he is making a name for himself.
Willie may see himself in Biff's "liziness" (15) and feel the need to stop the cycle. Or Willie could just be disgusted his own reflection. Biff knows "[Willie] thinks he is a fake" (58) and evidence by Willies outrageous tantrums when Biff is in the room. Perhaps Willie's failure has caught up to him and he has to look into the eyes of his sons, and know that he is a dissapointment to them.
Throughout the whole story the reader tracks that Willy is unsatisfied with everything in his life. Willys home life consisted of a successful, but absent father. Also an extremely older brother who found more successes than needed by the age of 21.Willy puts on a face of a man who is successfully earning a living for his family, but it becomes evident that is not the case. Happy trying to comfort his father reminds him, “Pop, i told you I’m gonna retire you for life” (47). Angry that his son feels financially responsible he barks, “You’ll retire me for life on seventy goddam dollars a week” (47)? Willy has not followed the footsteps of his successful predecessors causing him to feel short, and lesser. The reader is introduced to the ever so successful, Ben Lowman, as the “spirit” (56) Willy longs to “imbue with”(56).Willy is the type of person who is constantly running in someones shadow. He is the shadow of his astounding brother. He feels so lost in the shadows he must people please everyone he meets to break free from the outskirts. He tries ever so hard to impress Ben because he has fallen short of success and longs for acceptance, or even recognition for his hard, but failing work. The reader could even infer that Willy needs the acceptance of his sons, especially Biff, because they were the ones who were always so in awe of Willy. Linda, Willy’s wife, erupts because [Willy] “ is always the worst when [Biff] comes home” (58). Biff is the oldest son and carried on the unsuccessful legacy that Willy had created. Willy wanted nothing more than for Biff to be as successful as Ben or Willy’s father, but alas Biff fell right into the shadows people pleasing his way to below average success.
I agree with what Charlotte said about how a husbands main goal was to provide for his family with a nice car and a nice house. I think that Charlotte made a good point of saying that Willys anger is rooted in his unsatisfaction of his average life. Willy is angry because he is not like the other men with nice things. Willy really has to work hard to get food on the table and pay the bills. Char also said that its like Willy is playing catch up with the successful men. I totally agree that Willy is insecure about his life and how much money he makes and how people will think about him. Just like Char said, I think maybe Willy sees himself in Biff.
In Maggies blog I think that she gave good examples of how Willy sees himself in Biff. In this period in time, the men all had to be sucessful and provide for their families. I think Willy is so worried about his appearance and what people will think about him and I think thats why Willy is so hard on himself and Biff because he wants Biff to be sucessful and well known.
Confidence of a SalesmanWilly seems like he is insecure about the things he does to support his family. It is almost like he puts himself down around his wife, Linda, so that she will say that she is okay with the income he has and his success. Linda says he's "doing wonderful...making seventy to a hundred dollars a week" (Miller 37). After learning about Willy's affair, it looks like he is pitying himself around Linda so that it will seem like he is trying a lot harder than he really is, since he is obviously preoccupied.
Willy really cares about his and his family's image and how people perceive them to be. He asks Biff "what they say about you in school, now that they made [him] captain?" (Miller 31). I think Willy was probably not the most well-liked people growing up so he worked really hard to boost his image and not be in the state of not being liked again? What people think of Willy's family also reflects on him. It seems like he doesn't want his boys to go through the same thing and also doesn't want them to reflect badly on him.
Willy clearly sees potential in Biff and doesn't want him to squander his gifts. Willy "can't understand it. [Biff] is going back to Texas again. What the hell is that?" (Miller 43). Willy is obviously not as successful as he wants to be. He is bitter about the fact that Biff hasn't done anything with his life or made anything of himself when he clearly has the potential to.
I think Abby made a good point about how Willy puts himself down around Linda so she can make him feel good about the income. I also agree that it looks like he is pitying himself around Linda after the affair. Also I think one of the reasons why Willy is so hard on Biff is because he thinks his family reflects his own image. Willy is upset that Biff hasn't met his expectations for success.
"whats the mystery? The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it" (41)"Where are you guys, where are you? The woods are burning" (41)
"Im clean, Im clean" (43)
"i still feel- kind of temporary about myself" (51)
In the play thus far, tradgety has been a present theme. In the beggining, the tradgeties were more small. the boys complianing, and Willie not bringing home as much money. As the play progresses the tradgeties turn into more deeply set scars on the family. Willie seems to be reaching out to his sons trying to mend what he knows he has broken. Willie's mind is batteling two ideas, on one hand Willie attempts to convince himself he is succeeding in life, and on the other hand, Willie is coming into the harsh reality of his failure and trying to proactively fix his sons lives.
"We're gonna rebuild the entire front stoop right now! Watch this, Ben!" (50). "Great athlete! Between him and his son Bernard they can't hammer a nail!" (51).
"That is a one-million-dollar idea!" (63).
Willy to Linda: "Stop interrupting!" (64).
It is clear that when Willy is around different people, his attitude changes drastically. In the first two quotes, Willy is talking to Ben and trying to impress his brother. By doing this, he exaggerates everything and puts Charley down also. But, when Biff and Happy present a job idea to Willy he is nice to them and encourages it because he thinks it will make money. However, when the conversation is about money, Willy ignores and is very hostile towards Linda because his mind is elsewhere.
"William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out i was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich" (52).-Willy has always wanted to be rich and successful and that is exactly what happened to his brother Ben. Ben became rich and Willy looked up to him for that and wanted to learn his ways so he could also be rich.
"Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper" (56).
-Willy never made enough money to be known or to even has his name in the paper. He longed to be a successful well known man but he just did the opposite. The fact that he hasn't made much money makes him feel insecure and bad about himself.
"And now in his old age they take his salary away" (56).
-This is the last thing that needs to happen to Willy. He already doesn't make enough money to be considered known and know they are taking away his salary. In the american dream one needs to have money and Willy is just losing it.
"He's been trying to kill himself" (58).
-Willy cant take it anymore. He doesn't want to face that he isn't making a lot of money and that he isn't even close to being rich. All he wants to do is have the aspects of the american dream but he is lacking them and the fact that he isn't rich is driving himself to death which might foreshadow something about death to come considering the title.
Moderator:1. Why do you think Linda sticks by willy, even though he has treated her poorly most of their marriage?
2.What do you think willy is contemplating suicide? Whats events/ hardshis have brought him to this last resort?
3. Willy got fired from his firm. What do you think will happen to the status of the family? emotionally and physically?
Artifact: In midnight in paris the main character wishes that he could live in the past, but all he finds the farther back he goes is that everyone is un happy in the time period they are stuck in just like him. How is that like Willy?
*** Mrs. J is linking the trailor below.
Linda stays consistent in her love and support of Willie encouraging him by comfortingly saying " you'll do it yet dear" (72) for two main reasons. 1) In this time divorce was much less common. It wasn't seen as a way out of a rough relationship. 2) I think Linda stills sees traces of the happy Willie she married. Memories and glimpses of her husband sustain her through the complicated times and give her hope for a resolution. Linda isn't oblivious to the tradgety encroaching on the family, she "feels it changing" (74) and she knows Willie "is dying" (58) but the love that's deeply planted in their marriage keeps her around. The importance placed on wealth in Willies world is far greater than anything else. Willie knows "he's gotta earn money" (83) or he is nothing in the eyes of the world. As he sees his life spiraling into a puddle of failure Willie can't help reflect on all the mistakes he's made, the chief of these being his sons lack of success. All these piled up make Willie question his existence. If he can't successfully provide for his family, he has nothing. This pressure drives him to the point of suicide.
Willie's unemployment will begin to unravel the family as a unit, but specifically Willies already fragile mental state. Previously Willie had a source of income, though small, and now he has nothing to give his family. Being out of a job at such an old age is a failure, and we have seen how Willie handles failure. Unable to rest in his failure Willie continues to beg "what-what's the secret" (92) in hopes of regaining a sliver of the life he used to despise.
This work reminds me vaguely of The Lord of The Rings. While they have infinite differences they do have one central theme. The love for power. In LOTR a great president has been placed on the power of the ring, similar to the importance placed on wealth in this play.
money isn't everythingLinda truly loves Willy to be able to stay with him through all his many flaws and the way he treats her. Linda never complains about how Willy treats her but about how her boys treat Willy as she threatened Biff by saying, “Either he’s your father and you pay him that respect, or else you’re not to come here” (55). Linda wants her boys to love their father because she wants him to be happy. Willy always overrides Linda as he said “Don’t interrupt” (62) when he was the one actually interrupting. In the time they were living it was unlikely for the wives to fight back to their husbands and the male role was very dominant in the marriage. The american dream was a big deal at this time as well, and in the american dream the family got along and treated each other well and I think Linda doesn’t want to cause problems in their marriage or family because they will be looked down upon.
Willy has always wanted to be rich and well known. Willy always thought, “I’ll have my own business” (30) and therefore, he would be rich and never have to leave home again and be able to stay with his family. It all goes back to the american dream, people were told they had to be rich, well known, have a nice car, a house, and a family that got a long. “Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper" (56). Willy is very insecure and disappointed in himself and it leads him to try to commit suicide. Since Biff doesn’t have a good job and isn’t making enough money it frustrates him even more because Willy believes that one has to make money to be well known.
Since Willy lost his job, physically, the family won’t be able pay their bills because Willy already has to borrow money from his friends Charlie as Charlie stated, “Here, pay your insurance” (98) as he hands Willy money. Charlie will probably stop giving Willy money and Willy will become broke. Emotionally, the family will fall apart. Willy will think less of himself which could lead him to suicide. Biff and Happy will just be angry that their father isn’t doing everything he can to get money for their family. Linda will stay by Willy’s side but will get frustrated. The family could also get stronger and push through this problem together. It could make Biff and Happy work harder to gain money for their family. Willy no matter what will be insecure and disappointed in himself unless he becomes a rich and well known person.
The artifact is similar to Willy and his flashbacks. Just like Willy flashes back to his past and makes it apart of his current day, just like Gil in the film Midnight in Paris is taken back to his past. This film also relates to how the main character is off with other women just how Willy was with another women. Willy thinks that he was happier and that life was better in his past, thats why he revisits it so often. Gil learns each time he visits his past that people get unhappy the farther he goes back from the future. Some people, in this case Willy, thinks he will only be happy if he has money but that is not what should drive someones happiness.
I agree with everything that Charlotte said. I agree that his failure to achieve the success that he thinks he should have achieved drives to him to the point where he feels so useless that he shouldnt be there anymore. He realizes he has become what he has scolded his son, Biff for being, unsuccessful. Also i think that another reason he contemplated suicide is because he mentally is fading and his decisions become fuzzy because is emotionally unstable.
Inside his head: "He's been trying to kill himself" (62).
"She says he came to that little bridge, and then deliberately smashed into the railing, and it was only the shallowness of the water that saved him" (62).
"Frank, Frank, dont you remember what you told me that time? How you put your hand on my shoulder, and Frank..." (82).
Willie is losing control over the awareness of what is real and what is in the past. He speaks to people who arent there because he thinks they are. Willie is breaking down in everyway
(Maggie's moderator questions)I think Linda has stayed with Willy and supported him because she is trying to make the love and affection they once had for each other be brought back to life. Linda sees little glimpses of the past in Willy. Willy leaves the house in "high spirits, it was like the old days" (Miller 76). Seeing him like these, pushes Linda to stay with Willy.
Willy has obviously been thinking about suicide for some time now because he "connected [a rubber pipe] to the gas heater" in the cellar (Miller 75). There are many things that could have pushed him to this point. Seeing his two sons not succeed probably makes Willy feel like his did not do a good job of parenting them and pushing them to be successful business men. Also, the fact that Willy's income is decreasing and he can barely support his family would not exactly be a confidence boost.
Anytime someone is fired from their job, it reflects poorly on them. However, I think Willy will make it more dramatic than it rally is because he is so set on having everyone think highly of him and his family. This will put Linda in a bad position because they are already struggling for money. Therefore, this will put more pressure on Happy and Biff to start this business and support themselves and their parents.
n Tradgety Oh, Ben, that’s the whole beauty of it! I see it like a diamond, shining in the dark, hard and rough, that I can pick up and touch in my hand. Not like-like an appointment! This would not be another damned fool appointment, Ben, and it changes all the aspects. Because he thinks I’m nothing, see, and so he spites me. But the funeral—[Straightening up] Ben, that funeral will be massive! They’ll come up from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire! All the old timers with the strange license plates—that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because he never realized—I am known! Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey—I am known, Ben, and he’ll see it with his eyes once and for all. He’ll see what I am, Ben! He’s in for a shock that boy!
Willie's tragic view on life has developed into a full on mental problem. Willie os glamourizing his death as a way to become more successful, more known. All his life he has strived, in the play we have seen his need for success develop from angry comments, to haunting halluciantions, finally resting in the delusion that his death will be the catalyst he needs to be come successful. Twisted logic based soley on the importance placed on money.
"Dont blame everything one me...your no good, your no good for amything" (111)
Willies failure as a parent is being thrust in his face as Biff continues his fruitless employment search. Seeing this ugly reflection of failure destroys already frail Willie, and with no other coping mechanism, he thrusts his failure on his son.
"Look at you-look at whats become of you! He's going to kill himself dont you know" (115)
Biff is hitting rock bottom, seeing clearly whats becoming of his father, how his own actions have broken their family's foundation. The begining of the play followed Biff in his bratty adn selfish attempts, but the end of the play resolves his tradgety in the clairity of the infulence he has on his father.
"SPite, spite is the word of your undoing! And when your down and out, remember what did it. When your rotting somewhere beside the railroad tracks, remember, and dont you dare blame it on me!" (130).
Willie breaks off the relationship he had been trying to form with Biff his whole life. In attempts to lessen his own failure, Willie pushes every last bit of dissapointment onto his son, and some well deserved. If this family wasnt already broken enough, Willies blame will rot his realtionship with Biff for the rest of their lives. THis comment could initiate a healthier life for WIllie, or a more destructive family realtionship.
Tragedy " sure sure. i am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is building something he must be on the right track, mustn't he?" (86)
Willie is continuing on the track of deceit. Willie convinces himself he is making something productive, an implication of the pressure of the american dream.
"But sometimes, Willie its better for a man to just walk away" (95).
Other people are beginning to notice Willie's decent into insanity. Charley, whose advice Willie takes to high esteem, has begun to see the pressure take over Willie's life. Charley encourages Willie to drop out of the races as an attempt to save his frail family.
"Charley, im strapped, im strapped. i don't know what to do. i was just fired" (97).
Willies hit a breaking point. He is being completely honest with Charley, bearing his failures as a sort of offering.
The American Dream"He's been trying to kill himself" (58).
Willy can't take all the stress and disappointment in his life that it leads him to want to commit suicide.
"You always started too low" (65).
Willy thinks that it is unacceptable and is disappointed that Biff is not successful. He thinks he always started too low and that why he hasn't made much money or moved up in his career which is unacceptable in the eyes of Willy.
"All of the sudden everything falls to pieces" (66).
Willy always compared his life to the american dream and his life is nothing like that. He feels insecure and he thinks everything is falling apart because he compares it to something perfect. He doesn't take note of the small things that matter he only gets angry and sad when something doesn't goes his way and isn't as successful as he thinks they should be.
"We are a little short again" (73).
Willy and his family always struggled with being short of money and it always bothered Willy. He truly never got over how he didn't have a lot of money like most people. He just always thought he would be or have things like the american dream portrays and since he didn't his life has been filled with disappointment that causes him to lash out and be disappointed.
Inside his Head:"Its contacts, Ben, Its contacts." (84)
He flashes back to Ben again. He searches for answers that he is not receiving in his real life, through his dreams.
"This is the greatest day of his life."
Willy fades back to the day he though would be the best day of his life because it would be the best day of Biff's life. He thrives on the memories of success. He will hold on to anything that reminds him of when he was on top and "happy".
Fate and actions:"What the hell did I say to him? My God, I was yelling at him! How could I!" (Miller 82).
"Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm. Ben, and if a man is building something he must be on the right track, mustn't he?" (85).
"Don't talk to him. Come on, come on!" (89).
All through the book, Willy's actions and reactions have changed based on the situation and who he is around. When he got worked up talking to Howard about his job, he gets carried away and unknowingly hells at him. In this scenario, I think Willy dishes out his own failure.
On the other hand, when the subject of Willy's job comes up, he lies and acts like he is still working at the firm. This will obviously not end well for Willy.
Lastly, when the success of Willy's two sons is the subject of conversation, everything besides them becomes negative. Anything that steps in the way of their success, Willy will push down and return the attention to them.
Moderator Dec 4:1. What reasons would make Biff's failure Willy's fault? And why.
2. Why does Willy continuously lie about the loss of his job?
3. Why does Willy refuse to work for Charlie
Artifact:
http://cdn.frontpagemag.com/wp-conten...
Willie carries the burdens of the families failure on his shoulders. Though Biff's business failures are not a direct reflection of Willie's parenting, Willie internalizes the failure as a sign of his decent into worthlessness. As a parent Willie has the responsibility of instilling values and morals in his children's life. Because Willie constantly had his mind on success while raising the children, the boys most likely linked the importance of business and financial success to the stress on the family, creating morphed ideas of what a successful life looks like. Willie continues to lie about his job for many reasons mainly being his impending insanity. As I have previously brought up the financial pressure put on families in this time period was unusually large. I think a more relevant question to Willie in this section of the book is how is his interpretation of the "american dream" affecting the lives of his children and wife directly and in the future? Willie seems to be completely fine with lying to his family, what makes this choice seem reasonable to him? Why does Willie hide from his family?
Willie refuses to work for Charlie for the same reasons he lies to his family about his job. Pride drives his actions and words.
As comical as it may sound, this situation vaguely reminds me of the movie "Click". In this movie Adam Sandler decides to put all of his efforts into his job, fast forwarding through his family life. It seems as if Willie is viewing his family life through a distorted lens, as if they are a prop rather that people. In return Willies family develops hard feelings towards him, causing him to dive deeper into his work. In the end of the movie Adam Sandler decides to go back and put his efforts into his family, unfortunately for Willie, he has burned too many bridges to afford that option.
success doesn't define who you are1-Biff was the star football player in high school as well as a very liked person and very attractive. Biff failed his math class in high school, which led him to failure. Biff and Willy were so caught up in Biff’s athletics that Biff never concentrated on school. Bernard tried to get Biff to study to be able to pass the exam. Willy led Biff to failure when Willy said to Bernard, “You’ll give him the answers” (40). When Biff stole the football from the locker room Willy excused the behavior by saying, “Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!” (30). The stealing of the ball affected Biff later in his life because Biff continued to steal. Biff thinks that being well liked and attractive are the most important things and well lead you to success. Biff learned that from Willy and Willy has believed that his whole life and was just waiting for it to come true. Biff never worked hard for a job or even to graduate, which led him to lose multiple jobs. Willy also leads Biff to failure when Biff walked in on Willy with another women in Boston. Biff knew that his father was cheating on his mother and when a son sees their parent do that they have a sense that it is okay when it is not. When Biff found out that his father “has been trying to kill himself,” (58) Linda told Biff that, “he put his whole life into you and you’ve turned your backs on him,” (60), which made Biff realize he was a failure to his father and the rest of his family.
2-Willy keeps lying about the loss of his job because he is embarrassed. He is afraid to tell his family because they are already low on money with him having a job. He believes that he, “can’t throw [himself] on [his] sons because [he] isn’t a cripple,” (84). He doesn’t want to be a disappointment to his family. Willy keeps saying, “I’ve got a job,” (96) because he doesn’t want anyone else’s help. He wants to be successful on his own because he will be looked down upon if he doesn’t have a job. Willy’s whole life has consisted of telling biff he is a failure when in reality Willy is the failure and he doesn’t want to admit it by saying he doesn’t have a job. Willy seems fine to be lying to his family about his job because he is embarrassed and being successful is everything to him, so him lying about his job doesn't concern him.
3-Willy refuses to work for Charlie because he feels too self-conscious taking the job since he just lost his. He wants to be able to find a job on his own rather than it be handed to him. Willy has the idea in his head that he is going to kill himself so he thinks that it wont even matter to have a job if he is going to be gone soon. Willy also gets “insulted” (96) by Charlie, which makes Willy not want to work for him even more. Willy doesn’t like how Charlie, one of his friends, will be over him in the business and more successful than he because Willy’s goal is to be more successful than most especially his friends. Charlie asked Willy, “What’re you, jealous of me?” (97) which leads the readers to believe that is true. Willy always though that “if a man was impressive, and well liked, that nothing-,” (97) bad would ever happen and that they would be successful. Willy is embarrassed that he is nothing like the American dream (the perfect life) and that is what he compares his life to. Willy was always so caught up in the way he looked and how people viewed him when what really mattered were his family and the love they shared not money of fame. That is what led Willy to lose his job and be known as a failure.
Willy has shattered his family just like the broken glass in the artifact. There is no way to put all the pieces back together perfectly. Willy has caused his family to break through his own pride, lying, and blaming others for not gaining success.
In the TV show “One Tree Hill”, the father of two boys only cares about their success. One of the boys is very good at basketball and his father always pushes him. When he makes a mistake his father loses it. The other son, the father doesn’t care for at all. All the sudden the second son becomes good at basketball and the father is interested in him. This father reminds me a lot about Willy because they both only care for their sons when they are doing well or being successful.
Willy is a man who values success. During this time everyman's character was based on their success and reputation. Willy all his life has failed his own expectations for himself and is consumed by the thought of his failure. He chooses to not tell anyone about his job loss because he does not want to disappoint anyone again. He holds such high standards for his sons and is preaching to them about keeping a good job and making a good name for themselves. When in reality he is doing just the opposite of that. He tells his son biff. "you're no good, you're no good for anything" (107). He says this because he sees Biff following right down his path, the path of failure. Willy's reasonings for not telling anyone about losing his job are the same for the reasons why he doesn't accept Charlies Job Offer. He takes his pride in knowing he is providing for his family. To take a job from Charlie is admitting that he needs help and is too deep in a hole to be able to bring himself out. He refuses to be given help,"I can't work for you, thats all, don't ask me why" (95) when he really needs it. This could play into the reasons of Biff's failure. The whole time Biff was growing up WIlly told him that he would be a star and ride smoothly for life. Willy did not prepare him for a mess up, or a failure which is what Biff truly needed. When Biff failed his 12th grade math course it was the first life altering mistake he had made. It was the first time he saw the disappointment from his father. Ever since that he has desperately wanted his fathers approval but cannot seen to grasp it because he is doing everything his father does not want him to do. Willy can not let go of the past, "Yeah, sure. If you hadn't flunked--" (106). Willys high standards for Biff turned him into a failure because he could not impress his father. In the movie ice princess Casey the main character is a brilliant girl. All her life her mother wanted her to succeed in school so she could have a great education and live a better life than she did. Casey's dream was to be a figure skater but her mother would never approve of that. Casey started skating behind her mothers back, but of course her mom found out. Casey started to preform not her her greatest capacity with out her mothers support. The mother realizes that she can not carve the way for casey, but she must do it on her own. Casey is freed and succeeds in what she loves to do, skate.
This is just like how Biff loves out west but can not be satisfied without his fathers approval. Biff' success will come from the support and love from WIlly.
I agree with charlotte's connection to Click because it does seem as if Willy doesn't care to spend much time with his family unless it involves success. So, he puts his mind and soul into his work. However, that backfires on him.
Annie made a good point about Willy possibly being jealous of his friend, Charlie's success. Although he may be ashamed of the loos of his job, he still confesses that he no longer holds that position at work. So, even though he tells the truth, he still does not want to be seen as weak or less of a man by working for Charlie.
Lastly, I completely agree with Maggie and Annie by saying that it is mainly Willy's fault for Biff's failure because he never pushed him as a kid and let him just slide by without any effort. In the time, he didn't think it would be necessary for Biff to work hard. However, in the end Biff is at a loss because his own father never taught him how to work for success.
1) Discuss the ways in which this painting reflects Willie's lifestyle2) Discuss Biffs quote about Willie "the man didn't know who he was". is this true or false. Why?
3) How does the plays title demonstrate irony, and compare reality versus ideal, or the american dream?
4) How is Willy’s retreat into the past a form of escape from his unpleasant reality? How does it function as a way for Willy to cope with the failure to realize his ambitions?
(HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF IN THE END)Through the novel The Death of a Salesman, the idea of the American dream has been seen as a dystopia in the world of Willy Loman. He has always wanted to be rich and successful because that is the “thing to do.” The American dream is viewed as a family, who is wealthy and well known to the people around them and if you cannot match up to that you are looked down upon. Willy always compared his life to the American dream, something that was viewed as perfect, that it made his life look like it was falling apart, which made he feel insecure. He never took note of the small things that mattered, he only got angry and disappointed when something didn’t go his way. Willy never made enough money to be known or to even have his name in the paper. He longed to be a successful man but he just did the opposite. The fact that he hasn't made much money makes him feel ashamed of himself. The motif that keeps occurring is to be successful and outstanding. This is all Willy lived for and since he can’t have that he feels as if he isn’t good enough for anyone, even his family.
Willy not being well off is significant because it leads to a bigger problem in the end. Willy couldn’t take all the stress and mistakes anymore that it led him to commit suicide. He was so tired of always having to worry about how he isn’t making a lot of money and that he isn't even close to being wealthy. All he wanted to do is have the aspects of the American dream but he was lacking them and that drove him to death. The significance of Willy not being successful affected Biff. Willy was always disappointed in Biff because Willy thought he was a failure and always started too low. Since Biff hasn’t moved up in his career or made much money it is unacceptable in the eyes of Willy. Willy always thought he would make it in the world by looks and being well known, but one has to actually work hard to get to the top. Unlike Willy, one must work hard and it will pay off in the end. Everything cant be handed to one person.
(ONE IS NOT DEFINED BY THEIR SUCCESS)In the majority of this story, Willy dishes out his own failure by taking actions and doing the wrong thing. The main problem that Willy played a important role in was the failure of his son, Biff. As Biff was growing up, Willy basically went out of his way to make Biff succeed as a kid, which included cheating, stealing, and not putting any work into anything but football. Also, Willy brings himself to his own failure in the workplace. Willy pushes boundaries when asking for a difference job and becomes irrational and rude, which ultimately brings him to his own destruction. Since this story revolves around Willy, the reader sees how his actions affect the outcome and generally lead to his failure. Although when Willy does things in the moment, he is not trying to bring failure upon himself. The more Willy tries to prevent bad things from happening and tries to make good things happen, the worse the situation becomes for him. Willy's efforts to make things great is almost like people's efforts to fall in/out of love when it is uncontrollable.
One is not defined by their success. This theme is shown through the thread of "fate and actions." Willy's main mistake happen when he is dealing with the success of his sons and the success of himself. Clearly, the readers can see that social ranking and money is more important to Willy than the meaning of family. He tried to force himself and his sons into being successful and tries to prevent them from making mistakes, leading them to failure. This is not fate. Obviously, Willy can't deal with failure of anyone in his family because it could ruin his image so he takes action and accidentally makes things worse. Although success and money is important, if one does not have the love and support of their own family, then failure and loneliness awaits them. This story teaches the reader that power and success can very easily overcome and consume a person. However, it does not define them. However cliché this may sound, money is not the most important thing in life.
TRAGEDY Tragedy presents itself with a gradual ascending presence in The Death of a Salesman. The story begins with tensionous relationships and increases to the suicide of leading protagonist Willie Loman. This play has all the components of the Greek version of the genre. Willie Lomans closely resembles a tragic hero; a misguided man aiming to find his identity and credibility in a flawed system. While Willie is just a salesman, Miller makes a point to emphasize the impact of his tragedies. Tragedy from the beginning of the story to the climactic ending, is more of a product that a catalyst itself. These incidents speak as defining characteristics of Willie Loman's character. With each increasing level of tragedy Willie seems to adapt another level of insanity. Each tragedy, new cheese, a lost football game, a mistress, a lost job, further deepens the cut in Willies life. Willie is Miller's tool to pave the road of a new form of tragedy, the tragedy of the common man. Each tribulation further drives the plot and each character's’ actions into a relatable place.
Miller uses this relatable story of failure to comment on the distorted view of the American Dream. Willie’s goals of success have brought dystopia into the Loman home. Social pressures of the times act as the catalyst for tragic situations. Miller creates all the elements of the American Dream but adds a corrupt mentality in the protagonist, and lets the readers see the effect. Each day Willie packs more and more pressure on his financial success, filling himself with narrow corrupt views or business, leaving empty voids in all other areas of his life. Because his mentality is so focused on his business ventures, Willie Loman is unable to even realize his failures on other areas of life. Both of his sons are growing up with disillusions of business and father figures, his wife is being mentally abused, and his mental health deteriorates hourly. All commentary on the addiction of business. Miller uses this ironic tragedy to mock man’s failed attempts at success.
(THE HOPE OF A SALESMAN).Throughout the history of America the idea of success was so greatly valued. It is evident that Willy was taught the importance of success while growing up, because it seems to be the only idea he values. He does not value loyalty, honestly, or love, but in place of all of those things he values success. The novel opens with a sign that there is confusion going on in the main character, Willy' s head. Willy is an old man who is suffering from some kind of mental illness. The Lowman family car is a symbol used negativity. When ever the car is involved in the story, it is a sign of confusion and dystopia. The theme of inside Willys head is shown to enhance the understanding of the reader to know that Willy is not in his right mind. It seems that a leading cause for disruption in the story comes from the lack of control Willy has over his mind. The conflict between Willy and Biff is caused by Willys lack of willingness to understand Biff. The conflict is caused by Willy's lack of willing to let go of the past. The reader sees that Willy is unable to let go and understand not by his choice. The inside of Willy's mind creates distraction, even though he cannot control it.
The Inside of Willy's mind shows the reader why there is conflict in the first place. Willy is becoming senile and cannot control his thoughts and sometimes his actions. Willy looses all sight of what is real, "There is the sound of a car starting and moving away full speed" (128). The story shows the reader that acceptance comes through understand and love. Willy is unable to fully understand the problems going on between he and Biff, but also the problems going around in his life. The inside of Willy's head highlights the inability of understanding. It shows the reader what is truly going on in his head. He is seeing flashback and dead people and his mind cannot comprehend what is reality and what is not. Willy's family realizes that there is mental imbalance in Willy's head. They refuse to accept it. They refuse to understand Willy so they also refuse to accept him. The whole story the reader focus' on what willy is doing wrong, when no one chooses to accept Willy. The inside of Willy's head shows the reader that love is hard, but one must make sacrifice for those that love us.
Throughout the history of America the idea of success was so greatly valued. It is evident that Willy was taught the importance of success while growing up, because it seems to be the only idea he values. He does not value loyalty, honestly, or love, but in place of all of those things he values success. The novel opens with a sign that there is confusion going on in the main character, Willy' s head. Willy is an old man who is suffering from some kind of mental illness. The Lowman family car is a symbol used negativity. When ever the car is involved in the story, it is a sign of confusion and dystopia. The theme of inside Willys head is shown to enhance the understanding of the reader to know that Willy is not in his right mind. It seems that a leading cause for disruption in the story comes from the lack of control Willy has over his mind. The conflict between Willy and Biff is caused by Willys lack of willingness to understand Biff. The conflict is caused by Willy's lack of willing to let go of the past. The reader sees that Willy is unable to let go and understand not by his choice. The inside of Willy's mind creates distraction, even though he cannot control it. The Inside of Willy's mind shows the reader why there is conflict in the first place. Willy is becoming senile and cannot control his thoughts and sometimes his actions. Willy looses all sight of what is real, "There is the sound of a car starting and moving away full speed" (128). The story shows the reader that acceptance comes through understand and love. Willy is unable to fully understand the problems going on between he and Biff, but also the problems going around in his life. The inside of Willy's head highlights the inability of understanding. It shows the reader what is truly going on in his head. He is seeing flashback and dead people and his mind cannot comprehend what is reality and what is not. Willy's family realizes that there is mental imbalance in Willy's head. They refuse to accept it. They refuse to understand Willy so they also refuse to accept him. The whole story the reader focus' on what willy is doing wrong, when no one chooses to accept Willy. The inside of Willy's head shows the reader that love is hard, but one must make sacrifice for those that love us.
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