Death of a Saleseman Part 5

July 18

Overall this was a very good play as it told a good story with very interesting characters. In my opinion, the main theme I think of when I read this play is Dreams, Plans and Visions of America. The characters in the book especially Willy truly believe in the "American Dream" where someone who works hard can earn their keep and make a good living. Lies and Deceit also because everyone in this story tells lies except for perhaps Linda, and Charley. Biff and Happy lie about their jobs as well as deceiving Willy about their about their opportunities. Biff especially because he said that Oliver was considering his proposition. Willy however is the most deceitful out of all of them because he was in complete denial about everything. He was cheating on his wife, lying about the money to his wife, lying to himself about his job and to many other people like Howard, Bernard, etc.

It was this denial that he upheld to the end of the book which eventually destroyed him as he killed himself at the end. Pride also takes a big role in this as Willy is very concerned with personal reputation and looks. Some of his fondest memories are of his son looking better than all others in school. Willy also betrayed everyone as he betrayed Linda's love when he cheated on her, Biff's trust when he caught him and ultimately himself because he wasn't the person he thought he was. I also think that expectations is a important theme. Everyone in the book had some sort of expectation. Biff expected to get a loan from Oliver, Willy and Linda expected Biff to graduate college back then, Willy expected Howard to give him a job in NYC, etc but none of these really came true. So the sense of hope and dreams if used in excess, can negatively impact your ultimate future.

Death of a Salesman Part 4

June 17,

We're nearly done with the book, I can't wait and see how it ends! Oh wait we already know.

Back at the restaurant where Willy is supposed to meet his sons, Happy helps Stanley, a waiter at the restaurant prepare their table. They see a girl called Miss Forsythe and talk to her. Biff enters and Happy introduces them and continues to chat with her. She leaves to call another girl because Happy asked her to. Biff eventually can't hold it in and tells happy that he waited 6 hours to see Oliver and he didn't even recognize him.  Very emotional at his father's constant belief that he's a salesman for Oliver, Biff plans to tell Willy the opposite. Willy enters and Biff tries to tell him but he yells that he's been fired. This sidetracks Biff and he again tries to tell him but Happy cuts in and suggests that Biff succeeded. Willy then has high expectations and waits for good news.  Biff can't control himself and starts yelling at his father for not listening.

 The play fades into another flashback with a young Bernard looking for Linda. He tells her that Biff failed math and at this exact moment, the restaurant conversation comes back with Willy again criticizing Biff for failing math. Biff tries to quiet Willy and says that Oliver's considering it. His renewed interest make Biff more uncomfortable and he starts yelling again. Willy hears "The Women" laugh and he shouts back hitting Biff. Miss Forsyth enters at this exact moment and brings another girl called Letta. Biff takes Willy to the washroom and comes back finding Happy flirting with the girls. Biff leaves and Happy follows the girls. We appear to have a flashback with Willy and The Women. The door knocks and its Biff telling Willy that he failed math. Willy reassures him that he'll talk to the teacher but Biff imitates his teachers lisp and that makes The Women laugh. Biff now realizes that Willy has been cheating on Linda and stops believing anything Willy says.

 Now we come back to the present and Stanley helps Willy. He asks him where a seed store is and Willy hurries off once he tells him. Happy comes back to the house with flowers in his hands and see's Linda. Biff comes in after but Linda starts yelling at them for abandoning Willy. Happy tries to make things work but Biff goes to look for Willy and finds him planting seeds in the garden. Willy is consulting "Ben" about a $20,000 deal. Biff approaches him and tries to bring him in. Willy comes but gets angry again about Biffs' failure. Happy tries to calm them but they eventually get super pissed and launch into a huge fight. Willy actually gets scared of Biff when he starts toward him but Biff eventually sobs which makes Willy touched.

 Everyone goes to sleep except for Willy and he continues his "conversation" with Ben and Linda calls out for him but gets no answer. Biff and Happy listen and they all hear Willy's car speed off. In requiem, Linda and Happy stand there at Willy's grave after his badly attended funeral. Biff states that Willy had the wrong dreams. Charley says that he was a victim of his job. Biff invites Happy to go out West with him but Happy declares that he will stay in NYC to live on Willy's dream. Linda asks Willy for forgiveness because she cannot cry. She says that she finally paid off the 25 year mortgage on their house THAT day but now there's no one to live in it. (IRONY, oh how delicious it is) She repeats the statement, "We're free" and all exit.

Death of a Salesman Day 3

July 16,

Continuing where we left off, we finally come back to the present instead of random daydreams/flashbacks. Biff and Happy come down to discuss Willy's condition. Linda scolds them for judging Willy so harshly. Biff declares that he knows he's a fake, (supposedly he's talking about his knowledge that Willy has cheated on Linda) but then Linda tells them that Willy has tried to commit suicide. Happy yells at Biff then Willy comes in and yells at Biff, but Happy comes in and brings up the idea that he and Biff should go into the sporting goods industry. Willy, happy at this prospect gives Biff a multitude of tips on business and coaches him on his later meeting to get a loan with Biff's old employer, Bill Oliver. They all argue a little more and try to over talk one another but everyone later reconciles and goes to bed.

Act 1 is done! This is a well written play I have to say, the way Miller describes the characters and both their internal and external conflict is quite good. I thoroughly enjoyed it though personally, I do not like Wily that much. He just seems too...pompous and proud to accept help or accept the basic facts about his life. On to Act 2!

Act 2 opens with Willy enjoying a breakfast made by Linda. Their sons have left early to go about their business and Willy seems proud of his sons, especially Biff who he apparently criticizes a lot. They get into another minor argument about paying the bills for the expensive appliances in the house. Linda then tells him that his sons are taking him out to dinner tonight and in turn Willy tells Linda that he's going to make Howard Wagner, son of Willy's friend give him a NYC job. How glamorous. The phone rings after he leaves and Linda is excitedly telling Biff that he went downstairs to destroy the breathing tube Willy used to try and kill himself when it was magically gone. She thought that he took it away himself but she then learns (We already know) that Biff took it himself.

We are then transported to Howards office with Willy sitting across from him. Willy tries to bring up his request but Howard rudly interuppts him and plays a recording of his wife and kids. When Willy finally gets a word in, Howard immediatly rejects his proposal and leaves for a brief spell. Willy is angry and when Howard reenters, he starts yelling at him. (Not a thing to do to your superiors). Howard then tells him to "take a break" basically firing him and BANG, Willy enters another daydream. His brother again walks in and tells him to come to Alaska with him. The younger Linda appears and reminds him of his duty to her, his job, and his sons. Willy then appears to be talking to Bernard, Charley's son and lies about Biff currently doing a "Big deal." Bernard is apparently going to Washington to argue a case a hearing this, Willy asks Bernard who happened to be Biff's close friend why he became such a failure. Bernard tells him that after Biff went to Boston, he came back and for the first time, got in a fight with Bernard.

Obviously something happened in Boston that made him not want to go to summer school. Willy immediatly retorts and says not to blame him. Again here we are shown Willy's denial of his situation and furthermore, life. Charley enters and tells Bernard that he should be going. Charley tells Willy that his son is going to argue in front of the USSC which is quite a accomplishment. Willy asks for more than the usual amount of money and Charley again offers him a job. Now Willy DOES NOT have a job but he STILL refuses. He tells Charley that he's been fired and Charley tells him, not in a kind way that he always needed to be liked and eventually gives him the money. This makes Willy tear up and he exits saying that Charley "you're the only friend I got." What a wuss. He can take a fine steady job which makes $50 a week and he still wont take it.

Death of a Salesman Day 2

July 15

From where i left off, BIff and Happy started to have a conversation about their jobs and how neither were satsified and wouldn't it be great if they could go out west together and own a farm, etc, etc. Here we see the son's restlessness and desire to leave. They begin to wash Willy's car and do a good job. Once they do, Willy apparently bought them a punching bag as a present.

Willy discusses his trip with his sons and tells them that he will eventually open up his own business greeted than Charley's, their next door neighbor. Charley appears to be a very rich and successful man, the exact opposite of Willy. Charley's son, Bernard also is a hardworking and famous lawyer who seems to be the opposite of Biff. Willy and Linda have a discussion about his trip. He lies and says that he made a large profit, however, Linda eventually gets him to tell her that it was only mildly successful. He didn't seem to get a good reception and he says that he's not good at his job. He then hears a laugh of a character called "The Women." It appears that Willy is cheating on his wife with this Woman and he falls into another daydream. So not only is Willy not good at his job, he also cheats on his wife. *Gasp*

This is all a daydream and it fades back into a earlier one. They continue to talk and gets into a argument. Charley hears all this and comes over. He offers Willy a job, which Willy refuses. As they start arguing, Willy imagines that his brother Ben walks in and he starts talking to him. Charley obviously doesn't see anything and gets confused. Willy then proceeds to yell at Charley and he leaves. Willy continues to talk to his "brother" who leaves but he still continues talking, presumably to thin air. We learn that Willy is very proud and refuses help from his closest friends even when he desperately needs it. He also may be a bit loony at his old age as he is pretty much hallucinating.

The Death of a Salesman

July 14

I started reading Death of a Salesman in July but didn't make this blog for the assignment until now. Thats why it says July 14. so I started reading and was treated to a nice descriptive passage about the intro of the play. It gave us readers a nice background of the setting of the Lomans home. It describes in detail the exact amount of fixtures and furniture in the house. After those few paragraphs, we're introduced to the main character Willy Loman.
We learn that he is a salesman and that his most recent trip did not yield high results. We also see Willy's wife, Linda who appears to be a kind and caring sort of individual. They start to get into a argument about their sons, Biff and Happy. Willy seems to complain a lot especially about his older son Biff. Biff had gone out to the West to work and came back because he didnt feel that he was getting anywhere. Now he came back and feels even more that he's wasting his life.