Themes
-The hope of achieving the "American Dream"
-Betrayal and Deceit among family, and how it destroys their relationship
- Abandonment, loneliness can lead to ones loss of reality
Questions about Theme
The Nature of humankind that emerges from the work is that of the desire to become successful in life, and also human's incapability to face reality. Willy the main character of the work, is a traveling salesman who lives in Brooklyn, New York. This play takes place during post WWII, so late 1940s-1950s, a time where people were thriving economically. Willy on the other hand lives an average life, which is why he's so fixated on making the life of his family better. Although Willy is so naive and cannot face reality, which is his unsuccess as a salesman. He wants to live that American Dream of wealth, economic sufficiency, but he can't give his family that, which is what leads to his constant flashbacks of the past, to a time where he was happy, a time when everyone was content. Willy's rival Charley, even said to him," Why is it so important for you to be liked?” Willy is always saying that to be successful in life one must be likable, which is why he's constantly worrying about what others think about him, and also why he pushes his dreams on his son Biff. He even tells Biff and Happy, "The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want."
In Death of a Salesman, the nature of society is somewhat flawed. One of the
most important aspects of the play is that idea of achieving the 'American Dream". The life of wealth, financial stability, and pride in oneself, but this desire for the American Dream is what drives Willy to his wild delusions, and is eventually what exhausts him from life. It's life destroying because its setting a standard, it's showing people how they should be living, telling them that " this is the life they want", but that life of an "American Dream" is not easy to achieve, which we can see in Willy's case. It seems that Willy is indeed in conflict with society. Willy is not the man he used to be, and people have changed. An important quote to remember is the scene with Willy and Howard, where Willy tells Howard Wagner, " You see Howard, in those days there was respect, comradeship, friendship, but now it's all cut dry". This quote is important, because here Willy's telling Howard how things used to be and how he's referring to how it should be like that now. Willy's expressing to Howard, that you can't find that type of loyalty, respect, and friendship now a days.
In this play, I think it's clear that the characters lives are being controlled. For example because of this hope of living the " American Dream", Willy is so focused on achieving that ideal, which in turn affects his relationship with his two sons Biff and Happy, but more specifically Biff. Biff was a star football player, who always made his father proud, and because of those high expectations Willy pushes his dreams on Biff, controlling his life in the process. Although, Biff eventually realizes that he doesn't want to be a salesman, and tells Willy in the scene at Stanley's bar, " What am I doing in this office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?” Biff was in a way being controlled by Willy in the play, because of Willy's high expectations, and also Biff's pity for his father, because of Willy's exhaustion from work, and his constant suicide attempts. " I'm not bringing home any prizes anymore, and you're going to stop waiting for me to bring them home!" - Biff, Biff is referring to before when he was younger and a star football player and Willy's expectations for him to bring home a "prize", and relating to the present, telling Willy that he's not going to be a salesman.
The moral conflicts in the work are that of Willy's incapability to distinguish what are right from wrong, and ultimately is internal conflicts. Throughout the play Willy's constantly referring back to his memories, good memories and bad ones. For example the memories with his sons Biff and Happy when they were younger, in contrast to his memory with the Woman, a woman who he had an affair with and Biff found out, Biff cried in this scene and told his father, " You phony...Don't touch me you liar!” Biff felt betrayed, but Willy justified it by saying " This is nothing Biff, I was just lonely." Then there's Willy's bad habit of lying to himself, he feels as though his family is capable of living the American Dream, he sees his sons as two successful men especially Biff, but Biff is just a drifter, he works on a farm, and Happy is a womanizer. There doesn't seem to be any moral center of a character, the closet to the idea would probably be Linda, Willy's wife. Linda is a loyal housewife, she believes in her husband, and defends him when he's being criticized, she understands Willy. The scene where Biff calls Willy crazy shows Linda' s love and understand for Willy, " He's the dearest man in the world to me, and I won't have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue."
The repetitions that occur in the play are Willy's complaints of being liked.
Again the scene with Willy and Howard, " Why must you have to be liked!” then
there's a scene with Biff and Willy talking about Biff's visit to Oliver's. " You know
why he remembers you, don't you? Because you impressed him in those days".
Willy's always talking about how being liked is what's going to get you successful in the salesman industry. The meanings we can draw from these repetitions are that Willy is longing to be liked; he's so focused on on living the American dream that he's so obsessed with the idea of being liked by people.
The symbols that the author deliberately establishes are the pipe, the
stockings given to his mistress, the hose, and Willy Loman's name itself. The
stockings are supposed to represent Willy's infidelity towards his wife Linda.
There's a scene in the play where Willy flashbacks into a memory with his lover "The Woman", and he gives her stockings and at the end of that scene it transitions to the
present time with his wife Linda. We can see the contrast in Willy's treatment of the Woman, and of Linda. Willy towards the " Woman" was nicer, flirtatious, where as with Linda he's cruel and harsh, for example he yells at her and says, " I won't have you mending stocking in this house, now throw them out". The hose and pipe represent Willy's constant suicides. There's a scene with Linda, Biff, and Happy where Linda tells them that Willy is killing himself, and refers to the pipe, saying " There's a little attachment on the end of it. I knew right away. And sure enough, on the bottom of the water heater, there's a new little nipple on the gas pipe". Then there's Willy's name. " Willy" meaning the will to do things, the will to withstand anything and "Loman" is low man, he's sad, and "lowclass".
The contrasts that the playwright establishes are the difference between
realistic values and idealistic values. For example the "American Dream" and "
Reality." In the play, there's a scene where they mention Willy's deceased brother Ben, who earned a living because of working the mines in Africa, and finding a diamond, which made him wealthy. Willy, even says in the play, " I should have went with Ben", meaning that if Willy went with Ben his life could have been different; he could have been wealthy and successful. Ben lived that idealistic life, that life of the "American Dream". Where as Willy he's living reality. He has to face the hardships of life, the reality of not being successful. Also Willy's constant rambling about how he's going to achieve that idealistic life. " Don't say. Tell you a secret boys, Someday I'll have my own business and then I won't have to leave home anymore." Willy's telling his sons that he's going to live that American Dream, he's going to be successful, but he's just being delusional.
Contrast is related to the conflicts in the play by how Willy's idealistic values conflicts with Biff's realistic values. Biff, knows what he wants to do in life. He even states it in the scene where he and Willy are arguing about Biff's refusal to be a salesman. Biff says, " What am I doing in this office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?” Biff knows that his father is an unsuccessful salesman, and he knows he himself cannot be a salesman, because it's not what he wants from life. Biff believes that success means doing what you love to do, something you can be happy with for the rest of your life, and that wealth doesn't matter. Where as Willy sees that wealth is the key to success, that it will help his family, it will make them a better life. Which is why the pair, Willy and Biff are at odds. They have different views on life, and how it should be lived.
Thinking of Paper about Theme
1.The subjects of the play, the issues and problems, are Willy's blindness of reality, his hope of living an wealthy and successful life, how his relationship with his sons/ and wife are falling apart, and how Willy's feel of lack of respect and appreciation eventually leads to his death. Willy's blindness to reality relate to the theme of hoping to live the life of an "American Dream". Willy's average life, drives him to achieve the goal of living the " American Dream". He says throughout the play how he's going to succeed, how he once was a successful salesman, although it seems his statements are mostly wishful thinking. Willy won't admit to himself that he's unsuccessful, and that his family is just living an "average" life, he somewhat exaggerates it. Saying Biff will get a job because he's liked and sociable, that he's impressive, although Biff does not feel this way at all to the point where he tells Willy, in one scene, " Will you let me go, for Christ's sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens." Then there's Willy's relationship with his family and how it's gradually falling apart, which relates to the theme of Deceit and Betrayal, can only lead to hurt. There's a scene in the play where Biff catches Willy with a Woman, they are having an affair. Biff is so hurt, and even cries and yells at his father saying, " You liar don't touch me! You phony....how could you?", Biff we can see is truly hurt by Willy's actions because right before, Biff and Willy were engaging in a happy conversation and it suddenly turns hostile once Biff spots the Woman. We can see here that Willy too is hurt, because he realizes he has lost the trust of his son, which adds to the tension between the two in the play.
Then there's Willy's relationship with Linda, Linda loves Willy and admires
him, she's kind to him, while Willy is in a way cruel to her. He speaks to her in harsh tones and doesn't really respect her. He even gets angry with her because of the choice of cheese Swiss to American cheese, " I don't want change! I want Swiss cheese. Why am always being contradicted?” Willy doesn't appreciate Linda, and does not see Linda's care and understanding for him. Then there's Willy's lack of needed respect and appreciation. Willy feels unappreciated among other salesman, and feels like he's nothing compared to them, adding to his loneliness. There's an important scene in the play, where Willy's talking to Charley. Charley is not very fond of Willy, and Willy's not to fond of Charley either. Their conversation starts off with Charley, " Willy I know you don't like me, and nobody could say I'm in love with you, but I’ll give you a job-just for the hell of it", Willy after a few more lines says, " Charley, you're the only friend I've got. Isn't that a remarkable thing?" This scene is important to the theme of the lack of respect and appreciation, because here we can see that Willy does respect Charley, a rival, and to call him a friend is a strong statement, because the two don't like each other. Willy's giving respect to others but he's not receiving it himself.
2. Some speeches that/ dialogue that set up a particular theme is the scene
towards the end of the play with Charley and Biff talking about Willy during his
funeral. Charley tells Biff, " Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no
rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to the nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And couple of spots on your hat and your finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Charley refers to the theme of achieving the American Dream, being a salesman means you have to dream, because as a salesman to strive for success and that success is what will lead to your happiness, it will lead to your life of the "American Dream".
(Biff to Willy): Willy you let me go for Christ's sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?"
- Here Biff is exhausted from Willy's high expectations of him living a successful life. This relates to the theme of Willy's blindness of reality and how that, that naiveness is what's gradually making his family fall apart, another theme of the play.
(Charley and Willy scene): Willy, when're you gonna realize that them things don't mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can't sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you're a salesman, and you don't know that."
- This relates to the theme of Willy's blindness to reality, and his past values. Willy doesn't realize the values have changed regarding salesman. There's no more comradeship, respect, and friendship, it's different now, what's important is what you sell as a salesman, and you success in being one.
( Linda and Biff): When you write your coming, he's all smiles, and talks about the future, and he' s just wonderful. And then the closer you seem to come, the more shaky he gets, and then, by the time you get here, he's arguing, and he seems angry at you. I think it's just that maybe he can't bring himself to-to open up to you. Why are you so hateful to each other? Why is that?
- Linda questions Biff on his relationship with Willy, they used to be so happy before and suddenly as he grew older things changed. This scene relates to the theme of Willy's family gradually falling apart because of Willy's feelings of loneliness and idealistic dreams. Biff and Willy's relationship deteriorates because of Willy's excessive high expectations of Biff, but Biff knows he can't meet those expectations which is one of the reasons why they can't get along.
(Linda to Biff): " He's trying to kill himself."
- This scene is very important, this relates to the theme of how the feeling of failure can lead to one's loss of self, which we did not mention earlier. Willy is a failure, because he gives up on himself. He wants to achieve this American Dream, but he commits suicide because of his exhaustion trying to achieve this dream, trying to be liked by everyone, and trying to push his dreams on Biff. He can't handle his life any longer and gives in to death.
3. An important scene develops theme by how it sets the atmosphere of the whole play. For example there are various scenes in Death of a Salesman, that portray the theme clearly. These scenes include Willy's flashbacks of the past, His scenes where he talks about how being liked is what's going to get you where you want in life, his arguments with Biff, and even his death. These scenes each set their own kind of atmosphere, when Willy refers to the past the atmosphere is happy, light-hearted, and hopeful. Where as In scenes with him arguing with Biff or talking to Charlie and Howard, the atmosphere is somber, and melancholy. This atmosphere adds to the reader’s interpretation of the scene, and as a result revealing the theme. For example the scene towards the end of the play at Willy's funeral, Linda says," Why didn't anybody come?", it shows clearly by the tone set by her voice that the scene is sad, bitter, and relates to the theme of Respect, and abandonment. Referring to how Willy claims to have known all these people, and yet no one showed up to his funeral except his family and Charley.
4. The theme of achieving the American Dream is a developed from the beginning of the play until the end. To summarize it all up, in the Willy never let this idea die, he referred to it continuously throughout the play. At first it starts off in flashbacks, when he's talking the younger Happy and Biff, and tells them that one day he's going to own his own business and wouldn't have to leave home anymore. Gradually he pushes those dreams on Biff, but Biff doesn't want to live that kind of life. This constant pushing is what ultimately leads to Biffs refusal to live up to Willy's expectations. Gradually Willy's dream of living the "American Dream" deteriorates and in the end because of his failure to achieve that goal he kills himself. Some quotes that relate to this development of the theme are:
-WILLY: Don’t say? Tell you a secret, boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more.
HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh?
WILLY: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked. He’s liked, but he’s not — well liked
-BIFF [crying, broken]: Will you let me go for Christ’s sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?
-(Charley and Willy scene): Willy, when're you gonna realize that them things don't mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can't sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you're a salesman, and you don't know that."
-WILLY: "the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want."
CHARLEY: "Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there's no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man out there in blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back-that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."
BEN: " The jungle is dark but full of diamonds Willy".
WILLY: " Without a penny to his name, three great universities begging for him, and from there the sky's the limit, because it's not what you do Ben. It's who you know and the smile on your face. It's contacts Ben, contacts!"
BIFF: Miss Forsythe, you've just seen a prince walk by. A fine troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for his boys.
The main plot of the play, focuses on Willy and his desperate attempt to make a better life for his family, he strives for the "American Dream" in hopes of achieving that goal of making a better life for them, but in the process he faces abandonment, loss of respect, and his stubbornness to face reality, which hinders him from that goal, and eventually leads to his death in the end.
5. The images that recur in this play often are the stockings, the hose, and Willy's
name. These images like i said earlier all are components to add to the play. The
stockings for instance, again are supposed to represent Willy's infidelity towards
his wife Linda. Which may be way Willy is cruel to Linda, he knows Linda is a good wife who's loyal and understanding, he's guilty of what he did and does not want to be reminded of the affair. Which may be why he tells Linda not to mend stockings in their house. Then there's the hose which represents Willy's suicide attempts/ his shortcomings in life. Willy's desire to die, shows that he's a failure as a person, because he can no longer live with himself. And Lastly his name, "Willy Loman". Willy's first and last name contradict each other. " Willy" meaning the will to move forward, or the will to withstand all etc. And then there's "Lowman" meaning lower. lower class, sad, lowlife. They develop in the play by how they are recurring elements and are what are associated with Willy throughout the play.
6. Repetitions in the play are Willy's obsession with the idea of being successful is by living the American dream. Willy throughout the play is constantly telling himself how he would be able to achieve, and even more so how Biff his once foot-ball star son would be able to, too. There many scenes with Biff and Willy arguing about their lifestyles. Willy's constantly trying to push his ideals on Biff, while Biff is trying to explain to Willy he doesn't want a life like that, but do to Willy ignores Biff due to his stubbornness. Then there's the repetition of Willy's flash backing to the past. This happens often in the play when Willy argues with someone, or is thinking deep in thought. At one point in the play he talks to Ben and asks him, " Oh Ben, how do we get back to all those great times? Used to be so full of light, and comradeship, the sleigh riding in winter, and the ruddiness on his cheeks.
7. Symbols in play
stockings-Willy's infidelity towards wife Linda, his betrayal towards his son Biff, in the process loss his trust
Diamonds- the symbol of wealth the American Dream, Ben's life, the idealistic life
Hose- Willy's failure as a human, giving up and trying to kill himself, shows how much he values himself
Seeds- growth of sons refers to the past and how Willy couldn't even make enough money to put good food on the table for his family. Or growth of his sons in general, how they changed from when they were younger.
8. The important contrasts in the play are Willy and Biff. Willy is an unsuccessful
Traveling salesman, who just goes downhill from then on. While Biff his son, was a foot-ball star, but gives it up and becomes a drifter and as they say in the play a
"bum". Although the greatest contrast between the two would probably have to be their outlook of life. Biff takes a more realistic approach to life. He's working on a farm and is content with that; he thinks that making a living out of something you love to do should be enough. Where as Willy is all about success, and how success is what leads to a good and happy life. Willy has a idealistic approach to life, he's so focused on living the American Dream, he does not realize that he can't achieve that goal, where as Biff knows that, the whole idea of living the American Dream is just wishful thinking, it's a goal that can be reached, but difficult to attain.
-The hope of achieving the "American Dream"
-Betrayal and Deceit among family, and how it destroys their relationship
- Abandonment, loneliness can lead to ones loss of reality
Questions about Theme
The Nature of humankind that emerges from the work is that of the desire to become successful in life, and also human's incapability to face reality. Willy the main character of the work, is a traveling salesman who lives in Brooklyn, New York. This play takes place during post WWII, so late 1940s-1950s, a time where people were thriving economically. Willy on the other hand lives an average life, which is why he's so fixated on making the life of his family better. Although Willy is so naive and cannot face reality, which is his unsuccess as a salesman. He wants to live that American Dream of wealth, economic sufficiency, but he can't give his family that, which is what leads to his constant flashbacks of the past, to a time where he was happy, a time when everyone was content. Willy's rival Charley, even said to him," Why is it so important for you to be liked?” Willy is always saying that to be successful in life one must be likable, which is why he's constantly worrying about what others think about him, and also why he pushes his dreams on his son Biff. He even tells Biff and Happy, "The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want."
In Death of a Salesman, the nature of society is somewhat flawed. One of the
most important aspects of the play is that idea of achieving the 'American Dream". The life of wealth, financial stability, and pride in oneself, but this desire for the American Dream is what drives Willy to his wild delusions, and is eventually what exhausts him from life. It's life destroying because its setting a standard, it's showing people how they should be living, telling them that " this is the life they want", but that life of an "American Dream" is not easy to achieve, which we can see in Willy's case. It seems that Willy is indeed in conflict with society. Willy is not the man he used to be, and people have changed. An important quote to remember is the scene with Willy and Howard, where Willy tells Howard Wagner, " You see Howard, in those days there was respect, comradeship, friendship, but now it's all cut dry". This quote is important, because here Willy's telling Howard how things used to be and how he's referring to how it should be like that now. Willy's expressing to Howard, that you can't find that type of loyalty, respect, and friendship now a days.
In this play, I think it's clear that the characters lives are being controlled. For example because of this hope of living the " American Dream", Willy is so focused on achieving that ideal, which in turn affects his relationship with his two sons Biff and Happy, but more specifically Biff. Biff was a star football player, who always made his father proud, and because of those high expectations Willy pushes his dreams on Biff, controlling his life in the process. Although, Biff eventually realizes that he doesn't want to be a salesman, and tells Willy in the scene at Stanley's bar, " What am I doing in this office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?” Biff was in a way being controlled by Willy in the play, because of Willy's high expectations, and also Biff's pity for his father, because of Willy's exhaustion from work, and his constant suicide attempts. " I'm not bringing home any prizes anymore, and you're going to stop waiting for me to bring them home!" - Biff, Biff is referring to before when he was younger and a star football player and Willy's expectations for him to bring home a "prize", and relating to the present, telling Willy that he's not going to be a salesman.
The moral conflicts in the work are that of Willy's incapability to distinguish what are right from wrong, and ultimately is internal conflicts. Throughout the play Willy's constantly referring back to his memories, good memories and bad ones. For example the memories with his sons Biff and Happy when they were younger, in contrast to his memory with the Woman, a woman who he had an affair with and Biff found out, Biff cried in this scene and told his father, " You phony...Don't touch me you liar!” Biff felt betrayed, but Willy justified it by saying " This is nothing Biff, I was just lonely." Then there's Willy's bad habit of lying to himself, he feels as though his family is capable of living the American Dream, he sees his sons as two successful men especially Biff, but Biff is just a drifter, he works on a farm, and Happy is a womanizer. There doesn't seem to be any moral center of a character, the closet to the idea would probably be Linda, Willy's wife. Linda is a loyal housewife, she believes in her husband, and defends him when he's being criticized, she understands Willy. The scene where Biff calls Willy crazy shows Linda' s love and understand for Willy, " He's the dearest man in the world to me, and I won't have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue."
The repetitions that occur in the play are Willy's complaints of being liked.
Again the scene with Willy and Howard, " Why must you have to be liked!” then
there's a scene with Biff and Willy talking about Biff's visit to Oliver's. " You know
why he remembers you, don't you? Because you impressed him in those days".
Willy's always talking about how being liked is what's going to get you successful in the salesman industry. The meanings we can draw from these repetitions are that Willy is longing to be liked; he's so focused on on living the American dream that he's so obsessed with the idea of being liked by people.
The symbols that the author deliberately establishes are the pipe, the
stockings given to his mistress, the hose, and Willy Loman's name itself. The
stockings are supposed to represent Willy's infidelity towards his wife Linda.
There's a scene in the play where Willy flashbacks into a memory with his lover "The Woman", and he gives her stockings and at the end of that scene it transitions to the
present time with his wife Linda. We can see the contrast in Willy's treatment of the Woman, and of Linda. Willy towards the " Woman" was nicer, flirtatious, where as with Linda he's cruel and harsh, for example he yells at her and says, " I won't have you mending stocking in this house, now throw them out". The hose and pipe represent Willy's constant suicides. There's a scene with Linda, Biff, and Happy where Linda tells them that Willy is killing himself, and refers to the pipe, saying " There's a little attachment on the end of it. I knew right away. And sure enough, on the bottom of the water heater, there's a new little nipple on the gas pipe". Then there's Willy's name. " Willy" meaning the will to do things, the will to withstand anything and "Loman" is low man, he's sad, and "lowclass".
The contrasts that the playwright establishes are the difference between
realistic values and idealistic values. For example the "American Dream" and "
Reality." In the play, there's a scene where they mention Willy's deceased brother Ben, who earned a living because of working the mines in Africa, and finding a diamond, which made him wealthy. Willy, even says in the play, " I should have went with Ben", meaning that if Willy went with Ben his life could have been different; he could have been wealthy and successful. Ben lived that idealistic life, that life of the "American Dream". Where as Willy he's living reality. He has to face the hardships of life, the reality of not being successful. Also Willy's constant rambling about how he's going to achieve that idealistic life. " Don't say. Tell you a secret boys, Someday I'll have my own business and then I won't have to leave home anymore." Willy's telling his sons that he's going to live that American Dream, he's going to be successful, but he's just being delusional.
Contrast is related to the conflicts in the play by how Willy's idealistic values conflicts with Biff's realistic values. Biff, knows what he wants to do in life. He even states it in the scene where he and Willy are arguing about Biff's refusal to be a salesman. Biff says, " What am I doing in this office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am! Why can't I say that, Willy?” Biff knows that his father is an unsuccessful salesman, and he knows he himself cannot be a salesman, because it's not what he wants from life. Biff believes that success means doing what you love to do, something you can be happy with for the rest of your life, and that wealth doesn't matter. Where as Willy sees that wealth is the key to success, that it will help his family, it will make them a better life. Which is why the pair, Willy and Biff are at odds. They have different views on life, and how it should be lived.
Thinking of Paper about Theme
1.The subjects of the play, the issues and problems, are Willy's blindness of reality, his hope of living an wealthy and successful life, how his relationship with his sons/ and wife are falling apart, and how Willy's feel of lack of respect and appreciation eventually leads to his death. Willy's blindness to reality relate to the theme of hoping to live the life of an "American Dream". Willy's average life, drives him to achieve the goal of living the " American Dream". He says throughout the play how he's going to succeed, how he once was a successful salesman, although it seems his statements are mostly wishful thinking. Willy won't admit to himself that he's unsuccessful, and that his family is just living an "average" life, he somewhat exaggerates it. Saying Biff will get a job because he's liked and sociable, that he's impressive, although Biff does not feel this way at all to the point where he tells Willy, in one scene, " Will you let me go, for Christ's sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens." Then there's Willy's relationship with his family and how it's gradually falling apart, which relates to the theme of Deceit and Betrayal, can only lead to hurt. There's a scene in the play where Biff catches Willy with a Woman, they are having an affair. Biff is so hurt, and even cries and yells at his father saying, " You liar don't touch me! You phony....how could you?", Biff we can see is truly hurt by Willy's actions because right before, Biff and Willy were engaging in a happy conversation and it suddenly turns hostile once Biff spots the Woman. We can see here that Willy too is hurt, because he realizes he has lost the trust of his son, which adds to the tension between the two in the play.
Then there's Willy's relationship with Linda, Linda loves Willy and admires
him, she's kind to him, while Willy is in a way cruel to her. He speaks to her in harsh tones and doesn't really respect her. He even gets angry with her because of the choice of cheese Swiss to American cheese, " I don't want change! I want Swiss cheese. Why am always being contradicted?” Willy doesn't appreciate Linda, and does not see Linda's care and understanding for him. Then there's Willy's lack of needed respect and appreciation. Willy feels unappreciated among other salesman, and feels like he's nothing compared to them, adding to his loneliness. There's an important scene in the play, where Willy's talking to Charley. Charley is not very fond of Willy, and Willy's not to fond of Charley either. Their conversation starts off with Charley, " Willy I know you don't like me, and nobody could say I'm in love with you, but I’ll give you a job-just for the hell of it", Willy after a few more lines says, " Charley, you're the only friend I've got. Isn't that a remarkable thing?" This scene is important to the theme of the lack of respect and appreciation, because here we can see that Willy does respect Charley, a rival, and to call him a friend is a strong statement, because the two don't like each other. Willy's giving respect to others but he's not receiving it himself.
2. Some speeches that/ dialogue that set up a particular theme is the scene
towards the end of the play with Charley and Biff talking about Willy during his
funeral. Charley tells Biff, " Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no
rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to the nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And couple of spots on your hat and your finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Charley refers to the theme of achieving the American Dream, being a salesman means you have to dream, because as a salesman to strive for success and that success is what will lead to your happiness, it will lead to your life of the "American Dream".
(Biff to Willy): Willy you let me go for Christ's sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?"
- Here Biff is exhausted from Willy's high expectations of him living a successful life. This relates to the theme of Willy's blindness of reality and how that, that naiveness is what's gradually making his family fall apart, another theme of the play.
(Charley and Willy scene): Willy, when're you gonna realize that them things don't mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can't sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you're a salesman, and you don't know that."
- This relates to the theme of Willy's blindness to reality, and his past values. Willy doesn't realize the values have changed regarding salesman. There's no more comradeship, respect, and friendship, it's different now, what's important is what you sell as a salesman, and you success in being one.
( Linda and Biff): When you write your coming, he's all smiles, and talks about the future, and he' s just wonderful. And then the closer you seem to come, the more shaky he gets, and then, by the time you get here, he's arguing, and he seems angry at you. I think it's just that maybe he can't bring himself to-to open up to you. Why are you so hateful to each other? Why is that?
- Linda questions Biff on his relationship with Willy, they used to be so happy before and suddenly as he grew older things changed. This scene relates to the theme of Willy's family gradually falling apart because of Willy's feelings of loneliness and idealistic dreams. Biff and Willy's relationship deteriorates because of Willy's excessive high expectations of Biff, but Biff knows he can't meet those expectations which is one of the reasons why they can't get along.
(Linda to Biff): " He's trying to kill himself."
- This scene is very important, this relates to the theme of how the feeling of failure can lead to one's loss of self, which we did not mention earlier. Willy is a failure, because he gives up on himself. He wants to achieve this American Dream, but he commits suicide because of his exhaustion trying to achieve this dream, trying to be liked by everyone, and trying to push his dreams on Biff. He can't handle his life any longer and gives in to death.
3. An important scene develops theme by how it sets the atmosphere of the whole play. For example there are various scenes in Death of a Salesman, that portray the theme clearly. These scenes include Willy's flashbacks of the past, His scenes where he talks about how being liked is what's going to get you where you want in life, his arguments with Biff, and even his death. These scenes each set their own kind of atmosphere, when Willy refers to the past the atmosphere is happy, light-hearted, and hopeful. Where as In scenes with him arguing with Biff or talking to Charlie and Howard, the atmosphere is somber, and melancholy. This atmosphere adds to the reader’s interpretation of the scene, and as a result revealing the theme. For example the scene towards the end of the play at Willy's funeral, Linda says," Why didn't anybody come?", it shows clearly by the tone set by her voice that the scene is sad, bitter, and relates to the theme of Respect, and abandonment. Referring to how Willy claims to have known all these people, and yet no one showed up to his funeral except his family and Charley.
4. The theme of achieving the American Dream is a developed from the beginning of the play until the end. To summarize it all up, in the Willy never let this idea die, he referred to it continuously throughout the play. At first it starts off in flashbacks, when he's talking the younger Happy and Biff, and tells them that one day he's going to own his own business and wouldn't have to leave home anymore. Gradually he pushes those dreams on Biff, but Biff doesn't want to live that kind of life. This constant pushing is what ultimately leads to Biffs refusal to live up to Willy's expectations. Gradually Willy's dream of living the "American Dream" deteriorates and in the end because of his failure to achieve that goal he kills himself. Some quotes that relate to this development of the theme are:
-WILLY: Don’t say? Tell you a secret, boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more.
HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh?
WILLY: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked. He’s liked, but he’s not — well liked
-BIFF [crying, broken]: Will you let me go for Christ’s sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?
-(Charley and Willy scene): Willy, when're you gonna realize that them things don't mean anything? You named him Howard, but you can't sell that. The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you're a salesman, and you don't know that."
-WILLY: "the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want."
CHARLEY: "Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there's no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man out there in blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back-that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."
BEN: " The jungle is dark but full of diamonds Willy".
WILLY: " Without a penny to his name, three great universities begging for him, and from there the sky's the limit, because it's not what you do Ben. It's who you know and the smile on your face. It's contacts Ben, contacts!"
BIFF: Miss Forsythe, you've just seen a prince walk by. A fine troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for his boys.
The main plot of the play, focuses on Willy and his desperate attempt to make a better life for his family, he strives for the "American Dream" in hopes of achieving that goal of making a better life for them, but in the process he faces abandonment, loss of respect, and his stubbornness to face reality, which hinders him from that goal, and eventually leads to his death in the end.
5. The images that recur in this play often are the stockings, the hose, and Willy's
name. These images like i said earlier all are components to add to the play. The
stockings for instance, again are supposed to represent Willy's infidelity towards
his wife Linda. Which may be way Willy is cruel to Linda, he knows Linda is a good wife who's loyal and understanding, he's guilty of what he did and does not want to be reminded of the affair. Which may be why he tells Linda not to mend stockings in their house. Then there's the hose which represents Willy's suicide attempts/ his shortcomings in life. Willy's desire to die, shows that he's a failure as a person, because he can no longer live with himself. And Lastly his name, "Willy Loman". Willy's first and last name contradict each other. " Willy" meaning the will to move forward, or the will to withstand all etc. And then there's "Lowman" meaning lower. lower class, sad, lowlife. They develop in the play by how they are recurring elements and are what are associated with Willy throughout the play.
6. Repetitions in the play are Willy's obsession with the idea of being successful is by living the American dream. Willy throughout the play is constantly telling himself how he would be able to achieve, and even more so how Biff his once foot-ball star son would be able to, too. There many scenes with Biff and Willy arguing about their lifestyles. Willy's constantly trying to push his ideals on Biff, while Biff is trying to explain to Willy he doesn't want a life like that, but do to Willy ignores Biff due to his stubbornness. Then there's the repetition of Willy's flash backing to the past. This happens often in the play when Willy argues with someone, or is thinking deep in thought. At one point in the play he talks to Ben and asks him, " Oh Ben, how do we get back to all those great times? Used to be so full of light, and comradeship, the sleigh riding in winter, and the ruddiness on his cheeks.
7. Symbols in play
stockings-Willy's infidelity towards wife Linda, his betrayal towards his son Biff, in the process loss his trust
Diamonds- the symbol of wealth the American Dream, Ben's life, the idealistic life
Hose- Willy's failure as a human, giving up and trying to kill himself, shows how much he values himself
Seeds- growth of sons refers to the past and how Willy couldn't even make enough money to put good food on the table for his family. Or growth of his sons in general, how they changed from when they were younger.
8. The important contrasts in the play are Willy and Biff. Willy is an unsuccessful
Traveling salesman, who just goes downhill from then on. While Biff his son, was a foot-ball star, but gives it up and becomes a drifter and as they say in the play a
"bum". Although the greatest contrast between the two would probably have to be their outlook of life. Biff takes a more realistic approach to life. He's working on a farm and is content with that; he thinks that making a living out of something you love to do should be enough. Where as Willy is all about success, and how success is what leads to a good and happy life. Willy has a idealistic approach to life, he's so focused on living the American Dream, he does not realize that he can't achieve that goal, where as Biff knows that, the whole idea of living the American Dream is just wishful thinking, it's a goal that can be reached, but difficult to attain.