Death of a Salesman - Reality

Death of a Salesman Act One - Reality Biff ● ● ● ● ●

By his father’s interpretation Biff has failed. P22 Biff likes working with his hands Biff has ability to contradict himself Biff is progressively discovering more reality Biff makes father angry because Willy thinks Biff has the ability to “succeed” ○ Biff is not meeting his expectations ○ What is Willy’s perception of success? ■ Material wealth ■ Good looks/appearances

Linda ● What is Linda’s Reality? ○ Knows about Charley’s money ○ Always replaces the rubber ring in basement ○ Thinks of Willy as great when in reality he brings home very little ● She is: ○ Selfless to the possible point of self-destruction ○ Trying to hold the family together ○ Pretending? “Ideal husband/wife”, had grey hair since Biff and Happy were in high school, but stopped dyeing it. ○ Euphemisms? ○ Personal finances? ● Linda is the cause of Willy becoming a man engulfed by his own dreams and ambitions. ○ Never really confronted him with the reality of matters ○ She thought that she was protecting him by going/playing along with his actions/ motives. ● P39 Linda and stockings ○ Willy gives the woman stockings in his fantasy, and comes back to reality to find Linda mending stockings ○ Willy starts to yell at Linda, a contrast to the affectionate conversation he had with the woman → shows that Willy prefers to be in his fantasies than real life ○ Linda is representative of reality compared to the woman who represents illusion/ fantasy Willy ●

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P64 Linda interjects Willy ○ Willy shoots her down. ○ Is he caught up in his emotions? ○ Why doesn’t he yell at Biff and Happy? Well, he does, but not in this fashion... Willy is building up his dream ○ Linda wants him to revert back to reality ○ Willy sees her as a force that is holding him back. Willy cannot come to terms with the harshness of his job. ○ Does not quit in order to save face. ○ If he quits job, people might have negative opinions of him because he was unsuccessful. ○ He knows that his job is not earning much, yet he does not turn around even

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though he might be aware of the reality of the situation. He continues down the same path expecting success. Cares about own image His flaw: pride

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Willy committing suicide ○ Insurance money will provide for the family. ○ “Honourable” death of a salesman ■ He is aware that soon there will be nothing left for him ■ Wants his family to salvage something feasible from his life

Happy ● Happy idolizes family after being separated from them. ○ Carries Biff’s equipment, plays the role of the lackey ○ How does the heir/spare concept apply. ● Happy is partially aware of reality ○ p 24: Happy says, “Everyone around me is so false that I’m constantly lowering my ideals...” ○ He knows that he’s not completely happy in business, and his acceptance of that fact is better than Willy never admitting that he wasn’t cut out for business ○ Further down the page, Happy tells Biff that he’s going to continue being in business, then goes on to talk about his women, suggesting that he is still has this illusion of contentment. Auxiliary information that might be useful ● P53 Diamond/Radio correspondence course. ● P55 Midway down the page. ○ No feeling quote