Biography 

Journal

About

This play is about...

• Being "captured" by the past

• Capitalistic businesses pushing out the old for the new...bottom line profit.  Willy is a burden.

• Masculinity and chauvinism

• The responsibility of social forces (Linda)

• A democratization of tragedy.  

Better Know An Era...

Urbanization- In the 1920s or “roaring twenties” people began to migrate to the large metropolitan cities (Chicago, Boston, New York) in pursuit of white collar jobs and the “American Dream”. This is evident as Willy complains of the many Apartment developments that have gradually surrounded his Brooklyn house.

Capitalism- Is an economic system of free enterprise. Which functions under two rules which are; Maximize profits regardless of the social and economic ramifications and self-preservation. Because of these two principles, Capitalism requires businesses to operate within the limits of the law, however not the parameters of ethics. The great depression lasted from 1929-1939. During this time period, businesses had to cut cost and employees to remain relevant and sustainable. This “cutthroat” approach to business continued throughout WWII-Reaganomics to form the military industrial complex. Howard knows that Willy has an extensive history with the company, however cannot afford to employ him.

-Willy is unaware of the current economic climate and cannot conform as he thinks that an anecdote and a smile will keep him successful in business. The old adage “It’s not what you know, It’s who you know” is contradicted in this story as young Biff is popular and very well liked, yet flunking math, Yet Bernard is perceived as the complete opposite and is very studious.

Military Industrial Complex- is a wasteful “War for Profit” system in which legislators use American tax dollars to purchase products and services from major defense contractors and corporations, who in-turn make large campaign contributions to Politian’s.  

Summary

Act One

Willy Loman comes home to his wife Linda and he seems very preoccupied. His wife is trying to take care of him and suggests that he should rest instead of continuing the traveling. Willy blows his wife off. He mutters something about “strange thoughts”. Linda brings up that Happy took Biff on a date. Willy starts to talk about how Biff is a “lazy bum”. Then, he retraces his steps and takes away what he said about his son. Throughout the conversation with his wife, Willy seems to get “lost” in reminiscence. He goes on a ramble about the builders tearing down the trees, then the population booming, and then a red Chevy. The sons wake up in the other room. They discuss how their father has an issue. Happy tells Biff that their father talks a lot and usually it’s him having a conversation with Biff. The boys continue to speak and Biff makes a suggestion that Happy come out with him and they buy their own ranch and work and live together. Later on, Happy confesses to having flings with women who have men in their lives already. Men who work with him.

The boys go to sleep but Willy does not. He stays up and talks to himself and “converses” with his son. There is a flashback where the boys are young and helping their father. The play flashes again to a time where Bernard, a boy from school, nags Biff about studying. Willy calls the kid “anemic” and the Lomans pretty much make fun of the kid. There is another flashback where Linda enters and they discuss all the bills they have to pay. Willy reveals the insecure side of him. He feels like people mock him when he enters the room. In the background, there is laughter. It becomes louder until Linda disappears and a woman appears. Willy and the woman talk about meeting up again and they embrace. Eventually, Willy snaps out of his dreams. Happy comes into the kitchen to try and tell his dad to calm down. Charley enters soon after for he heard some noise and wanted to see if everything was alright. Happy soon leaves and Charley is left with Willy. The men play cards and talk about their lives. Their conversation is very redundant. Charley asks Willy why he is back and he says he had some car trouble. Later in the conversation, Willy accidentally calls Charley “Ben” whom is Willy’s brother. Come to find out, he died. Willy then goes on to have a conversation with Charley and “Ben” in the background. Charley is very confused as Willy is conversing with “Ben” but Charley has no idea what is going on and he leaves the apartment slamming the door behind him.

The “dream” Linda appears. Later on Willy calls on for the “dream” Happy and Biff to come out and listen to their Uncle’s story of how he got rich. After a “dream” Charley and Bernard enter, Willy is brought back to reality when Linda enters the kitchen and finds him speaking to himself. Biff wakes up and talks to his mother about the father’s condition. She explains that he does it all the time. When Biff wrote that he was visiting, Willy was all smiles and wonderful and speaking of the future. However, the closer Biff got to coming home, the more out of control Willy seemed to become. He seems angry at Biff and all they ever seem to do is argue. Linda does not understand why this is the case. Linda eventually breaks it down to Biff that she doesn’t feel like he truly cares about his father as much as she does. Since she loves him so much and never wants to see him hurt, she tells Biff that he needs to pay his father some type of respect or leave before he continues to hurt him any further. She goes on to later talk about what a great man Willy is having sons who do not truly care for his well being. She understands that something is wrong with him but she doesn’t blame him for there are many people who have done him wrong in his life. Especially at his job, he is paid poorly and not treated with a whole lot of respect and Linda seems to resent a lot of people for this.

Biff finally gives in to say that he’ll stick around and find a job and give his father some of his salary. Linda goes on to reveal that Willy has actually been trying to kill himself. Willy enters into conversation and overhears some comments Biff made about his father. A tiny argument erupts but Happy breaks it up with an idea. Biff is to see Oliver about a job to sell sporting goods. Willy takes this time to be a father and lecture him on his appearance and what to say and what not to say to Oliver in order to get the job. Willy goes off to bed but Linda wants the boys to say goodnight to their father so he doesn’t go to bed moody. Biff says goodnight and Willy continues to give him advice about seeing Oliver the next day. Happy mentions that he is getting married and the parents blow him off basically. At the end of the first Act, Biff takes the length of rubber tubing from the heater. Curtain.

Act Two

Willy is optimistic about Biff’ meeting with Bill Oliver and his own intended proposal to Howard to assume a more static sales position in NY. Linda further excites Willy when she tells him that his sons want to have dinner with him. Linda could be seen as an enabler, as she constantly surrounds Willy with false hope to keep his spirits high. Willy shows how unappreciative he is when he complains about their possessions. Linda explains that they are close to being “free and clear” of all debt. Willy becomes frustrated when he sees Linda fixing old stockings. This may remind him of his infidelity. 

Willy’s meeting with Howard culminates with Willy being fired. Willy begged for a non-traveling job for as low as $45 a week. This may show that the nobility of work is more important to Willy than the income. Howard repeatedly calls Willy “kid” even though Willy is much older and even claims to have named Howard. Willy is left alone in Howard’s office in a distraught emotional state, and then finds himself immersed into a memorable conversation with Ben. The illusion then transitions to Biff preparing for a big football game; in which Bernard begs to carry Biffs equipment. Willy scolds Charlie for saying that the football game was insignificant. Which was a valid point because Biff was failing math? 

Willy makes his way to see Charlie’s office, where he runs into Bernard in the reception area. Willy and Bernard have an exchange about Biff’s decision’s concerning school and employment. Willy is obviously envious of Bernard’s success as a lawyer. Willy asks for a loan of over a $100 from Charlie. Charlie offers him a non-traveling job for $50 a week. Willy, full of pride, refuses. Willy’s perception of the business world is unrealistic and Charlie explains when he talks of J.P. Morgan (Banking Mogul). At the restaurant, Hap is flirting with Miss Forsythe who is described as “On Call”. Which may mean that she is a prostitute?

 Biff Explains to Hap an awkward experience that he had at his business meeting. In which his stole a pen from Bill Oliver. Hap wants Biff to lie to Willy and say that the meeting went well. Biff declares that he will tell the truth to Willy when he arrives. This could mean that Biff is tired of the excepted falsehoods in the family. Willy and Biff get into a heated exchange in the restaurant where Willy says that biff can blame everything on him because Biff was the one that flunk math. The argument ends with Biff claiming that Hap doesn’t care about their father and storming out; Hap, embarrassed, tells the Ladies that Willy is his father; Willy is left in the restroom recurring a memory of being caught with his mistress in Boston by Biff. This may have been the turning point in their lives and relationship.

 Later that night Linda scolds her sons for abandoning their father. Hap claims that he had a good time. Biff owns up to his error and calls himself “scum of the earth” Willy is outside planting a garden having a delusional conversation with Ben about $20,000 life insurance payout for his family. Willy says that Biff will see he importance when he see how many people attend his funeral. It’s obvious at this point that he is contemplating suicide. Biff says that he is leaving for good and will not keep in touch. Wiley says that Biff is ruining his own life and blames him, only to be spiteful. Biff may have grown tired of his father’s high expectations. Biff has an emotional breakdown and confesses to all his errors and mistakes. Biff exposes all the lies and misconceptions within the family. Most importantly the truth about Willy.

 Biff cries on Willy’s shoulder and retreats upstairs to sleep. Linda and Hap reassure Willy that Biff has always loved him. Everyone goes upstairs to sleep except for Willy ho has a final conversation with Ben. Then speeds off recklessly in his car hoping to cash in on his life insurance.

Questions?

Analysis

• Masculinity/Capitalism/American Dream
•  Trapped in past
•  Linda!

Some things to research...

• Traveling salesmen in the northeast during 20's/30's/40's

• Corporate leadership v family owned business/father to son

• Buying practices of department stores during the period

• Attitudes towards women marrying/dating

• Male chauvinism and misogyny 

• The role of suicide in capitalistic societies (Adler)

• Football (Red Grange)

• NY Regents Test

• Number of lawyers that are in front of SCOTUS each year

• African mines

• Myth of the west (Henry Nash Smith)

• Population explosion in Brooklyn

• Psychological issues of enabling

• Biff as a petty theif 

Other Questions

• What role does non-linearity play in this play?  

Characters

Willie

• Willie as a tragic character

• Everyman...not the usual tragic character...Willie has a tragic flaw (Hamrtia), but his downfall is that of an ordinary, low, man.

• Similar to Oedipus, Willie's flaw is a lack of self-knowledge.

• Willie's flaw only destroys one household, not a city state or country or family 

• At age 63, as someone capable of greatness, as well as the unshakable conviction that greatness stems directly from personal charisma or popularity

 The Big Questions About Willie

• What are Willie's Values? ($$$$, being liked by people)
• How do Willie's values affect the other persons in the play? 

Symbolism

Theme

Gender

Point of View

Irony

Ending

Adaptations

Wordle

Video

Bibliography

Previous Paper Topics

1. What is the role of enabling in A Doll's House and/or Death of a Salesman? You could focus on Linda, Nora, or Torvald and maybe other characters. Specifically, I want you to focus on how enabling affects one of the themes we have discussed this semester.
2. There are a number of places we can place blame in these stories (Personal responsibility, gender roles/performance, enabling, etc(. Where do we place blame?  How does where we place blame affect any of the themes we have discussed this semester.
3. Social conformity and its relationship to enabling has been a focus of our discussions. Write a paper where you connect these things together, likely focusing on a specific character or two, and discuss how this affects one of the themes we have discussed this semester. A side issue you may want to deal with is the role of ignorance.
4. How is the relationship between money and success portrayed in these plays? How does this lead to the downfall of our characters? Make sure you focus on how it affects one of our themes from this semester as well.