What is symbolism…?

Symbols

Seeds

 “I don’t have a thing in the ground!”  Willy laments after both his sons abandon him in Act 2 The sons he has cultivated with his own values have grown to disappoint him, none of his financial hopes have borne fruit, and he is desperate to have some tangible result of a lifetime of work.  By planting vegetable seeds, he is attempting to begin anew. But as Linda gently reminds him, the surrounding buildings don’t provide enough light for a garden.  Willy’s attempt to plant the vegetable seeds at night further reinforces the futility of his efforts.  “I don’t have a thing in the ground!”  Willy laments after both his sons abandon him in Act 2 The sons he has cultivated with his own values have grown to disappoint him, none of his financial hopes have borne fruit, and he is desperate to have some tangible result of a lifetime of work.  By planting vegetable seeds, he is attempting to begin anew. But as Linda gently reminds him, the surrounding buildings don’t provide enough light for a garden.  Willy’s attempt to plant the vegetable seeds at night further reinforces the futility of his efforts.

Rubber Pipe

 The rubber hose is a symbol of Willy’s impending suicide.  Linda finds it hidden behind the fuse box in the cellar, and the “new little nipple” she finds on the gas pipe of the water heater leads her to the conclusion that Willy had planned to inhale gas.  Like Willy’s other attempted method of suicide—driving off the road in the car he uses to travel to work—the rubber hose points how the conveniences such as the car and water heater that Willy works so hard to buy to afford might, under their surface, be killing him.  The rubber hose is a symbol of Willy’s impending suicide.  Linda finds it hidden behind the fuse box in the cellar, and the “new little nipple” she finds on the gas pipe of the water heater leads her to the conclusion that Willy had planned to inhale gas.  Like Willy’s other attempted method of suicide—driving off the road in the car he uses to travel to work—the rubber hose points how the conveniences such as the car and water heater that Willy works so hard to buy to afford might, under their surface, be killing him.

Stockings

 During his affair with The Woman, Willy gives her the intimate gift of stockings.  Biff’s outburst at discovering Willy with The Woman—“You gave her Mama’s stockings!”—fixes the stockings in Willy’s mind as a symbol of his betrayal.  He has let his wife down emotionally, and he is siphoning the family’s already strained financial resources toward his ego-stroking affair.  During his affair with The Woman, Willy gives her the intimate gift of stockings.  Biff’s outburst at discovering Willy with The Woman—“You gave her Mama’s stockings!”—fixes the stockings in Willy’s mind as a symbol of his betrayal.  He has let his wife down emotionally, and he is siphoning the family’s already strained financial resources toward his ego-stroking affair.

Flute

 The flute music that drifts through the play represents the single faint link Willy has with his father and with the natural world.  The elder Loman made flutes, and was apparently able to make a good living by simply traveling around the country and selling them.  This anticipates Willy’s career as a salesman, but also his underused talent for building things with his hands, which might have been a more fulfilling job.  The flute music is the sound of the road Willy didn’t take.  The flute music that drifts through the play represents the single faint link Willy has with his father and with the natural world.  The elder Loman made flutes, and was apparently able to make a good living by simply traveling around the country and selling them.  This anticipates Willy’s career as a salesman, but also his underused talent for building things with his hands, which might have been a more fulfilling job.  The flute music is the sound of the road Willy didn’t take.

Car

 Driving himself to death.  We learn from Linda that Willy has staged several previous car accidents. These "accidents" were perhaps early attempts to commit suicide, but they were definitely attempts to draw attention to his condition.  The car represents power, movement forward, acceleration and mobility - all of which are symbols in Willy's life of hopelessness, decay, and despair.  It should therefore come as no surprise that Willy considers this vehicle as an instrument with which to kill himself.  Driving himself to death.  We learn from Linda that Willy has staged several previous car accidents. These "accidents" were perhaps early attempts to commit suicide, but they were definitely attempts to draw attention to his condition.  The car represents power, movement forward, acceleration and mobility - all of which are symbols in Willy's life of hopelessness, decay, and despair.  It should therefore come as no surprise that Willy considers this vehicle as an instrument with which to kill himself.

Fountain Pen

 Symbolic of Biff's inadequacies.  Absurdity of theft, the demeaning quality of taking from someone something which you do not need.  Biff has lived a life based on Willy's values, but when he discovers that these values are not good for him, he abandons them in search of his own.  The pen can therefore also be seen as the symbol of someone else's values, of someone else's possessions. Biff discards it in favor of integrity and belief in himself.  He wishes to get rid of his life-long habit of taking from others (such as the football back in high school). He has spent time in prison, and this symbolically represents how he has spent much of his life imprisoned by his father's mentality.  Symbolic of Biff's inadequacies.  Absurdity of theft, the demeaning quality of taking from someone something which you do not need.  Biff has lived a life based on Willy's values, but when he discovers that these values are not good for him, he abandons them in search of his own.  The pen can therefore also be seen as the symbol of someone else's values, of someone else's possessions. Biff discards it in favor of integrity and belief in himself.  He wishes to get rid of his life-long habit of taking from others (such as the football back in high school). He has spent time in prison, and this symbolically represents how he has spent much of his life imprisoned by his father's mentality.

TITLE of the PLAY  Willy uses the phrase “ death of a salesman ” when he refers to Dave Singleman, the superior salesman who achieves the kind of respect that has always eluded Willy.  Dave died on a business trip, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of buyers and fellow salesmen from several states. Willy hoped for a similar fate. When we contrast Willy ’ s death and funeral with Dave ’ s, we realize how completely Willy failed at achieving his dreams. Willy ’ s funeral is attended only by his immediate family, Charley, and Bernard.  Willy uses the phrase “ death of a salesman ” when he refers to Dave Singleman, the superior salesman who achieves the kind of respect that has always eluded Willy.  Dave died on a business trip, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of buyers and fellow salesmen from several states. Willy hoped for a similar fate. When we contrast Willy ’ s death and funeral with Dave ’ s, we realize how completely Willy failed at achieving his dreams. Willy ’ s funeral is attended only by his immediate family, Charley, and Bernard.

What genre of play is this…?

Tragedy Characteristics: - Downfall of a noble hero or heroine, through fate, and the will of the gods. - The tragic hero's powerful wish to achieve some goal encounters limits, usually human frailty (flaws in reason, society), the gods (through oracles, prophets, fate), or nature. - Aristotle says that the tragic hero should have a flaw and/or make some mistake. Characteristics: - Downfall of a noble hero or heroine, through fate, and the will of the gods. - The tragic hero's powerful wish to achieve some goal encounters limits, usually human frailty (flaws in reason, society), the gods (through oracles, prophets, fate), or nature. - Aristotle says that the tragic hero should have a flaw and/or make some mistake.

Tragedy Continued… - The hero need not die at the end, but he / she must undergo a change in fortune. - - The tragic hero may achieve some revelation or recognition about human fate, destiny, and the will of the gods. - The hero need not die at the end, but he / she must undergo a change in fortune. - - The tragic hero may achieve some revelation or recognition about human fate, destiny, and the will of the gods.

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." ~Aristotle Six Characteristics of the Tragic Hero:  Nobility or wisdom (by birth)  A flaw or error of judgment (Hamartia)  A reversal of fortune (perepetia)  The discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero's own actions (anagnorisis)  The audience must feel dramatic irony for the character.  The character's fate must be greater than deserved. "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." ~Aristotle Six Characteristics of the Tragic Hero:  Nobility or wisdom (by birth)  A flaw or error of judgment (Hamartia)  A reversal of fortune (perepetia)  The discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero's own actions (anagnorisis)  The audience must feel dramatic irony for the character.  The character's fate must be greater than deserved.

A few key traits of the T.H.  Usually evokes empathy…  Has a weakness, usually pride  Something has gone awry in his/her life  Usually faced with a very serious decision he must make  Noble in nature  Must understand his mistakes…  Likely doomed from the start…  Begins his “journey” as no better or worse than the rest of us…  Usually evokes empathy…  Has a weakness, usually pride  Something has gone awry in his/her life  Usually faced with a very serious decision he must make  Noble in nature  Must understand his mistakes…  Likely doomed from the start…  Begins his “journey” as no better or worse than the rest of us…

The Common Man as Hero Miller’s thoughts:  “Everyone knows Willy Loman.”  The common man is suitable for a tragic hero.  Willy is meant to be seen as greater and better (at least in potential) than his society. Miller’s thoughts:  “Everyone knows Willy Loman.”  The common man is suitable for a tragic hero.  Willy is meant to be seen as greater and better (at least in potential) than his society.

Miller’s Modern Tragedy  The hero is a common man.  The hero struggles against society.  The hero meets his downfall.  The downfall is a result of an incongruity between his own perception of the world and reality.  The hero achieves a kind of redemption in his downfall.  The hero is a common man.  The hero struggles against society.  The hero meets his downfall.  The downfall is a result of an incongruity between his own perception of the world and reality.  The hero achieves a kind of redemption in his downfall.

Major Characters  Willy Loman  Biff Loman  Linda Loman  Happy Loman  Charley  Bernard  Ben  Willy Loman  Biff Loman  Linda Loman  Happy Loman  Charley  Bernard  Ben  The Woman  Howard Wagner  Stanley  Jenny  Miss Forsythe and Letta  The Woman  Howard Wagner  Stanley  Jenny  Miss Forsythe and Letta

Willy Loman  Father, traveling salesman  Believes in chasing the American Dream although he never achieves it  Pins his failed hopes on his sons, Biff and Happy  Becomes mentally ill when pressure of reality crushes his illusions  Father, traveling salesman  Believes in chasing the American Dream although he never achieves it  Pins his failed hopes on his sons, Biff and Happy  Becomes mentally ill when pressure of reality crushes his illusions

Biff Loman  Elder son, 34 years old  High school standout-football star, many male friends, and female admirers  Academic failures lead to a life of kleptomania  Represents Willy’s vulnerable, tragic side  Fails to reconcile his father’s expectations  Elder son, 34 years old  High school standout-football star, many male friends, and female admirers  Academic failures lead to a life of kleptomania  Represents Willy’s vulnerable, tragic side  Fails to reconcile his father’s expectations

Linda Loman  Loving, devoted wife  Naïve and realistic of Willy’s hopes  Emotionally supportive of Willy  Willy’s strength until his tragic perishing  Loving, devoted wife  Naïve and realistic of Willy’s hopes  Emotionally supportive of Willy  Willy’s strength until his tragic perishing

Happy Loman  Younger son, 32 years old  In Biff’s shadow all his life  Relentless sex and professional drive  Represents Willy’s sense of self importance and ambition  Often engages in bad business ethics  Younger son, 32 years old  In Biff’s shadow all his life  Relentless sex and professional drive  Represents Willy’s sense of self importance and ambition  Often engages in bad business ethics

Charley  The Lomans’ next door neighbor  Successful businessman  Often gives Willy financial support  Described sadly as Willy’s only friend although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success  The Lomans’ next door neighbor  Successful businessman  Often gives Willy financial support  Described sadly as Willy’s only friend although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success

Bernard  Charley’s son  Successful lawyer  Often mocked by Willy for being studious  Compared to Loman sons by Willy; they do not measure up to his success  Charley’s son  Successful lawyer  Often mocked by Willy for being studious  Compared to Loman sons by Willy; they do not measure up to his success

Ben  Willy’s deceased older brother  Independently wealthy  Appears to Willy in daydreams  Willy’s symbol of success that he desperately wants for his sons  Willy’s deceased older brother  Independently wealthy  Appears to Willy in daydreams  Willy’s symbol of success that he desperately wants for his sons

The Woman  Willy’s mistress  Her admiration for Willy is an ego boost  Biff catches Willy with her in a hotel room  Biff loses faith in his father due to infidelity  Willy’s mistress  Her admiration for Willy is an ego boost  Biff catches Willy with her in a hotel room  Biff loses faith in his father due to infidelity