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Published byJulianna Oliver Modified over 8 years ago
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Themes & Symbols
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“lostness” Literal (willy and the car) Figurative (biff) Father-son conflict Love-hate Embarrassed of Willy Changed living conditions Rural (grass, flowers, vegetables, trees) City (apartments, no light, no growth, unpleasant smells)
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Changed business conditions Used to be appreciated Lament for the past Nostalgia Past = pleasant Present =darkness & suffocation, weariness, bitter quarrels, useless hope
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Country v. city Farm in the spring Working in a store Biff working as carpenter on the open prairie
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Importance of being well-liked Football theft Charley & business Popularity = success Importance of family ties Affection Vacation Hard struggle of the average family Bills Long hours – little pay
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Questionable morality Affair lumber Family solidarity What happened to Willy’s family? Success though daring adventure Ben
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Hard struggle of the average family Optimistic about paying off house Importance of being well-liked Charley refutes this Willy believes many people will attend his funeral
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Questionable morality Happy’s constant lying Biff steals the pen Willy’s affair Willy’s suicide Biff’s jail term
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Father-Son conflict Boston Willy hasn’t done anything directly to Biff Biff first believed Willy could fix everything Now he’s a “fake and a fraud” Fight in the garden, each blames the other
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Hammock Country Gift Family project Punching bag Gift Physical fitness Football Sports Moral values
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Sneakers UVa Represent Biff’s dreams of a good future Athletic scholarship Destroyed eventually Hope of a bright future Death of the dream
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The wash Home & chores v. woman in hotel room Stockings Gift to impress Linda mends her old ones Guilt Makes Willy feel like a big shot Guilt To Biff – an insult to Linda
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Diamonds Wealth obtained by vision & determination Quick, fabulous fortune Dazzling sum of $ Insurance money = diamonds to Willy
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Stoop (porch) Manual labor skills Interest in home Watch Hurrying off Quick decision when opportunity presents itself
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Car How Willy earns $ Suicide device
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Rubber Tube Self destruction Linda’s respect Willy’s weakness Seeds Hope Things that grow His “children” Raise something to grow and flourish Pathetic attempt at a new start, a future
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Tape recorder Value in the mechanical Humans less important Tennis racket Success & fortune
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Bourbon Pleasant friendly relationship between Charley and Bernard Champagne Sophistication and success
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Fountain Pen Executive status Roses Rejection of sons Rubber tube Proves to Biff that Willy is a fraud
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The jungle Struggle in life The house 35 years of hard work together
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