1. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

2. The stereotypical salesman:
Aggressive
unctuous (slick)
sly
not always honest
phony

3. Salesmen: How have they changed?
1940s-1950s
traveled
door-to-door
large numbers
Today
rarely door-to-door
telemarketing computers
not as much traveling
Three points for each

7. Willy Loman Famous American character
actors want to play him; challenge
obsessive desire to succeed
being liked/loved=success
Four points

8. Willy’s family Sons: Biff and Happy wife: Linda= unconditional love
brother: Ben= material success

9. Structure: “Inside his head”
Present day: 1945
Willy in 60’s
having troubles
Biff & Happy in 30’s
Ben is dead
Flashbacks: 1928
Biff & Happy in HS
Biff = football star
Ben stops by for a visit

10. Setting and sound House: open= realism “opening up roof & looking in”
lighting & sound/ costumes used to indicate flashback
flute music in background

11. Writing: How do you define success? How does society define success?
What do you need to do in order to have success? What are the obstacles to personal success and how can people overcome them?
Who are the people that you view as successful?

12. Success! How do you define success?
How does Willy Loman define success?
How does Biff Loman define success?
How does Happy Loman define success?

13. Symbolism: Willy Loman’s back yard
1945
1928

14. Symbolism Apartment houses surround Loman house Block sunlight
Replace elm trees

15. Symbolism
1928
1945

16. Symbolism Stockings -expensive
-Linda tries to repair the holes in her stockings
-mistress gets new stockings
Symbolize illusion vs. reality

17. Act II opens in 1945 Willy and Linda discuss finances:
Why is this scene repeated?

18. Willy: Mr. Fix-it Puts up a ceiling Builds front porch
Installs plumbing
Gardens
“Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter . . .”
“A man who can’t handle tools is not a man . . .”

19. Symbolism: ACT II: Why is the tape recorder in the scene?
--Willy does not know what it is
--he cannot afford it
--does not know how to operate it
--Howard ignores Willy to give attention to his new “hobby”
The tape recorder symbolizes Willy’s inability to adapt to the new technology in the business world

20. Dave Singleman Willy’s inspiration Success until age 84
Willy says DS was “loved.”
Died the “death of a salesman”
On the train, on business
Large funeral

21. ACT II: Howard Willy’s boss/ same age as Biff
Howard treats Willy same way Willy treats Linda
He calls Willy “Kid”
Howard is boss b/c of his father
Willy still focused on “he put his hand on my shoulder . .”

22. ACT II: Ben Jungle= difficulty (business world) Diamond= Reward
success

23. Symbolism: ACT II:
Nothing will grow; sunlight blocked: Willy can’t succeed
Willy wants to plant seeds: “I’ve got nothing in the ground . . .”

24. Symbolism: Act II: fountain pen
-Bill Oliver’s
-Biff steals it
-Realizes he doesn’t want it
Pen = business world
Biff realizes he does not want to be in business
Biff: “What am I grabbing this for?”

25. “Be liked . . .” Himself Biff Ben Charley Bernard Howard
Willy: you must be well-liked/attractive to have success. Who proves Willy’s theory wrong?
Himself
Biff
Ben
Charley
Bernard
Howard

26. Discussion questions
1. Compare Willy’s relationship with Linda to his relationship with Charley 2. Compare and contrast Biff to Willy 3. Compare and contrast Happy to Willy 4. Discuss the portrayal of women in the play: Linda, woman in Boston, Ms. Forsythe, Letta

27. Discussion questions: Compare Willy’s relationship with Linda to his relationship with Charley
Charlie understands:
“Nobody dast blame this man . . .”
Linda: “I can’t understand . .. He only needed a little salary”
Charlie: “no man needs only a little salary”
Linda blames others:
“Biff, his life is in your hands . . .”
“don’t you care . . .”
He treats both badly:
“big ignoramus”
“don’t interrupt . . .”
Both are kind to him
Linda takes care
Charlie offers job
Both enable him
Linda doesn’t ?
Charlie gives $

28. Compare and contrast Biff to Willy
Both work with hands
“he was a happy man with a bunch of cement”
“To suffer 50 weeks of the year for a two week vacation. . .when all you really desire is to be outdoors with your shirt off.”
Both enjoy attention
Both seek approval
Both dishonest
Willy doesn’t change
Biff has self-awareness
“I realized something about myself”
Biff defends Linda; wants to “settle down”
Biff challenges both Linda and Happy
“we never told the truth in this house”

29. Compare and contrast Happy to Willy
Both contradict
“big “nobody knows me”
“getting married .. .can never marry”
Both exaggerate
Jobs, women. . .
Both focus on physical
“losing weight”
“foolish to look at”
Both act superior to women
Neither will give up dream
Both are the unappreciated younger brother
Willy works hard; Happy is lazy
10-12 hours day
Cover yourself
Happy more independent
Happy feels entitled; Willy has put time in

30. Women: victims or in control?
“pig”
“gorgeous creatures”
“ruined her Can’t get rid of her . . .
Women as prizes
Women used for sex
Linda = “foundation”
Woman in Boston= controls business
Bernard, Howard, Ben: wives
Happy: “can’t get married”

31. Discussion question II
DISCUSS WILLY LOMAN AS A PARENT IN BOTH THE PRESENT TIME AND IN THE FLASHBACKS TO WHAT ARE HIS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES? BE SPECIFIC
WHAT STATEMENT IS ARTHUR MILLER TRYING TO MAKE ABOUT THE BUSINESS WORLD AND AMERICAN SOCIETY? WHOSE FAULT IS WILLY’S TRAGEDY—HIS OWN OR SOCIETY
When asked what item Willy sells, Arthur Miller has said, “Willy sells himself.” Explain what Arthur Miller means. How does Willy sell himself to further his career? How does he sell himself to Linda? To Ben? To Howard?

32. ? How does he sell himself:
To Linda?
To Ben?
“we hunt too . . .”
Shows off sons
Shows off building skills
Sales totals
“ I would have broke records . . .”
“salary” from Charlie
“I cracked him . . .”
To Howard?
“I’m going to get one myself. . .”
Named him Howard
Howard’s father
“I had a big year!”

33. WILLY LOMAN AS A PARENT Good intentions Attentive; interested
Works to provide
Controlling
Overly involved
Sees no fault
stubborn

34. Defining statements Willy Linda “Big shot”
“I am not a dime a dozen . . .”
“He put his hand on my shoulder . . .”
“nothing’s planted . . .I haven’t got a thing in the ground . ..”
“a man who can’t handle tools . . .”
“You’re the only friend I got . . .”
Linda
“attention must be paid!”
“How can I insult him. . .”
“Why did you have to start that?”
“You’ve turned your backs . . .”
I can’t understand . . .

35. Defining statements Biff Happy “I’m like a boy”
“I borrowed it from the locker room”
“You gave her Mama’s stockings”
“We never told the truth in this house”
“What am I grabbing this for?”
Happy
“I’m losing weight/ getting married”
“I get that any time I want”
“I can outlift, outbox .
“I’m gonna beat this..
“It’s the only dream you can have . . .
Five on each side

36. Heroes? Willy Loman/John Proctor
Individual vs. society
Both don’t fit
Both make mistakes
Both sacrifice life
Willy’s choice?
Willy—wrong fit
Proctor has more regret
Willy’s suicide: motive?

37. WILLY’S TRAGEDY? HIS OWN FAULT SOCIETY’S FAULT Won’t listen
Won’t adapt
Dishonesty
Jealousy
Distorted image
Narrow definition of success
Poorly treated workers
Pressure to be #1
Looks/popularity
Looks down on labor
Undeserved success
No reward for hard work
Leaves people behind