AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5

Quotes TS:Heunlocksthedoor,comesintothe kitchen,andthankfullyletshisburdendown, feelingthesorenessofhispalms(p.12)

Notes Thissceneconjuresupanimagethatremindsme ofwhenmyparentscomehomefromwork.The stressofthedayandthedefinitestressof tomorrowissimilartoWillywhenhecomes home.Itsasifwhenhecomeshome,hecan unwindandlethisburdensfalltotheground, forgotten.Icanalsoapplythisquotetomyself whenIcomehomefromschool.Afteralongday ofhomeworkandclubs,Icanjustcomehome andthankfullyforgetaboutallmydailyburdens evenifitisjustforacoupleofhoursitisthe samewithmyparents.Butthereisalsothefact thatwhenWillyisfinallyhome,hefeelsthe weightofthedayonhisshoulders.

DI:Butyoudidntrestyourmind.Yourmindis Thispassageisgivingalittleinsightfortherestof overactive,andthemindiswhatcounts,dear thebook.LindaistellingWillytoresthismind (p.13) also.Willyishypedupandoverthinkingthings. Asthestoryprogresses,thereaderisthrowninto confusingflashbacksthatseemtobemadeupof Willysownhallucinations.Thisquoteisatheme becauseeventhoughyouarerestingyourbody, yourmindcanstillbeprettyactive.Ifyoudont restyourmindandletitkeepworking,your bodyisallthatsleft.Thisseemstobehappening toWillyfurtherintotheplayhismindisgonebut hisbodyisstillhere. TW:Butyouresixtyyearsold.Theycant expectyoutokeeptravellingeveryweek(p. 14). WhatLindaissayinginthispassageisauniversal issuethat,unfortunately,occurstomanypeople. LindaissayingthatWillyisgettingtoooldto keeptravellingandthatthecompanyisstartingto seetheyearsthathavebeenwearingWillydown. Manypeopleintodaysmodernsocietyare laidofforevenfiredforthesimplereasonthat theyaretoooldtoperformtheirduties.Ihave seenthishappeninmydailylifewhenmyfathers friendwasfiredforbeingtoooldtoservetables atarestaurant.Theplayemphasizesthispoint throughWillysageaccompaniedwiththefact thathisworkisdemandingintermsofhoursand

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 travelling. DI:BiffLomanislost.Inthegreatestcountryin Thisisarevealingmomentforthereaderwhen theworldayoungmanwithsuchpersonal theyrealizethatthisquotehasmeaninginthe attractiveness,getslost(p.16). sensethatitdoesntmatterwhoyouareorwhat youlooklikeanyonecantripandfallandendup lost.Thisquoteishighlightingkeyeventsthat mightoccurinthefuture.Biffhaslosthiswayand eventhoughheisahandsomeandfitman,even thegreatesthavetofallandlearnhowto overcometheirpersonaldemonstoriseuptothe topagain. TI:Thestreetislinedwithcars.Theresnota Thisquoteisrevealingthatthesettingisprobably breathoffreshairintheneighborhood.Thegrass aroundthebeginningoftheindustrialrevolution. dontgrowanymore,youcantraiseacarrotin Beforetherevolution,itistruethattherewasa thebackyard(p.17). lotofopenspaceandcountryoutsidean agriculturallydominantsociety.However,with newinventionsandadvances,allfarmingand agriculturalcustomssimmereddown.Thisquote revealsthewaythatWillyfeelsaboutthe changingindustry:hehatesit.Inaway,Willy signifiestheoldbusinessworldandthenew buildings,thestreetslinedwithcars,andother competingcompaniesaresymbolsand reminderstoWillytojusthowoldhiswaysare andhowoldheispersonallybecoming. TT/TS:Anditscrazy.Butthen,itswhatI alwayswanted.Myownapartment,acar,and plentyofwomen.Andstill,godammit,Im lonely(p.23). Inaway,thispassagebyHappyconnectstoJay GatsbyinTheGreatGatsby.Happyissaying thateventhoughhehaseverythinghehasever wantedhisownplace,acar,andwomenheis nothappyheslonely.BothHappyandGatsby aresimilarinthewaythatGatsbyhasallthis money,ahugehouse,andmanymoreluxuries buthecantenjoythemlikeHappy.Also,both JayandHappyarefromfamiliesthatdontreally makemuchmoneybutaretryingtorisetothe topofsocietyinthebusinessworld.However, theonlydifferencewouldbethatGatsbydidnt enjoyhisluxuriesbecausehewastryingtoplease andimpressotherswhileasHappycantseemto figureoutwhatisbotheringhim.Onanothernote, Happysnamecansymbolizethefalsehappiness

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 thatheisexperiencing. TT:See,Biff,everybodyaroundmeissofalse ThisquotebyHappyalsorevealsthesimilarities thatImconstantlyloweringmyideals...(p.24). withTheGreatGatsby.Happyfeelslikeallthe peoplearoundhimarefakesohehasto constantlylowerhisidealssohewontrevealor disappointthem.ThisissimilartoGatsby becauseeveryoneexceptNickisdeceitful,fullof lies,andcareless.Gatsbyconstantlyhastocheat orparticipateinillegalactivitiestomeetthe standardsofthesehighclasspeople simultaneouslyloweringhisidealsintheprocess. LD:ThatswhyIthankAlmightyGodyoure Theliterarydeviceusedinthepassagewouldbe bothbuiltlikeAdonises(p.33). imagery.Willycreatesanimageinthereaders mindofhissonsaslifelike,handsome,gods. Theimageryusedinthispassageisalsoquite ironic.BiffandHappy,althoughhandsomeand wellbuilt,arenothinglikeAdonises.Infact,they arefarfromit.Botharelazyandcantreally figureoutwhattheywanttodowiththeirlives eventhoughtheirprimeyearsarelonggone.The onlythingtheyhaveincommonwithAdonisis thattheyarehandsomeandwomenlovethem. QTA:Imlosingweight,younotice,Pop?(p. Afewtimesthroughoutthenovel,theconceptof 33). losingweightappears.Whatdoeslosingweight inthenovelsymbolize?Maybe,itcouldmean thatsinceWillyisalwayssayingthat attractivenessiskeytosurviveintheworld, losingweightmeansthattheboysarebecoming moreattractiveandthereforeimproving themselvesorprovingthattheycansurviveoutin theworld.But,whywouldMillerchoosetouse weightasthesymbol?Thiscanalsosymbolize howmuchHappyistryingtopleasehisfamily, especiallyWilly. TT:IwonthaveyoumendingstockingsinthisThispassagerelatestothemoralsofBraveNew house!Nowthrowthemout!(p.39). World.Inthebook,peoplewereconditionedto throwoutusedclothesandbringinthenew.In thispassage,WillygetsfuriouswithLindawhen shetriestomendrippedstockings.Itsalmost likeWillydespisestokeepoldthingsinthe househewouldratherthrowthemawayandbuy

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 newoneslikethecitizensofBraveNew World. DI:Neverfightfairwithastranger,boy.YoullThispassageissignificantbecauseitis nevergetoutofthejunglethatway(p.49). advocatingthatinthiscutthroatworld,the jungle,peoplehavetofightdirtytogetwhat theywant.Inotherwords,youhavetofightlike ananimalotherwiseyouwontsurvivewhatsout thereintherealworld.However,Idontthink thisisaverymorallysoundthemetogoby.This quoteisalsosayingthatyouhavetodowhatever youcancheat,lie,stealtomakeitoutalive andyoumightpossiblyenduphurtingotherson thewaytothetop. TI:Willy,hangingontohiswords:Oh,Ben, Thispassagerevealssomethinginterestingabout thatsgoodtohear!BecausesometimesIm Willyscharacter.Inthepreviouspagesofthe afraidthatImnotteachingthemtherightkindof play,Willyisportrayedasaharshandextremely Ben,howshouldIteachthem?(p.52). overconfidentman.However,whenhisbrother, Ben,comesintothepicture,Willyisallofthe suddenextremelysubmissiveandinsecure.Willy feelsthatBenhasachievedmorethanhehasand hefeelsinsecureandintimidatedbyit.Heeven asksBenhowheshouldteachhiskidstobe morelikeBen,nothim.Milleralsousesthestage directionstoemphasizejusthowWillyisinsecure aroundhisbrother. TI:GodAlmighty,Mom,howlonghashebeenThroughouttheplay,Willyhasbeenhavingvery doingthis?(p.53). vividflashbacksfromthepast.Thiswaskindof confusingatfirstbutwhenBiffcallshismomout onit,itaddsmoreclaritytotheplay.Willyis probablysoexhaustedandrundownthathe maybegettingsickorcrazy.However,this quotealsorevealshowBifffeelsabouthisfather. Hedidn'taskhismomifhisdadwasalright,the wayhesaiditmadeitsoundlikehewas embarrassedaboutit.Biffstruefeelingsandhis personalityarerevealed:heisjustlazyand ungratefultowardshisfather.Willyisprobably exhaustedandrundownbecausehesworking hardtogivehiskidsagoodlife,paythebills,and putfoodonthetable.However,Biffisseemingly oblivioustoallofWillyshardworkand

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 dedicationtohisfamily. DI:Asmallmancanbejustasexhaustedasa Millerpurposelyputthisquoteintheplayto greatman(p.56). emphasizewhatheoriginallyputinthisessay. Millersecretlywovethismessagetostatethat evenasmall,commonmanlikeWillyLomancan beasexhaustedandfalldownlikeagreatman suchasaking.Thisthemerelatestomanymore peopleinmodernsocietysincewereallyhaveno noblesorkings.Thispassageisalsohookedto othereventsinthestorythatmightoccurbecause itforeshadowsjusthowtiredandrundown Willyis.ItispredictingWillysgreatfallfroma highplace. TS:Themanwhoneverworkedadaybutfor Manyteensinthismodernage,includingme, yourbenefit?Whendoeshegetthemedalfor dontreallyappreciatewhattheirparentsdofor that?(p.57). them.Inaway,Biff,Happy,andIarevery similartoalltheotherkidsofthiscountry:we dontreallyappreciatethelengthsourparentsgo forourownwellbeing.WhatLindaissayingis true,ourparentsdontaskforanythinginreturn buttobeagoodperson.Ourparentsdontask foranysortofpaymentsorawardsforraisingus therightway. QTA:Shesaysthathewasntdrivingfastatall,WhyisMilleralreadyhintingathowWillymayor andthathedidntskid.Shesayshecametothat maynotdie?Currently,thewayheisspiraling littlebridge,andthendeliberatelysmashedinto downsuggestsheisgoingtocommitsuicideor therailing,anditwasonlytheshallownessofthe evenbekilledsometimesoon.IsMillerbuilding waterthatsavedhim(p.59). upthesuspenseabouthowWillymaydie?Also, whydidMillernamethebookDeathofa Salesman?ItmayhintatWillydyinginthefuture butthereadercannotbesure.Ithinktheauthor didittomaybethrowoffthereaderatfuture events. TI:BecausewedontbelonginthisnuthouseofThisquoteshowsjusthowmuchBiffandHappy acity!Weshouldbemixingcementonsome hatenotbeingabletobetheirownboss.Sofar openplain,ororcarpenters.Acarpenteris intheplay,theauthorhasproventhatthe allowedtowhistle!(p.61). Lomansarentcutoutforcitylife.Theyaremore freewilledandopentypeofpeople.And,most certainly,theydontliketakingordersfrom anyone.

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 TI:Imingreatshapeasfarasthats concerned(p.63). Losingweightorstayinginshapeisarecurring motifthroughouttheplayandMillerhasyetto clarifywhatthesymbolismis.However,losing weightcouldmeanthatmaybebothBiffand Happyarestilltryingtopleasetheirfatherorget hisattention.SinceBiffhasalwaysbeenthe centerofattentiongoodlooks,footballplayer, andpopularWillyhasfocusedallhisdreams andattentiononBiff.However,itseemsHappy isoverlookedandmaybetheweightsymbolism meansthatHappyistryingtogetWillys attention.

TI:Idontlikeyouyellingatherallthetime,and BiffdoesntlikethewayWillyspeaksortreats Imtellinyou,thatsall(p.65). Linda.Thisseemstobeaverysensitivesubject intheplaysinceitcausesWillytoblowafuse.It seemsthatthereissomehistoryhereabouthow WillytreatsLinda.Biffdefendshismothergreatly fromhisfatherandalsolikestoblamealotof thingsonhisfather.Although,thewayWillywas speakingtoLindalikenotlettingherspeakor interruptingherisunpleasant,Happydoesnt reallystandupforhismother.Thisquoteis revealingbecauseitshowsthatBiffisntreally afraidtostandupforhisfatherbutHappyis. Willywasseenasagodbyhissonsbutlately Biffhasbeenfightingnonstopwithhim. However,Happydoesntreallystanduptohis father.Actually,Happydefendshisfathermore thanhismotherbycomingupwithexcusesfor Willysbehavior.Thisisanindicatorthat somethingmusthavehappenedbetweenBiffand WillyotherthanWillykickinghimoutofthe house.And,Happyadmireshisfathertoomuch eventhoughWillydoesntpayanyattentionto him. LD:Likeayounggod.Herculessomething Thisliterarydeviceisimageryusedtodescribe likethat.Andthesun,thesunallaroundhim(p. BiffthroughWillyseyes.Notonlydoesthis 68). paintapictureinthereadersmindofjusthow physicallyattractiveBiffisbutitalsorevealsthe relationshipbetweenWillyandhissons.Here, WillydescribesBiffasayounggodlikeHercules withthegoldensunallaroundhimstrong,

AmandaCordero 11/21/13 Period5 beautiful,andinvincible.However,Willyonly referstoBiffasayoung,strongHercules.Willyis onlyconcentratedonBiffandHappyis overlookedbyhisownfather.Thisquotesignifies thatmaybeBiffisWillysfavoritesinceWilly concentratesallhishopesanddreamsontoone sonBiff.