Abandonment And Betrayal

Question 1

Abandonment

Answer 1

Willy constantly experiences abandonment
Willy’s father leaves him and ben from a young age, leaving no legacy -> key part in the American dream
Doomed from the start?
Willy develops a fear of abandonment, which makes him want his family to conform to the American dream
His efforts to use the perfect sons reflect his inability to understand reality

Question 2

“You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit”

Answer 2

Expressing his fear of being discarded after years of loyal service
Highlights the theme of societal abandonment and the dehumanising aspects of capitalism

Question 3

“I am not a dime a dozen, I’m willy loman and you’re biff loman”

Answer 3

Reflects willy’s need for validation and his fear of being forgotten

Question 4

“I know who i am kid”

Answer 4

Departure marks his rejection of willy’s delusions and his acceptance of reality

Question 5

Betrayal

Answer 5

When biff walks out on willy’s ambitions, willy takes this as a personal attack
Willy is a salesman and biff’s rejection reflects willy’s inability to sell him the American dream
Willy assumes biff’s betrayal stems from the discovery of Willy’s affair with ‘the woman’ - betrayal of Linda’s love and unwavering loyalty

Question 6

“You fake, phoney little fake”

Answer 6

Outburst is a pivotal moment of betrayal
Revelation shatter’s Biff’s idealised image of his father and leads to his disillusionment

Question 7

“I won’t have you mending stockings in his house, now throw them out”

Answer 7

Betrayal o Linda
Guilt
Outburst reflects his internal conflict and shame