AO1- Key quotations

Question 1

“It is small and fine”
(stage directions)

Answer 1

-First line of the play, audience is already exposed to the fragility of Willy
-Link to Isabella as she is described as vulnerable and weak

Question 2

“Fragile seeming home”
(stage directions)

Answer 2

-Mirrors the conflicts happening within the Loman family
-Foreshadows Willy’s affair with The Woman
-Link to Isabella through the disruption between the relationship with her brothers

Question 3

“Present barely visible”
(stage directions)

Answer 3

-Already showing how the boys are insignificant
-Link to how brothers think Lorenzo is insignificant because of his low status

Question 4

“Calls with some trepidation”
(stage directions)

Answer 4

-Portrays Linda’s state of mind
-She feels constant anxiety around Willy
-Link to Isabella through her and Lorenzo having to sneak around due to the fear of being caught

Question 5

“I’m tired to the death”
(Willy)

Answer 5

-Foreshadowing death from beginning of play
-Heightens tragedy

Question 6

“Maybe it was the steering again”
“Maybe it’s your glasses”
(Linda)

Answer 6

-Throughout play, Linda is constantly pacifying Willy as if he is another one of her sons rather than her husband
-Blindness of Willy= not only physical but the also mental blindness of his family in general

Question 7

“I’m the New England man”
(Willy)

Answer 7

-Willy’s whole sense of identity is his job
-Delusional

Question 8

“Biff Loman is lost”
(Willy)

Answer 8

-Biff represents a younger Willy so by saying Biff is lost, he’s saying his own self is lost

Question 9

“It’s a measly manner of existence”
(Biff)

Answer 9

-Alliteration shows how Biff doesn’t conform to the American Dream
-Going against societal expectations- seen in Isabella with her relationship with Lorenzo

Question 10

“Why, you’re making money aren’t you?”
(Biff)

Answer 10

-Materialism
-Everything is about wealth and possessions rather than love
-Contrast to Isabella as everything is about love

Question 11

“I can’t get rid of her”
“I don’t want the girl”
(Happy)

Answer 11

-Willy’s sexist gender attitudes of how women are portrayed is becoming apparent through his sons

Question 12

“I’m losing weight, you notice, Pop”
“I’m takin’ one play Pop. You watch me Pop”
(Happy)

Answer 12

-Is he actually losing weight or is he just saying this to get the attention he longs for from his father

Question 13

“He’s liked, but he’s not - well liked”
(Willy)

Answer 13

-Success to Willy is all about how well liked you are

Question 14

“Chevrolet”
(Willy)

Answer 14

-Brand names
-Realism

Question 15

“You’re my foundation and my support, Linda”
(Willy)

Answer 15

-Willy relying heavily on Linda
-Betrayal when Willy has an affair
-Link to Isabella and betrayal of her brothers

Question 16

“Something’s happened to him. He talks to himself”
(Happy)

Answer 16

-Fear about Willy’s breakdown
-Link to Isabella when brothers notice her attachment to pot of basil

Question 17

“Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it’s broken”
(Willy)

Answer 17

-Symbolic of issues with ownership in capitalist society, everything is forever breaking
-Not only possessions but people also living within capitalist society

Question 18

“May you rot in hell if you leave this house!”
(Willy)

Answer 18

-Loman household fully broken down now
-Foreshadowed since opening stage directions of play

Question 19

“Will you stop mending stockings”
(Willy)

Answer 19

-Motif
-Symbolise the money they don’t have but Willy can spend it on The Woman because she satisfies him- heightens tragedy
-Guilt

Question 20

“It’s changing Willy. I can feel it!”
(Linda)

Answer 20

Linda constantly feeding Willy’s false sense of security

Question 21

“The grass don’t grow anymore, you can’t raise a carrot in the backyard”
(Willy)

Answer 21

-Motif of trying to grow a garden
-Tried to plant seeds of the expectations of the American Dream into his sons heads but has failed
-The impossible successes of the American Dream have caught up to Willy and ultimately cause his downfall

Question 22

“Only the music of the flute is left on the darkening stage”
(Stage directions)

Answer 22

-Motif of light
-Light gets darker and darker the more Willy’s mental state decreases
-Ending with the darkest ‘darkening’
-Motif of music- started and ending- represents Willy
-Link to Isabella- light gets darker in Death of a Salesman, basil grows more in Isabella or The Pot of Basil