Death of A Salesman

Question 1

Bernard is told he’s not too popular- that’s why he’ll fail

Answer 1

“He’s liked, but he’s not well liked”

Question 2

Lina is referred to by Willy in an undermining way- as a friend, not a partner

Answer 2

“Linda, you’re a pal, you know that?”

Question 3

Willy believes that he is unique

Answer 3

“I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman!”

Question 4

Willy talking about his Chevrolet car

Answer 4

“Chevrolet, Linda, is the greatest car ever built”

“That goddamn Chevrolet, they ought to prohibit the manufacture of that car!”

Question 5

Linda is finally free from Willy after his death

Answer 5

“We’re free…. We’re free….”

Question 6

Happy cheekily asks a woman if she’s a prostitute

Answer 6

“You don’t happen to sell, do you?”

Question 7

Willy’s view on Capitalist society

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Biff doesn’t want Linda to grow up without him

Answer 8

“I don’t want my pal looking old”

Question 9

Biff realise he’s truly not special, and Willy isn’t too

Answer 9

“Pop! I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!”

Question 10

Willy thinks life insurance will bring him success

Answer 10

“Can you imagine that magnificence with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket?”

Question 11

Setting [4]

Answer 11

“a solid vault of apartment houses”
“small, fragile seeming home”
“An air of the dream clings to the place”
“angry glow of orange”

Question 12

Disorder + Chaos [3]

Answer 12

• Willy’s breakdown –> strain on Biff & Willy’s relationship
• Willy harboured unrealistic expectations of Biff
• Willy’s myopic view of himself and his achievements

Question 13

Absent father

Answer 13

• Willy’s absent father left him “kind of temporary” - left age 2
• Flashbacks w/ Ben: “Please tell me about Dad”
• Willy is void of knowledge on taking care of sons
• Bad father figure –> overreliance on American Dream + distorted view of success

Question 14

Happy objectifies women

Answer 14

“Now weren’t they gorgeous creatures?”

Question 15

Linda realise she doesn’t have to look after her kids- they are grown up

Answer 15

“Pick up this stuff, I’m not your maid anymore”

Question 16

Willy talking about how much he earnt on his trips

Answer 16

“I did five hundred gross in Providence and seven hundred gross in Boston”

“roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip”

Question 17

Happy lies about Biff’s success

Answer 17

“Biff is one of the greatest football players in the country”

Question 18

Willy’s myopia [6]

Answer 18

• “This is the greatest day of his life!”
• “I did five hundred gross in Providence and seven hundred gross in Boston”
• [Wire Recorder] “I think I’ll get one myself”
• “he wants Biff very badly”
• “So don’t give me a lecture about facts and aspects. I am not interested”
• “I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman!”

Question 19

Linda is complimenting Willy and loves him for who he is

Answer 19

“Willy, darling you’re the most handsomest man in the world-“

Question 20

Willy hoping for Biff’s success

Answer 20

“When the mail comes he’ll be ahead of Bernard again!”

Question 21

Biff as a tragic figure [3]

Answer 21

“When all you really desire is to be outdoors with your shirt off”
“Raise cattle, use our muscles. Men built like we are should be working out in the open!”
“Screw the business world!”

Question 22

Aspects of tragedy (Arthur Miller) [3]

Answer 22

• “The common man is apt a subject of tragedy as kings were”
• “Points the heroic finger at the enemy of man’s freedom”
• [Willy] “has fought a battle he could not possibly have won”

Question 23

Biff finally realises his life was fake

Answer 23

“I realised what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been”

Question 24

Happy really wants somebody to control like Linda

Answer 24

“Somebody with character, with resistance! Like Mom, y’know?”