Death of a Salesman Flashcards
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Disgrace…he’s a lazy bum, goddammit! ..Biff is a lazy bum!”
Willy:
This shows Willy’s disappointment in his son Biff, just because he isn’t living up to his fathers standards.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“The street is lined with cars…you can’t raise a carrot in the backyard”
Willy:
He wants freedom, this foreshadows the end of the play. AO3: consumerism and industrialisation.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Will you stop mending stockings?”
Willy:
Reminds him of the woman he cheated on Linda with.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy”
Willy:
He imagines this is said by Ben, his brother, as he is having a delusion. Taunting him with the luxury of freedom.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Why does Dad mock me all the time? …twist of mockery”
Biff:
Willy is responsible for his sons downfall as he is horrible to them.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Because Charley is not - liked. He’s liked, but not - well liked”
Willy:
His ideology between success and popularity and how they are connected.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“I have friends”
Willy:
AO4: links with Great Gatsby and how popularity shows success - it is important to Willy.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Don’t blame everything on me! I didn’t flunk math”
Willy:
He won’t accept responsibility for anything, he is confusing reality with delusion.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“You vengeful, spiteful mut!”
Willy:
He is verbally and also physically abusive towards his kids, more so Biff than Happy.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“They seem to laugh at me…I’m not noticed”
Willy:
People laugh at him and he isn’t seen, not popular therefore not successful so he thinks he is a failure.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“I slept like a dead one”
Willy:
Foreshadowing and dramatic irony.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“When he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral”
Willy:
The man he is talking about is popular and thus successful, he had a good life - something Willy aspires to have.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“I’ve got to get some seeds”
Willy:
He needs to leave something for his family as he knows he is gonna kill himself.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Oh that’s the spirit, Willy!”
Linda:
She glimpses her husbands previous self which brings her joy and happiness as he is not delusional right now; creates pathos as this moment won’t last.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the world-“
Linda:
She adores her husband and wants to flatter him, after she says this another woman is heard laughing, signifying how easily men are pleased.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“I sewed the lining”
Linda:
She is being too good of a wife to Willy as he doesn’t even acknowledge the fact she’s fixed it. Shows inequality of men and women during the 1940s (AO3).
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Don’t you care whether he lives or dies?”
Linda:
Dramatic irony - she gets violent when things involve Willy and his delusions and she knows what he is like and what will effect him.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Pick up this stuff. I’m not your maid any more”
Linda:
Anagnorisis - she realises that she does too much for them and that they don’t deserve it.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Cause she’s suffered, Ben, the woman has suffered”
Willy:
Anagnorisis - he is aware of how much he has put his wife through.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Oh that’s wonderful, Biff, you’ll save his life”
Linda:
Dramatic irony/foreshadowing - as one of the things that push Willy over the edge is Biff not getting the job.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“You’re well liked, and the boys love you”
Linda:
Myopia - he isn’t well liked and he is constantly at war with his son Biff.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Strudel’s coming”
Happy:
He refers to women like they are pastries, showing how they’re a one time luxury. He has no respect, highlighting the inequality between men and women (AO3).
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy”
Happy:
Disrespectful, implies he is embarrassed of his father so he disregards him to impress the girls.
Who says this and what tragic conventions are shown:
“Now weren’t they gorgeous creatures?”
Happy:
Shows how he is sexist due to describing them as “creatures”.
