Death Of A Salesman Flashcards
Identify Linda
Devoted, always positive , encouraging
What happened to Willy after he got a little above Yonkers?
He started going off the road and almost hits a kid
What is Linda’s reaction to Willy’s complaints about himself?
Linda comforted him because he was gonna kill himself
What reason does Willy give that he can’t work in New York?
Because everyone knows him in Boston (in reality sucks at selling)
In the first scene with Linda, Willy contradicted himself twice. About what did he contradict himself?
He says he’s the best salesman and takes it back , then he says he’s Biff is horrible but then takes it back
What seems to be the problem between Biff and Willy?
Biff and Willy are at odds with each other. Biff resents his father for some unknown reason and Willy expected Biff to grown up differently than he actually did.
Why doesn’t Happy go west with Biff?
Happy wants to stay where he is
What does Biff want from Bill Oliver ?
He wants a job from Oliver
Why did Biff stop working for Oliver?
Because Biff stole company property (he stole a fountain pen)
Happy says, “I don’t know what to do about him [Willy], it’s getting embarrassing.”
Happy can see his father deteriorating, but instead of doing anything about it, he says nothing until it is brought up in conversation. He doesn’t try to help him and what that tells me about his character is that he all he cares about is himself.
Who is Willy Loman?
Protaganist, father of Biff and Happy
Why does Willy talk so much about the car?
Willy likes to remember things in a better way than they actually were.
Where did Biff get the football? What does Willy say about that?
Biff is a kleptomaniac. He stole the football and Willy condones his actions. Willy never addresses Biff’s actions and doesn’t punish him.
What does Willy admit to Linda about his business? What is her reaction?
Willy tells Linda he was demoted and business is failing. He is not able to provide for his family and that hurts him.
Who is The Woman?
The Woman is the person Willy is having an affair with (his mistress).
What does Willy mean, “I’ll make it up to you, Linda, I’ll–”? What does Linda think he means?
Linda is mending her stockings and Willy recalls when he bought his mistress stockings and now his wife is mending her own, when he was so willing to buy things for his mistress. He means he’ll make up cheating on his wife and not honoring his vows.
What does Willy want young Bernard to do for Biff?
Willy wants young Bernard to help Biff pass his math regent’s exam by cheating. Willy wants Bernard to supply the answers to the regents, just like Bernard has done for all the other tests the boys have had.
What does Willy tell Happy about Ben when Happy asks how Ben “did it”?
Willy tells Happy about his brother thinking he was going to Alaska, but instead ending up in Africa and coming out of the jungle rich. Willy idolizes his brother, Ben, when in fact, Ben was an idiot who got lucky.
Who is Ben?
Ben is Willys brother
Who is Charley?
Charley is Willy and Ben’s deadbeat father. He left the family when Willy was three years old and Ben went off to find him in Alaska, but ended up in Africa.
Charley says, “To hell with it. When a deposit bottle is broken, you don’t get your nickel back.” What does he mean?
If you invested in something that is wrong, when it goes from bad to worse, you will not get your investment back.
Charley and Willy are playing cards. Why does Charley leave?
Charley leaves because he is annoyed with Willy. Willy sees Charley, but is simultaneously having a conversation with his memory of his brother Ben, Charley and playing a game of cards. Needless to say, he is having an extremely hard time staying focused.
