Death of a Salesman Quotes Flashcards
‘A melody is heard, played upon a flute. It is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon.
The flute plays on. He hears but is not aware of it.’
- Stage Directions: Act 1
The flute music represents the single faint link Willy has with his father and with the natural world.
Willy’s father made flutes, and was able to make a good living by simply traveling around the country and selling them.
This anticipates Willy’s career as a salesman, but also his talent for building things with his hands, which might have been a more fulfilling job.
The flute music is the sound of the road Willy didn’t take
‘We are aware of towering, angular shapes behind it, surrounding it on all sides. Only the blue light of the sky falls upon the house and forestage; the surrounding
area shows an angry glow of orange.’
- Stage Directions: Act 1
It’s as if the family is a microcosm hidden in the tall buildings.
Home ownership is a central pillar of the American Dream. But Willy’s house has been overwhelmed by the city, just as Willy is himself overwhelmed by the pressures on him.
“They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England.”
- Willy Loman: Act 1
Willy’s self-definition is centered around his career.
He believes himself to be vital to the company, but in reality it’s the company that’s vital to him and his feelings of self worth.
There is no separation between Willy and The Salesman - he is his job and is nothing without it.
He is trying to establish his importance in the business and to prove himself though he is aware of the fact that his sales are on the constant decline.
“Willy: Biff is a lazy bum!
Linda: I don’t know. I think he’s still lost, Willy. I think he’s
very lost.
Willy: Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such — personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff — he’s not lazy.”
- Willy and Linda: Act 1
Willy contradicts himself about Biff, showing the deterioration of his mental state.
Willy’s reflections suggest complete faith in the notion that popularity and personal attractiveness bring success.
The fact that Biff’s life hasn’t amounted to much, despite him being so popular in high school, is hard for Willy to understand.
Linda is supporting Willy’s delusions by agreeing with whatever he says, and not pointing out his self contradictions.
“William, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty one I walked out, and by God I was rich.”
- Ben: Act 1
Ben proclaims how successful he was, but only because he went after the dreams he had, not those someone else had.
Willy thinks that he taught his boys about success and how they will be successful, but all he really has done is put blinders over them.
This is why Happy thinks that he will be a successful manager, while Biff finally opens his eyes to the fact that they are regular people
Willy looks up to Ben as a salesman and as a brother.
“Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.”
- Linda Loman: Act 1
Linda is blaming Willy’s mental state on Biff and Happy, even though she is the one who is complicit in it. She says he is a wonderful man and they should appreciate him.
This quote advances the character development of Linda and Biff through the novel; Linda never wants to accept that what Willy has done has been a failure, while Biff realizes that Willy has worked so long for something that he wouldn’t have wanted.
“A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man.”
- Linda Loman: Act 1
This quote links to Arthur Millers’ Tragedy and the Common Man.
Linda is trying to make Biff and Happy understand that all the work Willy has done was for their benefit. She is angry that his own sons for not being aware, or caring, about his struggles job and health wise.
“I won’t have you mending stockings in this house”
- Willy Loman: Act 1
Willy gives stockings to The Woman, who he had an affair with and repeatedly shouts at Linda for mending her stockings in front of him as they are a reminder of his affair and how he’s not providing for his family.
Biff’s anger at his father’s affair gets similarly channeled into the stockings, they are the reason for his anger.
“I bet he’d back you. ‘Cause he thought highly of you, Biff. I mean, they all do. You’re well liked, Biff. That’s why I say to come back here, and we both have the apartment. And I’m tellin’ you, Biff, any babe you want…”
- Happy Loman: Act 1
Happy is like a younger version of his father, he also believes that being well liked is a direct line to success. Also like his dad, Happy is a little loose with the ladies.
“I simply asked him if he was making any money. Is that a criticism?”
- Willy Loman: Act 1
Willy is asking Linda about Biff. Biff has not taken up any good career as yet, he is asking Linda if he has earned any salary.
Linda tells him that he should not be angry.
He is clarifying that he is asking if his son is earning enough and not criticizing.
These lines show that Willy is slowly losing his importance at home.
“I’ve always made a point of not wasting my life, and every time I come back here I know that all I’ve done is to waste my life.”
- Biff Loman: Act 1
Biff speaks this line when talking with Happy about his realization that tending farms have given him nothing.
He says that he has already decided not to waste his life in such petty jobs, but then he returns home, and it dawns upon that he has already wasted his life.
This line is significant, as it shows Biff’s self-realization about wasting his life and yet doing nothing.
“That’s why I thank Almighty God you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead.”
- Willy Loman: Act 1
His mind is filled with the notion that if people, especially his sons will succeed because they are handsome.
In Greek mythology, Adonis is a god of beauty and desire.
He wants to convey this idea to his sons that the business world only pays attention to the individuals looking attractive.
These lines show that the father has filled his sons to be confident about their physical appearances instead of intelligence and hard work.
“Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You’ll never get out of the jungle that way.”
- Ben Loman: Act 1
He means that success does not come in fair games. The world is compared to a jungle where success frames its own rules.
These lines are significant as they show a wrong example set by Willy about success.
“Sure, they’re only a hundred and a half. You can’t do without it.”
- Howard Wagner: Act 2
Howard is talking about his new record machine which he has been showing off to Willy. He tells Willy that they are ‘only a hundred and a half’ which is very tone deaf considering the nature of their conversation.
Willy obviously cannot afford that, and Howard then fires him which makes matters worse. It shows the class divide between Howard and Willy.
