DOAS Flashcards
symbolism throughout the tragedy:
tape recorder- Willy’s inability to rectify his past mistakes; diamonds- wealth/ $20k insurance money; ‘the Woman’- Willy’s guilt regarding his infidelity; flute music- past reminiscences/memories; stockings- consumerism/Willy’s guilt; seeds- Willy’s longing to leave a legacy; Ben- the false, unattainable myth of the American Dream
moment of peripeteia + key quote:
When Willy gets fired by Howard- “you can’t just eat the orange and throw away the peel; a man is not a piece of fruit!”
This dehumanising metaphor reflects the cruelty of the business world in post-war America, and the way workers were reified and exploited, utilised then heartlessly discarded
form and structure of the play:
the non-chronological order and the way it seamlessly drifts between past and present (time merges in the final restaurant scene, the climax of the tragic action) illustrates the mangled thoughts in Willy’s mind (key element of tragedy= chaos, disorder+turmoil)
Key theme: childhood + immaturity
Willy is referred to as child-like and immature, demonstrated in the stage direction by Miller (nasally, childishly), and recurring comments from other characters, such as, “when are you ever going to grow up?” & he is repeatedly called, “kid”
He is also treated in a maternal manner by Linda, as she tenderly cares for him in the opening of the play- stage directions: “taking off his jacket”
Both of Willy’s sons share similar behaviour, Biff recognises this when he states. “I’m like a boy,”
One of the reasons for their state of eternal malcontent could perhaps be their inability to achieve the societal attributes of ‘masculinity’
Key theme: competition + nepotism
Willy repeatedly speaks about being “well-liked,”- despite this, his funeral has few attendees, evoking pathos from the audience at the tragic ending of the play
Furthermore, Happy suggests: “maybe I just have an over-developed sense of competition or something”, and Willy exclaims, “the competition is maddening!” It was a common, multi-generational struggle of this post-war era
What is the significance of each character’s names?
Happy=ironic, Biff repeatedly asks, “are you content?”- he is not happy, despite having all of the societal attributes of happiness; Loman= ‘low man’, reflects his depression + “quietly dressed”- low status, subverts Aristotle’s requirements for a tragic hero to be noble/regal; Linda= precious, she is the crucial mediator of the household: “you’re my foundation and my support,”, she also acts as a source of wisdom for the family; Dave Singleman= ‘single man’- independent/self-sufficient, which is what Willy ultimately strives to be
Biff key quotes:
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to want,” “I’m like a boy,” “all I’ve done is to waste my life,” “it’s a measly manner of existence,” “he always, always wiped the floor with you. never had an ounce of respect for you.” “we don’t belong in this nuthouse of a city!” “I realised what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been. We’ve been talking in a dream for 15 years.” “will you let me out of it, will you just let me out of it!” “a fine, troubled prince” “ a hardworking, unappreciated prince” “you fake! you phony little fake! you fake!” “what is this supposed to do, make a hero out of you?” “pop, I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!” “will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?”
“he had the wrong dreams. all, all wrong.”
How is Charley a foil character to Willy?
He does not enforce expectations upon Bernard, and rather than aiming to be “well-liked,” he prioritises his son’s education, leading Bernard to success and wealth, which Willy has been trying to achieve in vain for his entire life/career; furthermore, Bernard is modest and humble, unlike Willy
Linda key quotes:
“the mind is what counts, dear” (she is taking off his shoes) (taking his jacket from him) “when does he get a medal for that?” “why shouldn’t he talk to himself? why?” “he’s not the finest character that ever lived. but he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him.” “he won’t be alright.” “his life is in your hands!” “why must everybody conquer the world?”
What is one of the key differences between Willy and Linda?
Willy is unable to let things go, whereas Linda states, “life is a casting off”
Willy relentlessly, perpetually pursues the myth of ‘the American Dream’
How did Miller refer to Linda’s character in ‘Michigan Quarterly Review’?
“a silent, behind-the-scenes controller”
What did Miller say tragedy is in ‘Tragedy and the Common Man’?
“tragedy is the consequence of a man’s total compulsion to evaluate himself justly” + “the inevitable events spiral from the wound of indignity”
What did Miller say tragedy requires in ‘Tragedy and the Common Man’?
“tragedy requires a balance between what is possible and what is impossible”
What did Miller say about how tragedy links to the pursuit of humanity in ‘Tragedy and the Common Man’?
“the tragic hero is intent upon claiming his whole due as a personality” + this “demonstrates the indestructible will of man to achieve his humanity”
What did Anna Bunten say in ‘Miller’s reaction to consumerism’ about how capitalism relates to masculinity?
“Willy equates his patriarchal status with products”
