DOAS Quotes

Question 1

“I’m always in a race with the junkyard!”

Answer 1

Willy, Act 2
- dialogue - on stage with Linda

• metaphor that symbolizes the brutality of a never ending work cycle, which “always” places Willy in a “race” with death

Question 2

“I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life had been”

Answer 2

Biff, Act 2
- dialogue - on stage with Happy

• directs his resentment towards Willy, as his blindness to the reality of the business world/ American Dream also blinded his sons
• Biff is developing his own conscience, breaking free from the delusion that surrounds the Logan family, stemmed from Willy’s beliefs and morals

Question 3

“I’m not interested in stories about the past… because the woods are burning boys”

Answer 3

Willy, Act 2
- dialogue - after confrontation by Biff

• suggests acceptance of his tragic fate of death as a result of his suffering from his lack of success
• symbolism of “the woods” that mirror the “jungle” - repeatedly symbolized as the ruthless business world that is “dark but full of diamonds”

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Willy, Act Two
- dialogue - on stage with Howard

• Howard symbolizes the new ruthless era of the sales business
• despair conveyed through Willy’s tone capitalizes on his naivety
• he remains blind to the deceit of the AD, in that it exploits businessmen and ultimately ‘disposes’ of them (shown through Willy’s death at the end of Act 2)

Question 5

“Before us is the Salesman’s house. We are aware of the towering, angular shapes behind it, surrounding it”

Answer 5

Stage direction, start of Act 1

• “towering, angular shapes” - capitalist society and AD ideologies that shroud Willy, blinding him and his ability to see reality clearly
• tragic villain of capitalism/AD that has a rewarding facade
• audience is introduced to Willy as “the Salesman” - he is defined by his position in the business would and lacks identity because of this

Question 6

“It’s so beautiful up there, Linda, the trees are so thick and the sun is warm”

Answer 6

Willy, dialogue, start of Act 1

• capitalist culture blinds people into wanting a capitalist lifestyle as it has a rewarding appearance
• “trees” links to the nature imagery of the “jungle” - Willy admires the capitalist lifestyle
• alternatively, Willy truly desires a rural lifestyle - “trees” “sun”

Question 7

“How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand?”

Answer 7

Willy, dialogue about Biff, on stage and in conversation with Linda, Act 1

• Willy’s tone of disbelief towards a farm life shows Willy’s tragic flaw of blindness, as he has been blinded/brainwashed to believe that a capitalist lifestyle of “keeping stock, or making phone calls, or buying or selling” is the only life worth living
• Willy contradicts himself, as he previously stated how “beautiful” the rural environment is - he’s been brainwashed
• Biff is the tragic victim who receives the blunt end of Willy delusions

Question 8

“It’s a measly manner of existence… to devote your whole life to keeping stock, or making phone calls, or selling or buying”

Answer 8

Biff, dialogue, Act 1

• showcases Biff’s dislike of capitalist lifestyle
• Biff acts as a dramatic foil to Willy, as he is not blinded/consumed by the AD/capitalism, so this emphasizes Willy’s idealization of it