Happy Quotes - Acts One and Two + Requiem Flashcards
A quote from HAPPY at the beginning of Act One when Happy and Biff are talking, reflecting Happy’s blind following of his father’s Dream. It does not make him happy (ironic) but it follows it anyway, believing it to be what a person should want
“I don’t know what the hell I’m workin’ for. Sometimes I sit in my apartment - all alone. And I think of the rent I’m paying. And it’s crazy. But then, it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women. And still, goddammit, I’m lonely”
A quote from HAPPY at the beginning of Act One presenting his desire to take from those higher than him. Happy is desperate for success, and, even more so, desperately jealous of those more successful. He lacks any sensitivity whatsoever, sleeping with the fiance of his boss in order to feel powerful, and not from any source of real love
“The guy’s in line for the vice-presidency of the store. I don’t know what got into me, maybe I just have an over-developed sense of competition or something, but I went and ruined her […] I hate myself for it. Because I don’t want the girl, and, still, I take it and - I love it!
A quote from HAPPY in the restaurant scene of Act Two when Happy is speaking to a call girl. The quote reflects the idea that he represents all that is bad about his father, exacerbated. While Willy wishes to live a dream in order to make his life appear more bearable, Happy blatantly lies in order to get what he wants
“Biff is a quarterback with the New York Giants […] That’s my name. Hap. It’s really Harold, but at West Point, they call me Happy […] Biff is one of the greatest football players in the country”
A quote from HAPPY in the restaurant scene of Act Two in which he asks the girls to leave the restaurant with him as his father has a traumatic flashback to the Woman. One of the girls asks him if he wants to tell his father that they’re leaving. The quote reflects Happy’s complete lack of scruples or morality. He is formed of all of Willy’s faults, but heightened. He chooses sex over his own suffering father, chases personal happiness over that of others. In reality, Happy is the worst aspects of capitalist America
“No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy”
A quote from HAPPY in the Requiem suggesting his complete lack of understanding of the Dream’s failure of his father. Happy has watched Willy be destroyed in his relentless following of the American Dream. Will did dies in vain, and his life amounted ultimately to nothing. Happy fails to see this, however, demonstrating his character to be representative of the foolhardy, callous Dream-follower of capitalist America
“I’m gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain”
