Miller quotes

Question 1

“in an attempt to justify his life Willy Loman has destroyed the boundaries between now and then”

Answer 1

• Miller refers to the scenes as past tense scenes rather than flashbacks
• This is because Willy can no longer distinguish between what is happening in the present moment and when he is recalling his past
• Represents the fact that Willy cannot distinguish between the realities of the American dream and his life and what it is set out to be

Question 1

“no flashbacks, only a mobile currency of past and present”

Answer 1

• Miller refers to the scenes in the past as all happening simultaneously to represent the inner turmoil in Willy’s mind

Question 2

“tragedy of a common man”

Answer 2

• The audience are meant to sympathise with Willy
• He is a tragic hero and the protagonist and his life story is tragic as he has been fooled into the falsehood of the American Dream
• If the audience feel anger for Willy they have misinterpreted the point of the play

Question 3

“story of a common man’s last day alive”

Answer 3

• all set over one day

Question 4

“sustain itself the way we deal with crises, which is to not deal with them”

Answer 4

• Miller talks about Willy’s ability to deal with crises such as being fired and not earning enough money to pay off his house
• Willy is unable to deal with these and so deflects, for example saying to Charley “what’s the matter with you? I have a job” when we know he has just been fired
• It is a common occurrence in everyday life and in the end Willy struggles so much he decided to end his life