Willy Loman

Question 1

What is the significance of the “fragile seeming home”?

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Answer 1

The house arguably is a representation of Willy Loman, and thus through the descriptive portrayal of the house as being of a vulnerable, unstable construction; Miller in conjunction with this explores Willy as a vulnerable, unstable construct. Whats more, the character of Willy is cohesively depicted as being of a feeble appearance, in consequence indicating that physically Willys body has deteriorated in parallel to the question of his mental lucidity. indeed the fact that from the outset the “fragile” state of Willy has already been suggested causes reason to argue that the tragic aspect of inevitability has already been employed by Miller as we are already aware of the instability of his construct.

Question 2

“carrying two large _______ _____”- stage directions about Willy Act 1

Answer 2

sample cases

Question 3

What can be inferred from Willy

“carrying two large sample cases” Act 1 ?

Answer 3

this could represent the metaphorical baggage of his career as a Salesman weighing him down. As his job as a Salesman is linked to that of Capitalist America, it could be inferred that the bags therefore suggest the pressure of societal expectations

Question 4

“dressed _______” Act 1

Answer 4

Quietly

Question 5

“his ___________ is apparent” Act 1

Answer 5

exhaustion

Question 6

“it’s __ _____. I came back.” Act 1

Answer 6

all right

Question 7

‘I’m tired __ ____ ______”- Act 1

Answer 7

to the death

Question 8

What can be inferred from the fact Willy remarks that he is

“tired to the death” Act 1 ?

Answer 8

The mass noun “death” has in this way been converted by Willy into a physical article through remarking “the death”. It could therefore be implied that Willy invariably puts materialistic value onto all aspects of his life, foreshadowing therefore his tragic death in the dénouement where he commits suicide in order for his family to gain financial security

Question 9

“The car ____ ______ ____ on to the shoulder” Act 1

Answer 9

kept going off

Question 10

What is the significance of the fact “the car kept going off onto the shoulder” Act 1

Answer 10

as Willy can’t control the car just like he can’t control commercial expectations and societal pressures. The uneasiness of the car suggests also that it is not of great monetary value and thus indicates his lack of wealth

Question 11

No, __’s __, ___’s ___” Act 1

Answer 11

its me

its me

Question 12

Early in Act 1 Willy remarks

“No, I see _________”

Answer 12

everything

Question 13

What is ironic about Willy suggesting that

“No, I see everything”

Answer 13

Willy is unable to recognise, and “see” his failure as a “Salesman” and therefore the fact he disputes “ I see everything” explores his extensive denial which is his hamartia. Adversely, this quote could have another meaning that in fact Willy is aware of his failure however admission would result in mental distress of understanding that his life has been unsuccessful. It could be argued that this realisation is evident in the dénouement as Willy commits suicide in order to reap the award of “diamonds” in the “dark jungle” which represents the insurance money in death, implying Willy is aware that he is unable to provide for his family.

Question 14

“I’ll _____ ___ __ ___ morning”- Act 1

Answer 14

start out in the

Question 15

Give an interpretation of

“I’ll start out in the morning”

Answer 15

-Is suggestive of Willy’s determination and redemption, Miller illustrates him as a Tragic victim due to his strength to continue even with failures which demonstrates his heroic qualities to provide for his children

Question 16

“I have ____ _______, such _______ _________.” Early Act 1

Answer 16

such thoughts

strange thoughts

Question 17

“They don’t need me in ___ _____……”

“I’m ____ in ___ _____” Act 1

Answer 17

New York
vital
New England

Question 18

What is the tragedy when Willy says if his old boss had still been in charge
“I’d be in charge of New York now!” Act 1

Answer 18

Willy’s sanity only survives in the dream world built on self-delusion, his claims of success therefore only exist in hypothetical possibilities where he can defend his competencies as a “salesman”.

Question 19

“There is such an ___________ in him” Act 1

Answer 19

undercurrent

Question 20

What is an undercurrent and why is this significant?
“There is such an undercurrent in him” Act 1
“He’s lazy”

Answer 20

an underlying feeling or influence, especially one that is contrary to the prevailing atmosphere and is not expressed openly

This quote directly conflicts with Willy’s following statement that “he’s not lazy.” Arguably Willy manipulates reality according to his psychological needs at the moment. This explains the irony of his comment to Linda when he asks why he is “always being contradicted,” when it is he himself whom contradicts moment to moment. Suggestively, denying Biff’s laziness enables Willy to hold onto the hope that Biff will someday fulfill his expectations of him.This is significant in Miller portraying the idea that Willy’s imposed dream of Biff being successful as a sportsman and then businessman conflicts with his actual strengths and his dream. Although Biff does recognise the falsity in the dream, his conditioning as a child unable’s him to progress in life as the prevailing dream is that of his fathers. It is as well suggestive of his myopic outlook that Willy perceives Biff’s enlightenment as an “insult” and “spite” to him, as is said in Act 2. Biff’s self insight thus created a defensive reaction from his father who even failed to sell the American Dream of hope to his son, another reminder of his failure as a salesman.

Question 21

“___ _______ __ he’s lazy” Act 1

Answer 21

The trouble is

Question 22

“_ _______ ____ _____ ____-personal attractiveness, gets ____” - Act 1

Answer 22

a young man with such

lost

Question 23

“he’s not _____”- Act 1

Answer 23

lazy

Question 24

What does the quote

“The way they boxed us in here” suggest? Act 1

Answer 24

“the way they boxed us in here” implies that Willy feels confined by his home which represents his wealth and ergo success and so “boxed” arguably was used by Miller to illustrate societal boundaries that imprison Willy as a “common man” . The pronoun “they” is ambiguous however could perhaps imply capitalism and the repercussions of the entrapment of consumerism, exhaustive of commodities that will always be comparable and therefore cause Willy to continually feel as though he is underachieving. The fact that Willy understands he is confined is significant as this could suggest the deterioration of his mental state due to his implied incapacity to recognise his failure without causing certain instability through the acceptance of defeat.

Question 25

“You’re my _________ and my ______,Linda” Act 1

Answer 25

foundation

support

Question 26

What is it important that Linda is Wily’s “foundation” and “support”?
“You’re my foundation and my support, Linda” Act 1

Answer 26

As evidently Linda is unable to be present as an authoritative “foundation” to “support” Willy due to her constraints as a wife within a society that due to the ‘glass ceiling’ prevents women from reaching men in the hierarchy, and therefore Linda could not acquire the voice needed to be the support for Willy as her role as “Quintessential housewife” contradicts this

Question 27

“There’s not a _____ __ _____ ___ in the neighbourhood” Act 1

Answer 27

breath of fresh air

Question 28

“___ ____ ___ makes an appearance in the business world,… is the man who ____ ______” Act 1

Answer 28

the man who

gets ahead

Question 29

“be liked and ___ ___ ______ _____” Act 1

Answer 29

you will never want

Question 30

“Business is bad, ___ ________. But ___ ___ __ __ _______”- Act 1 to Ben

Answer 30

it’s murderous

not for me, of course

Question 31

“start ___ and you’ll ___ ___” - To biff Act 1

Answer 31

big

end big

Question 32

“__________ always wins the day” Act 1

Answer 32

personality

Question 33

I’m always in a race ___ ___ _________” Act 2

Answer 33

with the junk yard

Question 34

When you finally ____ ___ _____, they’re ____ ___” Act 2

Answer 34

paid for them

used up

Question 35

Explore the quote

“When you finally paid for them, they’re used up”

Answer 35

Willy here could be metaphorically speaking of himself in regards to the fact that, as soon as he has “paid for” the house and his commodities, he himself is “used up” due to the hardship he has endured from being a “small man” in a competitive society. Significantly, this is reflective of how Linda previously in Act 1 remarked “nothing’ll grow anymore” contributing to the semantic field of death, foreshadowing Willy’s own in the dénouement from the “36 years” as a Salesman and “36 years” of unrelenting pressure.

Question 36

”[___________ up his jacket as he __________ it]” Act 2 Linda

Answer 36

buttoning

unbuttons

Question 37

What is the significance of Willy claiming

“I’ll get an advance” ? Act2

Answer 37

It is frustrating for the audience as Miller has illustrated throughout the play that Willy is unable to “advance” from the self-deception of his American Dream while he remains a “salesman” and therefore his optimism is clear in suggesting his peripeteia, as in an attempt to transcend from his failure, he actually heightens his own tragic fall.

Question 38

“you ____ ___ ___ _______ and throw ___ _____ _____-a man is not a piece of fruit!” Act 2

Answer 38

can’t eat the orange

the peel away

Question 39

How is it tragic in the fact that WIlly never understand that “Be liked and you will never want” is true ? Act 2

Answer 39

It is true that “Be liked and you will never want” however Willy perceives this in a materialistic misconception of what you should “want” in life. Willy had the loving wife, the adoration of his sons, and a good character, yet his self comparison to those such as Ben caused him to lower his own ideals of what he should “want” to something artificial and unattainable that he can “lay [his] hand on”.

Question 40

“you end up____ _____ _____ than alive” Act 2

Answer 40

worth more dead

Question 41

“the _____ are _________” Act 2

Answer 41

woods

burning

Question 42

Explore the significance of

“the words are burning” Act 2

Answer 42

Willy here references the fact he has been fired and is financially ruined, and thus he is “burning” from the pressure of this. The fact he metaphorically compares to the “woods” enforces his rightful nature of the outdoors rather than being a “salesman” and thus through this Miller reasserts Willy’s failure to recognise his place in the world

Question 43

What does the fact Willy says

“Math, math, math!” suggest? Act 2

Answer 43

This suggests that the failure of Biff in math was due to his role as a father teaching him the wrong things and ultimately causing his failure in school due to his infidelity. The repetition indicates medical distress as “math” encompasses his mind in guilt for his son, in his eyes, being a failure.

Question 44

“I’m so ______.” Act 2

Answer 44

lonely

Question 45

What is the importance of

“I’ve got to get some seeds” Act 2

Answer 45

Seeds represent for Willy the opportunity to prove the worth of his labour, both as a salesman and a father. This desperate and nocturnal attempt to grow vegetables signifies his shame about barely being able to put food on the table and having nothing to leave his children when he passes. Therefore the garden functions as a substitute for his failed career and Biff’s dissipated ambition. Despite Willy’s infallible opinion of the American Dream, he soon recognises that there is no tangible proof of his life’s work, his is frustrating for the reader as Willy does not truly understand his hamartia, paralleling Act 1 where Ben sceptically asked “put your hand on it,” evidently having a long term effect of how Willy views success. Willy desperately attempts to make a legacy for his life by trying to fuel life back into his family’s lives which the “seeds” represent. However, the fact that Willy ignores Linda who told him “nothing’ll grow” submits the cyclical ignorance of Willy whom cannot accept the truth and continuously, yet unavailing tries to transcend his social standing as a “low man”. By Willy planting the “seeds” he is preparing for his death to give his life a sense of worth, which he has hinted previously in the Act that he will be “worth more dead than alive”, foreshadowing his tragic death. It is dramatically ironic that Willy uses a gardening metaphor to subconsciously acknowledge his failure to choose the right profession, as his natural inclinations to handy work, Miller hints, to be the right dream for him.

Question 46

“he nearly ______ when he came in” Linda about Willy Act 2

Answer 46

limped

Question 47

give an explanation why

“he nearly limped when he came in “ linda about Willy Act 2

Answer 47

The fact he “limped” is dramatically significant as visually Miller conveys Willys mental depreciation to illustrate his correlating mental state.

Question 48

“I am _______” Willy to Ben

Act 2

Answer 48

known

Question 49

“I’ll start out again in the morning”

Answer 49

The resilience Willy displays to start out “in the morning” analysis his optimism but also is in unison to the ideal of the pastoral where “morning” indicates a new beginning. The concept of idealism ironically contrasts with Willy’s belief in his materialistic conception of the American Dream; as the two are diametrically opposed Miller emphasises the unattainability of Willy’s dream and therefore the inevitable tragic downfall due to this lack of understanding that “start[ing] out in the morning” is futile. The American Dream is communicated to the audience in this way as unattainable as it is impossible to build a world on justice, equality and freedom if wealth, possessions and status are a central focus in defining ones success. Arguably, Miller presents Willy’s desires of his American Dream of idealism and materialism to suggest he is in binary opposition with himself due to his conflict of wants explored when he remarks “Someday I’ll have my own business and I’ll never have to leave home anymore”/ Willy clearly wants the idealistic family life being at “home” while also wanting the materialistic benefits of a “business” to gain success. Willy’s fight to achieve this is therefore exemplary of his modern tragedy as he is unable to reach the anagnorisis (understanding) of his own downfall, instead continuing in his self-deception fighting against the reality of his failure rather than fighting to transcend societal boundaries that have entrapped him.

Question 50

“[He is totally immersed in himself]”

Answer 50

This is significant as it explores how Willy is consumed, or rather “immersed” by his failure and highlights his myopic view of the American Dream which is continually reinforced through his egocentric language throughout the play such as when he exclaims “ I am tired to the death”. Willy cannot recognise that his tiredness is exerted onto the family who are indeed “tired” of his deception he has conditioned them to. Willy’s internal fight of self hatred and delusion is evident to the audience through Willy’s flashbacks as although they appear to be moments Willy treasures, the moments are pivotal in exploring his guilty conscience as he taught his boys to “Be liked”, a vain and wrong understanding of success.

Question 51

“Business is bad, it’s murderous. But not for me, of course” Willy to Ben Act 1
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Answer 51

Willy’s reality profoundly conflicts with his hopes. His mounting fantasies attempt to deny the mounting evidence of his failure to fulfill his desires and expectations. The play opens with Willy suffering from crippling self-delusion, this flashback into his past illustrates the extent of his fractured consciousness from both his persistent denial and inability to even maintain a consistent fantasy as his memory gradually transcends back into reality. Willy appears to isolate himself which contributes to his tragedy as it is arguably his loneliness that causes much of his suffrage, demonstrated by the fact he even lies to his brother (“not for me”). The personification of “business” through the “murderous” characteristics, in addition to the adjective “bad” illustrates the extent of Willy’s struggle through society figuratively alluding a physical, harsh boundary to transcend. The physical fight indicated from the “murderous” business Willy contests with therefore implies his exhaustion which can be substantiated through early in Act 1 “[Linda taking off his shoes]”. Miller perhaps could be foreshadowing the certainty of Willy’s death as through his persistency to deceive his family (“not for me”) he augments his own tragedy as he fails to ask for help against a “murderous” career which eventually pressures his tragic fall. Furthermore, the short sentences indicates a fragmented thought process which is significant in communicating Willys unclear, distorted mental state from the pressure he is under by the “murderous” “business”. The simplicity of the sentences (“Business is bad”) provides reason to indicate that his thoughts contribute to the suffocation he feels from the confinement of financial constraint

Question 52

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“I don’t know the reason for it, but they just pass me by. I’m not noticed”

Answer 52

Willy’s baseless hope in the American Dream is recognised when he admits, “I don’t know the reason for it, but they just pass me by. I’m not noticed”. Though this on the exterior appears as a moment of recognition to his blindness , in which is a tragic heroic trait of anagnorisis, “I don’t know” highlights that in fact Willy still cannot admit the reason for his failure contributing to his wilful ease of self-delusion. The fact he regards himself as “not noticed” is contextually the ‘norm’ as Willy represents the millions of harding working men in America who fall at the despair of the capitalism and the false dream, and thus Miller presents Willy as the “embodiment of the common man”. Furthermore, the fact Willy feels everyone is “passing [him] by” possible infers his self perception of inadequacy which supplies him with adverse determination to “start out again” rather than admitting defeat due to the false hope the American Dream provides.

Question 53

“It’s all right. I came back”- Willy

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Answer 53

This tells the reader immediately that the possibility of a dangerous accident has been on both their mind; as well indicating that Willy may have not been contemplating returning. The sound of the flute participates to this underlying theme of sadness.

Question 54

What can be said about the way that Willy decides to seek a non-travelling job?

Answer 54

that he is brave and resolved in his own life, and that he has the energy to resist his own fate

Question 55

Biff and Happy are passive in Willy’s problems and suggest that his poor driving is a result of being colour blind; what does this metaphorically suggest?

Answer 55

that Willy is in a world of his own making, which is distorted

Question 56

“Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more”

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Answer 56

this is a clear failure of one of Willy’s resolutions as his claims that he is liked wherever he sells is in fact a fallacy.

Question 57

What can be said about the form of the play in regards to the way Willy reveals the workings of his mind?

Answer 57

he shows that Expressionist drama ‘was the dramatisation of the subconscious’- quote from J.L Stylan

Question 58

The other woman likes Willy because of his humour and calls him a what?

Answer 58

“Kidder”

Question 59

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“The words are burning)

Answer 59

This poetic metaphor recalls both the elm trees which Willy loved and the jungle where Ben made his fortune. The implication seems to be that the very land of opportunity itself is going up in smoke; and the idea of the American Dream becomes destroyed. Willy thinks that his skills as a craftsman are natural in a man, and does not capitalise on his talents

Question 60

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“knock Howard for a loop”

Answer 60

this harks back to the aggressive masculinity which he instilled in his sons, and taunted Benard for. The salesman approach to such a meeting is to prepare himself psychologically as if the correct mental attitude will win the day. Critics have noted how the salesman’s philosophy of life is one by which Willy lives.

Question 61

What does Willy lament when talking to Howard about Dave Singleman and his desire to be a salesman?

Answer 61

he laments the passing of the days when personality counted and the profit motive did not dominate selling.

Question 62

“A man ___ ____ ____ _________, on the basis of being liked!”

Answer 62

can end with diamonds

Question 63

“____ ___ _____ _____, and you can fight for a fortune up there”

Answer 63

screw on your fists

Question 64

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“screw on your fists, and you can fight for a fortune up there”

Answer 64

Miller suggests through the word “screw” that both Ben and Willy act as part of the machine which drives capitalist ventures, participating in the perpetuation of a corrupt and cut-throat economic system that ultimately binds Willy to his tragic fall.

Question 65

Biblically, how can Willy’s tragedy be connected to Aristotelian tragedy?

Answer 65

as Happy’s denial of him being his father at the restaurant, and the fact Willy sacrifices himself in the denouément almost envisages him as a christ-like figure, which heightens his character to a prestige that is required for a tragic hero.

Question 66

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‘‘A man can end with diamonds on the basis of being liked!”

Answer 66

Willy’s admiration of the possibilities in America seems to confuse the American Dream of universal opportunity with sporting success and popularity. This is tragic as Willy’s sales techniques have finally infiltrated his consciousness to such an extent that he sells himself

Question 67

What does Willy show a distaste for as an alternative to the £20,000 insurance money?

Answer 67

“ringing up a zero”

Question 68

What does

“ringing up a zero” show about Willy?

Answer 68

the cash till metaphor suggests that Willy measures his success in life in purely economic terms

Question 69

Why does Willy’s death seem tragic?

Answer 69

HIs death appears inevitable as he has rationalised his suicide with Ben, found irrational justification in the light of his love for Biff, and now it seems to be the only way out.

Question 70

how do the audience see Willy?

Answer 70

as a moral coward who avoids all the real issues in order to inhabit a dream-world where he could safely ignore other people’s feelings

Question 71

Willy’s personality is conflicted between his true self which exposes his cowardice and confusion, as well as his brute nature as a salesman; how can this be seen in the play?

Answer 71

Willy Loman is belligerent (hostile) to Biff whom he believes has “spited” him, yet also mystified and bewildered when his suicide attempts are exposed

Question 72

What quote could both suggest Willy is a self-centred, myopic looking character and a tragic victim? how?

Answer 72

“`i was fired today”- at the restaurant when Biff is trying to explain that he and Bill Oliver didn’t meet
-The dynamic, myopic Willy would emphasis on stage the ‘I’, suggesting that he wants to tell the boys that he has suffered something worse than Biff; while the weak victim may emphasise the ‘fired’ to suggest that this is the reason that he does not want to disgress and go into the guilt he build in Biff’s past

Question 73

The lament for the dead mother and the failure to connect with his late father are characteristics of what for Willy?

Answer 73

the Freudian Oedipal