Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Death of a Salesman- Blog Discussion
Reply to the following and additionally reply to another students comment. Indicate the writer you are replying to.
Who is the most important character in the play thus far? What does Willy's brother Ben symbolize to him? What "answer" is he constantly looking for from Ben? Do you think Ben has the answer to Willy's question? Can you personally relate to any of the characters or ideas in the play? How so?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Patrick Broader (11/07/2011 10:19am)
ReplyDeleteBen symbolizies a person that is very successful and rich and he symbolizes the American dream. Willy is looking for the answer of how Ben became so rich and asked what happen when he went in the jungle. yes and no, yes on how Ben became rich and successful, and no because willy is not just gonna go in a jungle in africa and randomly find diamonds on the ground and become rich.
I don't think he has the answer to the question because Ben isn't alive.
I also agree Jon, Ben symbolizes the american dream due to him becoming very "successful"
DeleteI believe that Biff is the most important character thus far in the book. Ben symbolizes the american dream and being able to conquer it and being a successful person. Willy's question is consistently trying to find out how Ben became so "successful" from moving out west and finding diamonds. Like what motivated him besides the quest for diamonds. I also think that Ben does not have the "answer" to Willy's question because there will be no definite answer as long as Ben is not alive. I also think that i do not really relate to a certain character within this book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew that Biff is an important character because he brings ideas to help his brother and dad. Also that Willy is constantly wondering how Ben became so successful in his dream. Also that Ben cannot have the answer for Willy because he is dead and Willy has to find out himself
DeleteI believe that Linda is a important character in the book because she tries to keep everyone calm. She saves Willy from killing himself when he sleeps and she supports him to keep him calm. He symbolizes the American dream and how you can become rich at anytime. How did he do it and why did Willy not go with him. I do not believe he does because he is dead and Willy has to answer it himself and figure it out. I can relate to Linda because i help people out by supporting them like friends and family in tough times or times they are down.
ReplyDeleteWilly is the most important character in the play thus far, as he is the central character of the play, and his mental health has already been the subject of conflict, and the cause of conflict and foreshadows future conflict.
ReplyDeleteBen symbolizes hope to Willy. Ben gives Willy the idea that anything I achievable in the world that they live in. By trudging to work everyday and never changing anything, Willy feels that he is doing te same thing that ben did, with his job as his jungle. If he were to give up, then he would never find his diamond mine, but in reality, his job is a dead end.
In my opinion, the most important character in the book thus far is Linda. She keeps Willy together and gives him a sense of calmness when he starts to lose his mind. Ben Is Willy's dead brother and he symbolizes the american dream because he became very wealthy. Willy is always talking to Ben, hoping he will tell him how he became so wealthy and what the secret is to success and what he was able to find in the jungle. I think that Ben has the answer that Willy is looking for but he cannot actually tell Willy since he is dead so Willy is wasting his time talking to Ben. I can relate to Biff because sometimes I feel like running far away from home and starting from nothing, striving to achieve success on my own.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Linda being the most important character in the book. I feel that although she attempts to calm Willy down her efforts rarely achieve anything.
DeleteThe most imortant character in this play I think so far would be willy. Willy's brother ben Symbolizes the success that willy is trying to achieve but cant ever reach it. The answer that willy is trying to get from ben is how he became so popular and achieved all of his success. I dont think that ben will have the answer for him because it came naturally to him. I can personally relate to willy from the pressure that he feels to succeed in life.
ReplyDeleteThe most important character in the play is Willy, that doesnt mean he is a good character though. Willy symbolizes the flaw in society, the lies and the ignorance of our society today. Willy's brother Ben represents success and wealth, which is what Willy doesnt have. The answer Willy is always looking for from Ben is an opportunity to be wealthy and another chance to be successful and achieve the "American Dream." Yes, I do think that Ben will answer Willy's question, but not until he finds himself and can understand what is really important in life, not image or peoples thoughts about you. I can relate to happy, I have an older brother that gets most of the attention, not because my parents like him better than me but because he is in college and my parents try to keep him focused and help him find his path, I know how it feels to be the one thats "in the corner."
ReplyDeleteThe most important character thus far I believe would be Willy. Ben symbolizes success. Willy is to looking to Ben to tell him how he managed to be so successful. I do not believe Ben has the answer to Willy's question. Ben became successful by doing something he enjoys to do, thus became successful by following his own intuition rather than the American dream, which is something Willy does not believe in. I could relate to Biff and Happy, involving sibling rivalry. Happy, being the younger sibling would seek admiration from his father while being in the shadow of his successful older brother. I could relate being the youngest of my siblings, when I was younger I had always wanted to be able to do the same things they were doing.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Sahlani, I agree with your choice for the most important character. she really is the super glue that holds the family together. I learned from your comment that Willy actually wished to embark on the journey with Ben but never did. I didn't know that! overall, I agree with all of your answers.
ReplyDeleteThe most important character thus far is Willy. Ben symbolizes the American Dream to Willy because he became rich after finding diamonds. Willy is constantly looking for an opportunity and money from Ben, but Ben cannot help him since Ben is dead. I personally can connect with Willy because I am also looking for answers.
ReplyDelete-----Jon Klindera-----Reply: I see what youre saying durde
ReplyDelete@Andrew Passalacqua why do you believe Biff is the most important character?
ReplyDeleteI disagree, the most important character thus far is Willie in my opinion. And Ben symbolizes a young successful person in life. The question cannot be answered for willie because Ben is not alive.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with griffen that willy symbolizes the american dream and the flaws that go along with the american dream as well. I also believe the question that Willy expects from ben would be how he became wealthy and successful which is a major part in this play.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with Jon that Ben symbolizes the American Dream because Ben found diamonds and became rich.
ReplyDeleteBen symbolizes the dream that Willy could never achieve and that is to become rich. he also symbolizes as opportunity that people will turn down because of the unsure nature of venturing out to look for your wealth. the answer he is constantly looking for is why he didn't venture out with his brother become wealthy like he did. more importantly he is searching for the reason that his brother was able to become successful and rich and yet he still lives poorly in New York city while his brother lived the high life after finding diamond mines. i do not believe that Ben has the answers to Willy's question though because Willy is the only one who got in the way of his success and because of that Ben is unable to help him because Ben is dead and Willy is only imagining and seeing him for what he remembers about him not what he can actually do for him. i can relate to Biff mostly because through the novel his parents try to bring up things that he knows they are just wrong about yet they are too ignorant to see it themselves, while that doesn't necessarily happen to me as often as it does for Biff it can happen from time to time and that is why i relate to BIff
ReplyDeleteFor Willy Ben symbolizes success and what he could have had if he went with him. He is constantly asking Ben how he can become successful. Ben does not have the answer to willys questions because ben is not alive and willy cant just go back in time and go with ben instead of staying. I relate most to happy because i know what i want to do but im not completely sure how to get there.
ReplyDeleteBen: i disagree Linda is not an important character at all. without her willy might be able to get a better grasp on reality and realize that he pretty much sucks. she doesn't even care that he tries to kill himself repeatedly
ReplyDeleteBen is becoming one of the most important people in the story both reminding Willy of his bad buisness and inefficiency compared to Ben finding a fortune in Africa. Ben symbolizes the American dream to Willy and the life he could've had. Willy constantly looks for why Ben became successful and Willy is struggling to make ends meet, Ben has the answer to WIlly's question, but Willy does not want to admit what makes him unsuccessful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew sahlani because without her the family would be thrown into dissaray. Without her willy would kill himself and biff would call willy out.
ReplyDeleteBen: I Disagree that Linda is important. If anything she is a hinderance for Willy, she always gives him a false sense of hope and pretends to ignore his cries for help by trying to commit suicide and lets it happen.
ReplyDeleteWilly is the most important character in the play thus far, as he is the central character of the play, and his mental health has already been the subject of conflict, and the cause of conflict and foreshadows future conflict.
ReplyDeleteBen symbolizes hope to Willy. Ben gives Willy the idea that anything I achievable in the world that they live in. By trudging to work everyday and never changing anything, Willy feels that he is doing te same thing that ben did, with his job as his jungle. If he were to give up, then he would never find his diamond mine, but in reality, his job is a dead end.
I agree with Drew because without Ben Willy wouldnt be dreaming and he wouldnt think the american dream could be achieved so easlily. Therefore Willy believes he can be a salesman and achieve the american dream quickly.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Willy is the most important character in the play because of his mental state and the way he trys to control every situation. Willy has a messed up way of thinking things through and thought that killing himself would make people happy. Ben in the play resembles the american dream tpo Biff. Ben went out and got his fortune on his own and Biffb thinks if he works hard enough he may achieve the same. Biff has a question of hpow he did what he did, but i dont thinkn Ben has a solid answer. He would just say never give up and youll eventually find what you are looking for. thats how he found the diamons he was looking for. Alson cannot personally relatew myself to anyone in this play.
ReplyDelete