Groups: Answer all ODD numbered questions: Baker-Orzen
Answer all EVEN numbered questions: Passalacqua-Winovich
You will write your responses and quotes on the Blog with the correct corresponding number.
Additionally write your own question and answer it.
Finally, reply to 3 other classmates’ responses on questions you did not originally respond to.
In total you will answer 6 of my questions and 1 of your self- generated questions as well as, 3 replies to classmates not in your group = 10 total blog comments
1. What are the differences (be specific) between materialistic and idealistic values associated with the American Dream. List current examples that emulate the American Dream. Do not generalize, be as concrete as possible. What are the false values the play reveals and the true values that the play supports. Consider characters and the conflict of reality v. perception.
2. What is Miller commenting on regarding the American value system? Capitalism? A consumer society?
3. How is a salesman different from another occupation? Positive attributes? Negative attributes
4. What effect do the expectations of parents have on the behavior of their children? Beneficial? Detrimental? Who suffers the most from Willy’s delusions? Why?
5. How do parental expectations tie back to the American Dream? Discuss Willy’s parenting. Provide real life examples.
6. How is Willy a tragic hero? Is the play a tragedy? According to Aristotle or modern day?
7. What values are upheld and what values are criticized in the play?
8. What are 3 of the most significant symbols in the novel? What do they represent? How are they connected?
9. Most people, like Willy, try to make themselves appear in the best possible way to their families and friends. Why?
10. Do you think characters in the play are realistic? Could people like these actually exist? Have you ever known anyone who reminds you of one of the characters in the play?
11. Arthur Miller created these specific characters to get a certain moral lesson learned across to the readers. What lesson do you think Miller is trying to teach the readers? As a young man, what is Miller trying to teach you? As young women, what is Miller trying to teach you?
12. What is the most effective device Miller uses as a playwright? How so? How did it leave an impression on you and help to facilitate his message?
2.
ReplyDeleteMiller comments on the American value system by expressing his opinions through Willy. Miller makes Willy have a one sided view on the values and even confronts Biff by saying “is that a life?”. HE is baffled that someone would choose manual labor over an office job
4.
Expectations that parents have on their kids can be very detrimental just like it is in The Death of a Salesman. Biff suffers most from Willy’s high expectations of achieve the American dream but otherwise is known as his own dream instead of Biff’s. “screw on your fists and you can fight for a fortune” whether it is in an office or on a farm
6.
Willy is not a tragic character. Just as Linda says, “he’s trying to kill himself” and he does so without coming to any realization on his expectations on his kids.
8.
Three most significant symbols in the book are the pen , stockings and the rubber hose. The pen represents the office job that biff doesn’t have. The stockings represent Willy’s affair. The rubber hose has a symbol of Willy trying to kill himself.
10.
Yes I feel like these characters could well represent many other families in that time trying to capture the American Dream. Especially when Willy started to tell people how good Biff was at football and flaunting his son’s talent with his high expectations of his kids.
12.
feel like the biggest message in the play is that you have to stay true to who you are and you can’t let anyone change you to become someone they want you to be. Just like Biff did not change just to make his dad happy that he followed his dream that he may or may have not accomplished.
4) I agree. If parents are too harsh on their kids, they may begin to act out and rebel.
Delete2) Miller regards the American value system as being flawed. He describes how you must do what society believes is right. “a farm life isn’t a life at all”. He also does not like capitalism.
ReplyDelete4) The expectations of parents have a lot of negative effects on the lives of their children. It puts pressure on the children to strive for the idea of success that their parents have bestowed upon them. Happy says, “I’m losing weight pop”. This shows how he is always working to reach the expectations of his parents. Linda suffers the greatest from Willy’s delusions because she is married to him and is always worried about his health because he is losing it.
6) Willy is a tragic hero because he is his own downfall. He struggles against society. He has his own perception of the world. An example of Willy’s own perception of reality is how he is always talking to his brother Ben even though Ben is dead. The play is a tragedy. Willy worked hard to try and make a living and keep his family happy and he eventually becomes his own downfall and kills himself. It is a tragedy by definition according to Aristotle.
8) The blue suit, the hose in the gas tank, and Ben. Linda talks about Willy’s, “blue suit”. All of these symbols represent the American dream and all the flaws it has that come with it. Blue suit- business man, hard-working, stuck in reality. The hose- Willy’s escape, the end to a long struggle, the easy way out. Ben- the American dream, success.
10) I believe that this play is a realistic representation of how life can actually be. People can develop illnesses that cause them to lose their grip on reality and start talking to people that aren’t there. Also, many families struggle financially. I have not ever known someone like this. When Happy says, “ I’m getting married mom”, I know people who are always trying to get their parents attention like Happy.
12) Miller’s most effective device was symbolism. He was able to use it to show his opinions on society. (the blue suit, the hose, Ben,…) “Ben is dead” –Linda. His use of symbolism has helped me realize the flaws in our society and how we set requirements that everyone feels they need to fulfill.
- Ben Stapulionis
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree that symbolism is effective but I think the most effective device would be the flashbacks because they further developed the character of Willy. They showed how crazy Willy really was.
DeleteReply to #8.. I believe that those symbols represent the American dream and all the flaws it comes with it.
Delete1. Being materialistic means one relies on the actual materials they possess, while idealistic people believe/rely on their ideas. False values the play present about the American dream is that everyone is successful within the American Dream, everyone has their own perception of the American dream. Some of the truths the play presents about the American dream are those that one must work for it, to achieve the American Dream one must be hard working and have the idea of success motivate them. The entire Lowman family has the wrong perception/idea of the American Dream, they’re doing it wrong. They’re basing the American Dream off of other peoples success, when they should be trying to create their own success. “the scum of the Earth, and you’re looking at him!”, just exemplifies how Biff really feels, and how Willy has used all the wrong motivators, and still has yet to succeed.
ReplyDelete3. A salesmen is different from other occupations because they’re usually traveling. Like Willy was, but also to be a salesmen you must be a positive and motivated person. You can’t have a negative attitude. Willy just seemed to have zero motivation in being a salesman, hence why he had no success. “I’ve got nothing to give him”, willys job has washed him up.
5. Parental expectations are everything especially when it comes to the American Dream, all your parents ever want for their kids is to succeed. Willy always convinced his kids they could have the world, but he never set them up for that, he never helped them in the right way. “You and hap and I and youll show everyone” willy trying to tell his sons how successful they will be, but they have yet to get anywhere.
7. The value of money, and personality are upheld, but the value of honesty is not upheld. Willy thinks lying is not a big deal, when in all reality his whole life is a lie. “Biff you’re going somewhere, because people like you”
9. People make themselves appear better to others because they don’t want their friends or family worry about them, they prefer to give the allusion of being successful rather than a struggling mess. “I did five hundred gross in providence” clearly a lie willy sells nothing.
11. Miller is trying to teach the reader to follow your own dream, yes everyone wants the “American Dream”, but not everyone’s American Dream is the same. Must find your own success in life, not rely on someone elses.
1. I really agree with Ben on the idea that the American dream is flawed.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with molly that Miller is trying to get the readers to follow their own dreams
3. I also agree with Molly when she talks about perception vs reality
1. Materialistic value is loving your possessions and wanting to achieve the image of having the nice things. Idealistic value is wanting to be successful and have the image of success. I think willy truly wants people to think he is successful and that’s why he makes up the lies about himself.
ReplyDelete3. A salesman is someone who sells materials. A salesman is paid by how much he sells and if you can’t sell anything then you are not making money. It’s harder to earn money as a salesman especially if people don’t want to buy what you are selling. People do not like willy and he is unable to sell anything so he never makes any money.
5. Willy’s parenting skills are poor because he always told his kids that being well liked was more important than hard work. “I see great things for you kids” willy was unable to see the truth and help his kids, instead he just filled them with hot air.
7. lieing to advance in your job is criticiced because happy and willy were not trustworthy and it did not pay off for them. So therefore honesty was upheld in the play because the characters who where honest in the play had sucess in the end. Biff was finialy happy that he got the wait off his shoulders.
9. Because everyone wants to be liked and respected especialy the people you love. willy told biff " its not what you say, its how you say it".
11. I think the message that miller is trying to get across is to do what you love and tell the truth. lieing will get you no where in the buisness world and its better to work hard than to be well liked.
1. I agree with ben when he says the american dream is flawed because to be sucessful you must conform to society.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with andrew that willy is the tragic character in the play.
3. I agree with molly that inflateing your kids with hot air is not beneficial to their future.
1.) In Death of a salesman Willy has multiple false values and false hopes. Many of them involve his deceased older brother in which he envisions is still alive. He constantly lies to himself as well as others but his own success and the success of his two sons Biff and Happy. An example of this is when Willy keeps telling Howard that Biff is working on a big deal.
ReplyDelete3.) A salesman is different from other occupations because a lot of the time your salary is based on your sales and how good of a salesperson you are. Also a salesman job requires much traveling which is why later in the play Willy tries to convince Howard to let him get an office job.
5.) Parental expectations can either encourage the American Dream or destroy it. An example of where it can motivate someone is how Happy looks up to his father and tries to follow is dad to achieve the American Dream. An example of how it can hurt the American Dream is how Willy expects Biff to be a great salesman although Biff just wants to work on a farm somewhere else.
7.) Values that are upheld in the play are like family and work ethic because although Willy isn’t a good person he tries very hard at his job and to provide for his family. A value that is criticized is Willy’s philosophy of being well liked is the key to success. An example of this is when Willy keeps telling Ben that “It’s all about connections.”
11.) I think the moral lesson of the story is to provide for your family and support each others dreams but don’t force your dreams on them. An example of this is how Happy tries to seek attention from Willy all the time.
1. Materialistic: money, Big House, Nice Car
DeleteIdealistic: Beauty, Social Status, and Popularity
False: Image and strength is more important than intelligence
True: Intelligence and hard work are the best ways to become successful in life. Biff vs. Bernard as an example and who they were in HS vs. the Real World
3. Requires you to travel to see buyers, be convincing and able to sell product, time away from family, and pay based on commission. On the plus side you get to see many different places, no time is spent sitting in a cubicle and you get time away from your family. "Shouldn't you be in Boston?"
5. Parents want to see their children become successful and embody the American Dream, being popular, powerful, and successful. Willy Included, his deep down insecurity fueled him to push his kids to be the person that was successful when he was growing up, while people like Bernard kept their head down through HS and are now the extremely successful group while the quarterbacks of the world are jobless. “Thank god you’re both built like Adonises”
7. being arrogant and focusing on popularity over school are clearly criticized throughout the play. While hard work and perseverance will eventually push you into success regardless of whom you are.
9. Sense of pride, they are the leader, the breadwinner, and wants to appear as such, taking help from no one. “I- I just can’t work for you Charlie.”
11. Being smart and working hard pays off much more than focusing on social work. “He’s liked but not well liked.”
RESPONSES:
3. I agree with Jake that being a salesman is a very taxing job, and that also contributed to Willy’s downfall.
7. I disagree that family is something reinforced in the play, most of what is valued has to do with personal values. Family is hardly mentioned.
11. I agree partially with this statement, true you should support another’s dreams, but if they are on th wrong track, set them right.
Andrew P. for number (8) I also used the rubber hose as a symbol. I never thought about using the stocking as a symbol though. They are a good symbol to use.
ReplyDeleteMolly H. for number (7) I like how you identified Willy’s whole life as a lie. I never thought about it like that but now I understand.
Jason D. for number (3) I agree that Willy has terrible parenting skills. He has his morals all wrong.
ReplyDelete1. In Death of a Salesman Willy has tons of false values some of which are dreaming about the future or living in the future. “Someday I’ll have my own business and I’ll never have to leave my house.” This quote supports how he is living in a false reality of dreams.
3. A salesman is different from other occupations because you are the only one working for your business. Being a salesman can be positive because you are the only one working so no one can pull you down. It can also be negative because your only comes from if you can sell products or not. Willy throughout the book needs money from Howard because he does not make enough money.
5) parents constantly challenge their kids to become as or more successful than themselves. in the case of willy he not only teaches his kids to be more successful than him but also to be more successful than everyone around them. and on top of all of that school wasn’t important in willy’s eyes but the only important thing in life was to be well liked, and for willy that meant being the most popular guy around,” well bernards liked but hes not well liked.” basically willy is a bad parent with bad principles.
7. Hard work is a value that is upheld. Bernard says, “He never trained himself for anything” shows that Biff never worked hard. Image and and jobs are criticized.
9. Willy tries to make everything seem okay when he comes home to his family because he doesn't want them to worry about anything. For example Willy lied about how much he made when he got home from a trip to make Linda feel better, but she knew that was a lie.
11) Miller is trying to teach the readers to be genuine and whole and honest towards themselves and others which is shown through the character, WIlly. he lies constantly to his family and himself about his life and what he does. he is trying to teach me as a reader to be honest with myself like willy never could, “ill have my own business one day bigger than charley’s”, all of which is a total lie because willy couldn't come to terms with his failure.
1. I agree with Ben when he says the american dream is flawed because to be sucessful you must conform to society.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with Andrew that willy is the tragic character in the play.
3. I agree with Molly that inflateing your kids with hot air is not beneficial to their future.
1. In Death of a Salesman Willy has tons of false values some of which are dreaming about the future or living in the future. “Someday I’ll have my own business and I’ll never have to leave my house.” This quote supports how he is living in a false reality of dreams.
ReplyDelete3. A salesman is different from other occupations because you are the only one working for your business. Being a salesman can be positive because you are the only one working so no one can pull you down. It can also be negative because your only comes from if you can sell products or not. Willy throughout the book needs money from Howard because he does not make enough money.
5) parents constantly challenge their kids to become as or more successful than themselves. in the case of willy he not only teaches his kids to be more successful than him but also to be more successful than everyone around them. and on top of all of that school wasn’t important in willy’s eyes but the only important thing in life was to be well liked, and for willy that meant being the most popular guy around,” well bernards liked but hes not well liked.” basically willy is a bad parent with bad principles.
7. Hard work is a value that is upheld. Bernard says, “He never trained himself for anything” shows that Biff never worked hard. Image and and jobs are criticized.
9. Willy tries to make everything seem okay when he comes home to his family because he doesn't want them to worry about anything. For example Willy lied about how much he made when he got home from a trip to make Linda feel better, but she knew that was a lie.
11) Miller is trying to teach the readers to be genuine and whole and honest towards themselves and others which is shown through the character, WIlly. he lies constantly to his family and himself about his life and what he does. he is trying to teach me as a reader to be honest with myself like willy never could, “ill have my own business one day bigger than charley’s”, all of which is a total lie because willy couldn't come to terms with his failure.
reply to #1...I agree with cam that Willy has tons of false values of which are dreaming about the future or living in the future.
Delete1) i agree with jason thatwilly wants people to believe that he ios actually successful
ReplyDelete2) i agree with ben that the american dream is flawed.
4) i agree with ben that the expectations of parents can be very bad on kids.
1. I agree with ben when he says the american dream is flawed because to be sucessful you must conform to society.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with Andrew that willy is the tragic character in the play.
3. I agree with Molly that a salesman is always travleing trying to sell his or her products.
1.) I agree with Ben that Willy is a tragic hero. Willy is considered a tragic hero because it was not his fault for his downfall.
ReplyDelete2.) I agree with Jason that Willy is more idealistic rather than materialistic. Willy doesn't care about luxuries or anything he just wants to be successful and well-liked
3.) I agree with Andrew's statement about parental expectations. Willy is the perfect example of bad parenting and disrupting the American Dream
2. Miller shows that people are way too caught up in their social status and how others perceive them than anything else. For example, Happy lied about selling champagne and where he got his education from to make himself look better to a woman. "That's my name. Hap. It's really Harold, but at West Point they called me Happy."
ReplyDelete4. I think the expectations of parents can have a positive effect on their children until at causes the child too much stress and unhappiness. If a parent expects too much out of a child, the child can begin to act out or rebel. They can also try to be people they are not just to impress their parents just so they will get off their back. Happy always tried to please his father. For example, "I'm losing weight pop."
6. Willy is a tragic hero because he causes his own downfall (modern definition). An example of this is when Willy begs for a job. He makes himself look ridiculous by begging.
8. Stockings- symbolize the secret affair Willy had with a woman from Boston.
Seeds- Starting over/ new life/ second chances.
Air- freedom and choosing your path for life
10. The characters are somewhat realistic, but I think the characteristics that they possess are a bit too exaggerated, especially the way Linda acts. In the movie Linda really bothered me. I think she tried too hard and it was bad acting.
12. Flashbacks- The flashbacks helped my understanding for the movie because they further developed the character of Willy. They really showed how crazy Willy really was. In the book when you don't have a visual aid, it's hard to get a sense of what the characters are actually like.
ReplyDelete1. In Death of a Salesman Willy has tons of false values some of which are dreaming about the future or living in the future. “Someday I’ll have my own business and I’ll never have to leave my house.” This quote supports how he is living in a false reality of dreams.
3. A salesman is different from other occupations because you are the only one working for your business. Being a salesman can be positive because you are the only one working so no one can pull you down. It can also be negative because your only comes from if you can sell products or not. Willy throughout the book needs money from Howard because he does not make enough money.
5) parents constantly challenge their kids to become as or more successful than themselves. in the case of willy he not only teaches his kids to be more successful than him but also to be more successful than everyone around them. and on top of all of that school wasn’t important in willy’s eyes but the only important thing in life was to be well liked, and for willy that meant being the most popular guy around,” well bernards liked but hes not well liked.” basically willy is a bad parent with bad principles.
7. Hard work is a value that is upheld. Bernard says, “He never trained himself for anything” shows that Biff never worked hard. Image and and jobs are criticized.
9. Willy tries to make everything seem okay when he comes home to his family because he doesn't want them to worry about anything. For example Willy lied about how much he made when he got home from a trip to make Linda feel better, but she knew that was a lie.
11) Miller is trying to teach the readers to be genuine and whole and honest towards themselves and others which is shown through the character, WIlly. he lies constantly to his family and himself about his life and what he does. he is trying to teach me as a reader to be honest with myself like willy never could, “ill have my own business one day bigger than charley’s”, all of which is a total lie because willy couldn't come to terms with his failure.
reply to #7...I agree with Drew that hard work is a value that is upheld.
Delete
ReplyDelete2: Miller basically states all Willy cares about is the perfect life and chasing it is roughly impossible. Capitalism being a free market doesn’t always help everyone involved. If the citizens are not paying than the citizens aren’t going to be taking in money. For example Willy works his whole life and really doesn’t accomplish anything.
4: Parents expect their kid to be a good kid not do any harm to their body and to graduate college but sometimes that can’t be the case. In this case it is detrimental Willy kills himself basically over loving and expecting too much of his kids. He loses focus on what the facts are. Biff one hundred percent struggles the most. For instance when Willy won’t let Biff speak about how his job interview went he just expects too much of him.
6: Willy is a tragic hero because his whole life he chases something that he never accomplished anything throughout his entire life. This is a modern day tragedy because Willy works so hard and is in the same job for years but cannot make anything right.
8: The first most significant symbol is Willy being the tragic hero and symbolizing the modern day parent expecting to much of their kids.To Willy, diamonds represent tangible wealth and, hence, both validation of one’s labor (and life) and the ability to pass material goods on to one’s offspring, two things that Willy desperately craves. Correlatively, diamonds, the discovery of which made Ben a fortune, symbolize Willy’s failure as a salesman. Despite Willy’s belief in the American Dream, a belief unwavering to the extent that he passed up the opportunity to go with Ben to Alaska, the Dream’s promise of financial security has eluded Willy. At the end of the play, Ben encourages Willy to enter the jungle finally and retrieve this elusive diamond that is, to kill himself for insurance money in order to make his life meaningful
10: No, the characters in the play are not realistic, but they are just extreme realistic themes of characters. Willy represents society and how it is all corrupt around image. Yes I have known a friend that reminded me of Biff because his dad wanted him to do one thing but he wanted to go with what he really is and give up his “dream” that he and his dad had.
12: Symbolism and Irony because they both create a double meaning in the play with not only Willy, but with the entire situation too. It left an impression because I never want to be in a situation where I don’t have a job and have to live with my parents because I failed math in High School.
6) I agree that Willy is a tragic hero also because he causes his own downfall.
Delete1. I agree with ben when he says the American dream is malfunctioned because to be successful you must change to become one with society.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with Cam that Willy if anyone, is the most tragic character in the play.
3. I agree with Lydea that people are too caught up in the American dream rather than accepting and doing what they know they are meant to do
1. Materialistic ideals would pertain to achieving happiness via actual, physical materials while idealistic values would be an ideal lifestyle. Today the American dream is considered to involve a successful job that is enjoyable to do, being successful in school, and having a family. False Values include that the typical American ideal of a business type job is the only way to be successful, while a true value would be that to be successful in any type of job you must work hard at it. Willy believes that he can maintain a job by having connections rather than doing the actual work. “Look it isn’t a question of whether I can sell merchandise is it?”
ReplyDelete3. The job is completely dependent on how well you are able to sell your merchandise. A positive attribute would be that it would come easy to those who are persuasive while a negative attribute would be the amount of travel that goes along with it. “No, but it’s a business kid, and everybody’s gotta pull his own weight.”
5. Parents can be very influential on their children, thus persuading them into believing that their own idealistic career choice is the best fit for their child. Willy attempts to dictate his son’s career and life choices, most likely as an attempt to live vicariously through Biff to make up for his unsuccessful life. An example of this would be when Willy tells Biff that an office type career is the only successful job.
7. Values that are upheld would be that one must have a successful job to live a successful lifestyle. Values that are criticized would be that you do not need to apply yourself to become successful rather having connections to those higher up will allow you to be successful yourself. “You need to be well liked Biff”
9. Willy believes that by lying about his success will convince people into believing that he is as successful as he says, thus making his statement true. He needs this false compliment to boost his confidence. An example would be when Willy is lying to Linda by telling her how successful he has done on a business deal, earlier in the play.
11. Miller is trying to teach readers that without hard work you cannot amount to much, rather than relying on someone to constantly be defending you.
2. Arthur miller uses dialogue and conflict to convey the ideals of the American dream create a delusional society filled with poverty, and loss of purpose. "I'm the New England man. I'm vital in New England."
ReplyDelete4. Parents have a negative effect on the behavior of biff in the story because both parents always think that biff is in the right. This can be shown when Biff steals the football and Willy says that it is alright and allows it to happen.
6. Willy is a tragic hero because he put his unrealistic goals before everyone else and made everyone else suffer. I would say that the play is a tragedy in modern day. When he meets with Howard he says “You can't just eat the orange and throw the peel away--a man is not a piece of fruit!" After this is said it leads Willy to kill himself and leave everyone else to suffer.
8. The first significant symbol in it would be the rubber hose, the stockings and the seeds. The rubber hose represents Willy’s impending suicide. The stockings represent Willy’s affair with the woman and the seeds represent Willy and biff grow up and Willy is disappointed. “I don’t have a thing in the ground”
10. I would say that the characters in the play are realistic and could display people in real life and actually exist because I know a person who thinks their child is always in the right which is similar to the character willy in the play
12. the most effective device used in death of a salesman would be Millers use of flashbacks to develop the character of Willy. This is the message Miller tried to display that left an impression on me would be that you can’t let everything get to you and the way Willy went insane helped facilitate this message
1. I agree with jason that Willy just want people to think that he was successful
ReplyDelete2. I agree with Molly that parent expectations are very important
3. I agree with ben That willy is most definitley the tragic hero of this play
ReplyDelete1. “A salesman has got to dream boy, it comes with the territory”.-Charley
In the play DOS, The differences between materialistic and idealistic values are very prevalent with Wily and his family. Willy has had an idea his entire life that he believes he will be rich and his sons would be perfect. Really Willy has never been a success and now that his boys are out of high school how popular they were no longer matters. It is hard for Willy to accept that so he lies about his life and makes it seem like he does live the American dream. Willy is Materialistic though he Cannot afford the thing he want so he lies.
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3. A sales man is different from another occupation because you never really know how well you can do in a day. Being a salesman u can do very well one day and the next day make no sales. If you appeal to people you will make more sales, it doesn’t matter how smart you are.
“my dad just pulled off a bigdeal, I think we are going into business together.” Happy
5 in the play Biff and Happy’s parents expect s so much from them and tell them that they will be rich and live the American dream. Biff and Happy may not want to be what Willy wants them to be but they are too afraid to say that. Willy’s parenting style is bad because he taught them to cheat and lie.
“The field blew up”-Charley
-Willy gets mad because he cares so much about his sons sports
7 In the play Willly teaches his boys to be well liked, popular, good at sports, and to do whatever to get what they want. Those values worked really well for the boys in high school, but not for them later in life. Willy should have taught them to be more studious and to do the right thing and maybe they would be more successful now.
“you were gonnna talk to howard today”.-Linda
-Linda says this to Willy because he needs money.
9 Willy wants to live the American dream but is not as good at what he does as he thinks he is. Willy is comforted by lying to everyone and himself to make himself feel better and look better in the public eye. He also does this to set a good example for his sons but is actually leading them in the wrong direction.
“you cant eat the orange and throw the peel away”-Willy
11 I think by this play, Miller uses the characters as prime examples of what not to do at a young age. Heis saying study hard and do well in school because that is what really follows you through life. He is up saying with Willy, lies will catch up with you and you cant run from them forever. Willy is a victim of his own fate.
ReplyDelete1) “I walked into the jungle, once I walked out I was rich”
In the play “Death of a Salesman” Willy believes that he is going to be very successful in life along with his kids. In my opinion Willy is just very materialistic and thinks that the slight success in his life is a lot greater than what it really is. Willy also strongly believes in “easy success” which would not be considered an idealistic way of being successful, because in our society being successful is through determination and hard work.
3) “A salesman is got to dream boy, it comes with the territory”-Charley
When Charley says a salesman needs to dream I think he means that you must think as if the sky is the limit by selling as many products as possible. Another positive characteristic a salesman must possess is that one must be hungry to market and sell their product by taking an offensive approach to sales.
Negative qualities for a salesman: -Being lazy, waiting for costumers to come to you. Also by not being able to describe why your product is better than your competitors.
5) “A man is not a piece of fruit”-Willy
Willy says this to Biff and Happy to describe that a man must act like a man and be well respected. Willy often refers to his parents and the ways in which he was raised so that his kids understand why he acts the way in which he does. Willy wants to save his kids from acting immature and respectful, teaching his kids how he was once raised.
7) “youre doing well enough willy” - Linda
Attributes and morals that are kept throughout the play is the belief of “easy success”. Willy along with the majority of the characters in this play we’re always will to work hard but I don’t think that they pushed themselves to their fullest potential at all times.
9) “They don’t need me in New York. I’m a New England Man, I’m vital there.”-Willy
- Willy try’s to make himself appear to be very successful and perfect for his family because he knows in reality that he isn’t exactly successful and needs to exaggerate his life. Willy says this quote because he wants to feel “vital” and important when in reality he really isn’t.
11) “you cant eat the orange and throw the peal away” – Willy
Miller is trying to teach his reader that “easy success” rarely exists. Also I believe that miller is trying to teach us as readers that there is a extreme difference in life between perception and reality.
ReplyDelete2: Miller says all Willy cares about is the perfect life and image. Capitalism being a free market doesn’t always help everyone involved. If the citizens are not paying than the citizens aren’t going to be taking in money.
4: Parents expect their kid to be a good kid and not go against authority and to graduate college but sometimes that isn’t the situation. In this case it is detrimental Willy kills himself basically over loving assand expecting too much of his kids. He loses focus on what the facts are. Biff one hundred percent struggles the most. For instance when Willy won’t let Biff speak about how his job interview went he just expects too much of him.
6: Willy is a tragic hero because his whole life he chases something that he never accomplished anything throughout his entire life. This is a modern day tragedy because Willy works so hard and is in the same job for years but can’t get a raise or anything because he never works for it.
8: The most significant symbol is Willy being the tragic hero and symbolizing the corrupt society today. To Willy, diamonds represent tangible wealth and image and the ability to pass material goods on to one’s kids, Willy can’t resist lying and telling the situation as it is. Correlatively, gold ,the discovery of which made Ben a fortune, symbolize Willy’s failure as a salesman. Despite Willy’s belief in the American Dream, a belief unwavering to the extent that he passed up the opportunity to go with Ben to Alaska, the Dream’s promise of financial security has eluded Willy. At the end of the p Ben encourages Willy to enter the jungle finally and this elusive diamond that is, to kill himself for insurance money in order to make his life meaningful
10: No, the characters in the play are not realistic, but they are just extreme realistic themes of characters. Willy represents society and how it is all corrupt around image. Yes I have known a friend that reminded me of Biff because his dad wanted him to do one thing but he wanted to go with what he really is and give up his “dream” that he and his dad had.
12: Symbolism and Irony because they both create a double meaning in the play with not only Willy, but with the entire situation too. It left an impression because I never want to be in a situation where I don’t have a job and have to live with my parents because I failed math in High School.
In reply to Drew's #11 I agree with the moral lessons he belives Miller applies
ReplyDeleteI agree to Molly's #1 and her opinion on what Materialistic and idealistic value is
I agree with Jake and his statement that the salery of a salesman would be dependent on how good of a sales man you are
Reply to Mitch Berry:
ReplyDeleteYou did a very good job characterizing Willy and explaing the difference between reality and perception, I know understand that Willy wants people to think that he's much better then he really is. Also you helped me to further understand the difference between materialism and idealism.
2. that is based on how rich you are and how well known you are. How they are trying to achieve the American dream. Willy wants his sons to make it as salesman like he did and become well known and rich.
ReplyDelete4. it has a lot on the children because if they are not what the parents wanted them to be they would feel like they are failing them. It could benefit them by the parents pushing them to good could help to be a better student and have a successful future. It also can be bad because they might not be able to do it and could stop trying because it got to hard. I believe Willy suffers the most because he loses place of were he is and just daydreams and later wakes up and notices were he is. Like when Willy is flashbacking to when Biff was a football star and had a bright life ahead of him.
6. Willy cause his own downfall. I believe Willy is a tragic hero. Aristotle. When Willy Encourages biff when he cheats, steals and lies to teachers and everyone.
8. stockings, car, and Ben. Stocking represented his mistress he had in boston. Car symbolizes how much he drove and how it was killing him. And how Ben is an imagination of willy and is talking to him about leaving being a salesman and go west but ben loves being a salesman.
10. yes, they could have represented a poor family who is trying to make it. Yes. No. How they are like a family who is trying to achieve the American dream.
12. symbolism is most effective. Cause almost everything was an important symbol in the story. It helped me understand how the story went along and how it all connected. How stockings represented willy cheating and how a rubber hose represented willy trying to commit suicide.
Reply to Jon
ReplyDeletejon you did a good job describing Willy and the future he had in mind for his sons. this shows reality vs perseption and the way that what he thinks is unrealistic. Willy does this with everything in his life and feels better lying about himself