Characters
Sleeps with his boss's fiancee and goes to their wedding
These represents the tangible wealth and success that Willy could have had and that Ben did have
Rubber tube, insurance policy, car accidents: All of this foreshadows Willy's death. These things also bring out the recurring theme of death. What is the proper literary term for ideas that appear multiple times throughout a literary work
Biff's main job the last few years
"The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want."
Willy's brother who found his fortune in Africa
This object represents Willy’s only tie to his father. It is heard throughout the play in the stage directions.
Willy is a failure but he keeps advising his sons about how to be a success. What device is being used here?
Seen mending stocking in each act
“Cant you stay a few days. You’re just what I need Be, because I - I have a fine position here but I - well, Dad left when I was such a baby and I never had a chance to talk to him and I still feel - kind of temporary about myself."
Helps Biff to study math and becomes a successful lawyer
This represents and foreshadows Willy's suicide
Why are flashbacks used in the play? What type of information do they give us about characters?
to provide a deeper understanding of a current situation or a character's behavior
Willy thinks these are the most important characteristics in a person
"I don't say he's a great man. Willie Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person."
The boss that Biff and Happy are going to ask to borrow money from
These represent Willy's betrayal of Linda and his family and the guilt he feels about it
Identify two things that foreshadow Willy's approaching suicide
As a child what does Happy say to gain his father's attention?
"Well, I spent six or seven years after high school trying to work myself up. Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another. And it’s a measly manner of existence. To get on that subway on the hot mornings in summer. To devote your whole life to keeping stock, or making phone calls, or selling or buying. To suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors with your shirt off. And always to have to get ahead of the next fella. And still—that’s how you build a future."
Gives Willy money every week so that he can pass it off as his paycheck
These represent Willy's desire to start over
How does Willie pay for Biff's correspondence courses?
“Why boys when I was 17 I walked into the jungle , and when I was 21 I walked out. And by God I was rich."