English 11 semester 2

Abigail Williams

- A devious, smart liar - Portrayed as the main antagonist - Reverend Parris's niece - Had an affair with John Proctor - Once a servant for the Proctor household but was fired by Elizabeth Proctor after the affair - Causes the entire witch hunt in the first place - Motives: (1) protecting herself (2) getting Elizabeth out of the way

Reverend John Hale

- A very smart man who is able to think clearly - An expert on witchcraft - Called in to Salem to perform an exorcism on Betty - He participates heavily in the witch trials, but later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of the accused by having them confess - Motives: (1) religion (2) having a clean conscious

John proctor

- Generally stern and harsh-tongued - Hates hypocrisy - A farmer - Husband of Elizabeth Proctor - Had an affair with Abigail Williams - Executed in the end of the book - Doesn't know all the 10 commandments - Motives: (1) love for Elizabeth (2) hate for Abigail (3) moral correctness

Who is Ben? Why does Ben appear?

Ben is Willy's adventurous and lucky older brother. He only appears in the play as a character in Willy's troubled imagination.

Is he a born loser, or does he stand in his own way to success? Explain.

It is in this manner that he stood in his own way to success, for his failure to adapt and work the system he was given. There was a way for him to succeed, but Willy unfortunately ended up choosing the wrong path. No one is born a loser, and Willy Loman is no exception to this either. But he made himself a loser in the end.

What does Linda think is the trouble with Willy's life? Why is she angry at her sons?

Linda thinks the trouble in his life is going from salary to commission; she is angry with her sons because they don't seem to care about their father as much as she does

Who suffers most from Willy's delusions? Why?

Linda(is wife) suffers the most from Willys delusions because she cares that maybe something bad can happen to him

Does Biff's antagonism cause Willy's failure or merely intensify the failure he already experiences?

Biff and his antagonism seem to make things worse for Willy. He is a failure and Biff cannot forget such failure.

Why does Biff confront Willy and Happy?

Biff confronts Willy and Happy because they know that Willy is trying to kill himself.

What does Biff do that elates Willy?

Biff cries

How does Biff as a football hero embody his father's dreams?

Biff embodies his fathers dreams because he finds out his father was cheating on his mother

How is Biff's self-realization dramatic?

Biff gains self-awareness, sees his life for what it has been.. a failure. Yet he knows he can improve when he says "theres a better life out there waiting for me the moment i say i know who i am!" He is willing to change and accept reality.

Why did Biff go to Boston?

Biff goes to Boston because he failed math

What does Biff discover about himself?How does this discovery affect his relationship with Willy?

Biff is very much like his father. He was taught to carry only about being well-known and liked as a gateway to success. That is proven later on as a false. Biff's values are demonstrated in a flashback where Bernard urges Biff to study for an Algebra exam but refuses since is only concern is to be the popular boy.

Why does Biff show him the rubber hose?

Biff shows him because he wants him to know that he knows the truth

How does what Biff learn in Boston influence his life?

Biff went to Boston to catch up with his beloved father before his college visit. When he finds his father with another woman, he realized that Willy is truly a fake, and does not have the great qualities which Biff had formerly believed his father held.

Bill oliver

Biff's old employer who no longer remembers him when Biff goes to his workplace to ask for a job.

How is Charley's view of what a salesman needs different from Willy's view?

Charley doesn't think you need to be well liked unlike Willy who thinks it is the most important thing.

Why does Charley visit? How does he feel about Willy? How and why do they insult each other?

Charley goes to visit to play cards.He cares about Willy and wants to help him; he offers him a job.Willy starts the insult session. He's humiliated and insulted that Charley would offer him a job. They insult each other over nonsense.

Jenny

Charley's secretary

How does Linda treat Willy?

Emotionally supportive and always says yes

Why won't Happy go out West with Biff, and why won't Biff stay?

Happy has a steady job in NY and wants to stay by his family and Biff sleeps with all wives and takes bribes to move up

In the restaurant, how does Happy reflect Willy's values? Why does Miller have the girls come in?

Happy reflects Willy's values because he charms the girls like Willy; the girls come in because they show the influence that their father had.

Willy praises and then curses the Chevrolet; he tells Linda that he's very well liked, and then says that people don't seem to take to him. What do these inconsistencies tell us about Willy?

He contradicts himself and is not thinking right

What does this tell us about Willy?

He contradticts himself means that he's incapable of having a steady mind

How does Willy describe Biff?

He describes him lazy but hardworking and moody not happy

Why does Willy keep planting seeds where they've never grown before?

He hopes that they will grow

Why does biff come home in the spring?

He is feeling lost and unsure of who he is and what he wants out of life. He thinks by coming home he can figure things out.

Why is Willy interested when Biff mentions Bill Oliver? Why do they argue? How does Happy try to capture attention?

He is interested because he once stole from him and so he does not think he will get a loan; they argue because Willy is happy that Biff is trying; Happy tries to capture the attention by not telling too many jokes but also not being too serious and saying that is wanting to get married.

He says the boys look like Adonises. What other clues show that Willy believes in appearances?

He is well liked and believes that's what you need to be successful.

Why is Willy home?

He was in a transe, almost hit someone

How does Biff's realization that his life is a lie underline the theme of the play? Why does Biff take Bill Oliver's fountain pen? Why can't he tell his father what happened with Bill Oliver?

His realization of his life because Biff believes that he couldn't take orders from people; he takes the pen because he tries to tell them that the pen was stolen but Willy got fired so he has to have something good to tell Linda

Why does Howard tell Willy to drop off his samples and forbid him to go to Boston? Why is this such a blow to Willy?

Howard is trying to fire Willy; Willy blows because he is being fired from his job.

Is Biff trying to spite Willy?

No he is not

Why does Linda tell the boys, "Get out of here, both of you, and don't come back!"?

Says this because the boys left the restaurant and don't seem to care about their father.

why is Linda alarmed that he is?

She is alarmed because something is not right with him

How else does she influence Willy? Discuss Linda's remark, "Attention—attention must finally be paid to such a man!" What is the effect of the switch in Linda's speech to this very formal statement? Why does Miller use it?

She just tries to make him make the right choices and not make dumb ones.

"Five hundred gross in Providence" becomes "roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip." How does Linda take Willy's stories? What does this reveal about her? Why does Willy make a fuss about Linda's mending stockings? How is this important to the play?

She's a yes person. and not confronting willy bc she doesn't want to upset him and hurt his ego. He feels guilty for buying the girl new stockings and not his wife, also to prideful

Symbols that are used throughout the play

Stockings, seeds, Rubber hole, and flute

Why is Willy's mood upbeat at the start of Act Two? What does he expect to happen?

Willy is happy because he is having dinner with his sons and they are all getting along; he is expecting good news about the loan with Biff.

What is he searching for throughout the play? Why doesn't he find it? Did he have a chance of fulfilling it? Did he have the wrong dream? Inappropriate attitudes?

Willy is searching for the moment his life took a wrong turn. He doesn't find it because its impossible. Willy never had a chance of fulfilling his dream.Perhaps his dream was the right one for him, but even then, he went about going after it in an entirely inappropriate manner, and definitely with inappropriate attitudes.

What does Willy's reaction to Biff's theft of the football tell us about Willy?

Willy laughed it off because he figured he needed the football to practice and tells us he has favoritism towards Biff.

What legacy does Willy leave his family?

Willy legacy is that maybe probably they might think he is crazy but at least he found what he was looking for.

What is Willy's philosophy?

Willy says success is based on popularity and not hard work

Why does Willy tell Howard about Dave Singleton? Describe the dramatic effect when Howard listens to the voices of his family while Willy tries to talk business.

Willy tells Howard above Dave Singleton because he does not want to travel anymore and does not want to die the death of a salesman like Dave had; it seems like Howard doesn't care and that Willy is not important

Why does Willy think Biff will be impressed with his funeral?

Willy thinks Biff will be impressed because there will be many people since he is well liked

Why does Willy think Biff is spiting him?

Willy thinks that Biff is spitting him because of his failure

What does Willy think about the future? About the past?

Willy thinks you should do whatever you can to win in the future he is always thinking about the past

Why cant Biff believe in his father?

doesn't believe his father because his life is a lie.

Why does Willy exaggerate Biff's importance?

exaggerates Biff because it is his son and he wants him to look successful

Why is Willy able to ask Charley for money?

he asks for the money because he knows he will kill himself so it wouldn't matter anyways

What does Biff discover when he sees the Women?

he discovers that his dad is cheating on his mom

Willy

is the main protagonist; An insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman. Willy believes wholeheartedly in the American Dream of easy success and wealth, but he never achieves it. Nor do his sons fulfill his hope that they will succeed where he has failed. When Willy's illusions begin to fail under the pressing realities of his life, his mental health begins to unravel. The overwhelming tensions caused by this disparity, as well as those caused by the societal imperatives that drive Willy, form the essential conflict of Death of a Salesman.

How has the neighborhood changed?

it used to be grass, now houses and cars

How do the boys feel about Wily?

more worried, willing to address it

Why is it that Biff never went to school school?

never went to summer school because he tried to work and never graduated

Why does Ben say that Biff will call Willy a fool?

says this because Biff will know that Willy killed himself.

Does Linda help or hinder Willy in overlooking his small sales and his dishonest attempts to make them seem bigger?

she might be doing more harm than good because Willy already seems to be heavily out of touch with reality

Why does Linda put the rubber hose back after she had taken it? What does this tell about her?

she puts the rubber hose back because she doesn't want to upset Willy if he is to see that it is removed; this tells us that she has a true concern for Willy.

How do they act toward Willy? How does Willy feel about Charley and Bernard?

they admired their father when they were younger. Jealous of Charley because he's successful and thinks Bernard is Ahemic and is going nowhere

Why do Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant?

they leave because Willy is having a mental break down and they deny him as their father.

How does Happy try to attract Willy's attention?

tries to get Willy's attention by saying that he is a buyer

Does Biff use Willy's behavior as an excuse for his own waywardness?

yes

Theme

American dream and Betrayled

What social criticism is Miller making in Death of a salesman?

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman portrays the Loman's and all the family conflicts they faced. It's also apparent on a bigger scale that this play is a social commentary. It touches all the problems brought on by wealth and success in our culture. Death of a Salesman is more effective as a reflection of society and the problems it faces than as a depiction of family conflicts.

Why is Willy annoyed at Biff?

Because he doesn't have a steady job and works on a farm

Why does it matter to the story that Willys surroundings are no longer the way they used to be?

Because it use to be better before

How does Ben influence Willy at this point?

Ben influences Willy because he doesn't push him away from killing himself to get money.

Stanley

A waiter at Frank's Chop House. Stanley and Happy seem to be friends

How does Ben affect Willy? How does he influence the events in the play?

Ben is the person Willy holds up as an example of success. He calls his brother a genius, and he looks to him for advice.

What does Ben teach Biff? Why does Willy feel "kind of temporary" about himself and want Ben to stay?

Ben teaches Biff that to be successful you must be will liked; Willy feels temporary because of his father leaving and Ben is a connection to his father and the past.

Bernard

Bernard is Charley's son and an important, successful lawyer. Although Willy used to mock Bernard for studying hard, Bernard always loved Willy's sons dearly and regarded Biff as a hero. Bernard's success is difficult for Willy to accept because his own sons' lives do not measure up.

In what ways does Willy not fit into the definition of an average working man building a secure home for his family? In what ways does he represent Everyman? How does Willy represent more?

The average working man is usually somewhat successful in securing an income for his family, Willy in this respect is a pretty big failure at providing for his family. His want to provide for his family is precisely how he represents Everyman, its not uncommon to feel like one NEEDS to do this. Willy pretty much wanted to do what he could but always ended up failing, blaming the world for everything along the way, he was in dire-straits.

Is Willy's death in a car more or less appropriate than a suicide using the rubber hose on the water heater would be? Why? What harm does Willy's death do? What good?

The fact that he committed suicide and died by way of a car is much more appropriate than gas poisoning by inhaling the fumes from the water heater. There was kind of no harm but good cause all the family was coming out good

What is the Climax of the play?

The final fight is the climax of the play. Biff knowing that his life and his father's life has been a lie tries to bring Willy to the light and in hopes of helping each other to a better state.

Why doesn't either son get married and settle down?

They both want a wife like there mom

How does Willy act toward the boys when they are young?

Treats Biff like a star and Happy is a under shadow.

Miss Forsythe and Letta

Two young women whom Happy and Biff meet at Frank's Chop House. It seems likely that Miss Forsythe and Letta are prostitutes, judging from Happy's repeated comments about their moral character and the fact that they are "on call."

From the author's description at the start of the play, what do we know about Linda? What can we guess? Does she know about the Woman in Boston? What makes you think she does or doesn't?

What I know is that Linda is kind and generous lady. She hears one word and understands two when it comes to her husband.I do not believe that she knows about the Woman in Boston. I do not think Linda would treat Willy so well if she knew he was having an affair with another woman.

Why does Charley say Willy hasn't grown up?

Willy hasn't grown up because he is placing more importance on the football game then on the hard work.

What is Willy's dream?

Willy Loman's dream is to become a great man.

Why doesn't Willy want to see Linda?

Willy doesn't want to see Linda because he feels guilty that he's cheating on her

How is Willy's killing himself for the insurance money symptomatic of the way he has lived?

Willy was always looking for his purpose in life and when he killed himself for the insurance it just proved to his family that he had found the purpose he was looking for.

Why won't Willy work for Charley?

Willy wont work for Charley because he wants to be proud of his job since he lost his last one

Howard

Willy's boss.

What is Willy's impression of Bernard when he sees him in his father's office?

Willy's impression is contradictory, feels pride and envy

Linda

Willy's loyal, loving wife. Linda suffers through Willy's grandiose dreams and self-delusions.

The women

Willy's mistress when Happy and Biff were in high school. Willy's hookup

Charley

Willy's next-door neighbor. Charley owns a successful business. Charley gives Willy money to pay his bills, and Willy reveals at one point, choking back tears, that Charley is his only friend.

Biff

Willy's thirty-four-year-old elder son. Biff led a charmed life in high school as a football star with scholarship prospects, good male friends, and fawning female admirers. He failed math, however, and did not have enough credits to graduate.

Happy

Willy's thirty-two-year-old younger son. Happy has lived in Biff's shadow all of his life, but he compensates by nurturing his relentless sex drive and professional ambition. Happy represents Willy's sense of self-importance, ambition, and blind servitude to societal expectations. Although he works as an assistant to an assistant buyer in a department store, Happy presents himself as supremely important.

Uncle Ben

Willy's wealthy older brother. Ben has recently died and appears only in Willy's "daydreams."

Why does Bernard ask what happened after the game at Ebbet's Field?

asks what happened because Biff changed after this game.

Why can't Biff be what his father wants him to be?

because he doesn't go to summer school and he gave up on success.

Why does Biff steal things?

because of his father's moral weakness