Death of a Salesman Quote(s) Analysis

"William, when I was 17 I walked into the jungle, and when I was 21 I walked out, and by God I was rich."

(Ben to Willy) This quote is Willy's subconscious speaking to himself, represented as his brother, Ben. Willy doesn't really see that, it is just his brother talking to him. Out of the two brothers, Ben was really the only one to achieve the American Dream. Willy still longs to achieve the American Dream and hopes for Happy and Biff to possibly achieve the American Dream. Willy uses this quote to compensate the truth of how hard the American Dream really is. Willy just thinks that you literally step into a "jungle" and become rich, like his brother Ben did.

"The man didn't know who he was."

(Biff to Charley) During the Requiem as well. Biff is speaking with Charley about Willy and then this quote comes up. Biff is the only one to clear up about the type of man Willy really was, as Happy and Linda were the ones to run away from the truth. Biff understands how Willy was always living a false life. Willy has always surrounded himself around the illusions of his false success and the future success of his two sons, Biff and Happy. What Willy always longed for was to achieve the American Dream, but the reality was the Willy was never fit for it. And Biff is the only one who was willing to admit this.

"Spite is the word of your undoing. And when you're down and out remember what did it."

(Willy to Biff) During this quote, Willy and Biff are in a dispute because Biff is tired of everyone acting like someone who they are not. As Biff and Willy argue about their wrongs, Willy says this quote. Biff and Willy are lashing at each other, and this is when Willy makes his statement. Willy is warning Biff that whatever hes says or uses against Willy, cannot be undone.

"I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been."

(Biff to Happy) Back at the restaurant, Biff explains to Happy the events of his "meeting" with Oliver for the loan. Biff shares with Happy that after sitting so long waiting for Oliver to show up, he had finally put the pieces together and realized that Willy had brainwashed both Biff and Happy to thinking that they will be as successful salesman like Willy was. This quote is significant to the plot because Biff reaches his climax and is held off the false restraints of Willy's success plans.

"Hap, he's got to understand that I'm not the man somebody lends that kind of money to."

(Biff to Happy) In this point of the story, Biff and Happy are discussing Biff's visit to Oliver for a loan and how it didn't end too well. This is when we learn the truth behind the man that Biff is. Biff reveals that he steals to cope with the anxieties that he suffers from. While Happy learns of this, Happy insists that Biff should lie to Willy in order for Willy to be happy about the visit. As we can see, Happy , and Linda, are still under the influence that Willy needs to feel good about himself and that they need to compensate him so that he is "healthy". Biff just wants to tell Willy the truth, but Happy wants him to lie about the visit.

"Pop! I'm a dime a dozen."

(Biff to Willy) This occurs during the final confrontation between Biff and Willy. Biff has been trying to explain to his father that Biff and Happy were never bound to be famous salesman, and that Willy himself was not bound either. Biff uses the idiom "dime a dozen" to explain to Willy that he, Happy, and Willy were just regular, average human beings.

"Nobody dast blame this man."

(Charley to Biff) Charley is referring to how nobody should put the blame Willy because "a salesman is got to dream." And the dream is? Well, the American Dream of course. Charley is emphasizing how Willy got thrown into the endless pit of unlucky salesman who will never achieve the American Dream. And just like Willy, the unlucky salesman Charley refers to never gave up and just put themselves under the false pretense of them being top notch and highly demanded salesman.

"No man only needs a little salary."

(Charley to Linda) This quote is spoken in the Requiem, during the funeral of Willy. Linda is talking about how when they actually get to own the house, after 35 years, Willy could not be there to enjoy, and that all he needed was a little bit of more money to finally close down the deal; all he needed was a "little salary". This is when Charley puts his two cents in and says "No man only needs..." Charley signifies that Willy was under the wrong impression, thinking that he could provide and essentially "live the American Dream" only working off commission.

"He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have - to come out number one man."

(Happy to Biff) This quote is spoken before Happy makes the foolish choice to follow his father's footsteps. Happy acknowledges to seeing what troubles Willy was put through. Entirely, this one quote could represent the novel the whole theme of "achieving the American Dream." All Willy every wanted was to be the best of salesman, make sure his sons follow the same trail, and to have a lasting legacy on his name, much like Dave Singleman.

"No, that's not my father, that's just a guy."

(Happy to the women) Happy, on his way out of the restaurant, disregards his own father in order for him to maintain a "safe" reputation towards the new women and the bar and attract them. This goes to show how Happy and Willy's relationship is way weaker than what Biff and Willy have. A couple of lines before, when Willy enters the restaurant, Biff greets Willy to the women, calling Willy "a prince". Meanwhile, Happy just disregards Willy completely.

"Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person."

(Linda to Biff and Happy) In this quote, Linda is having a discussion with Biff on his current relationship with his father Willy. Biff is outraged that everyone keeps compensating too much for his peculiar actions and that Willy is only turning out for the worse. Biff wants to confront Willy about it, but Linda and Happy keep telling Biff that he is going through heavy amounts of stress and exhaustion, and the only good thing Biff can do for him is to pay attention to him. This shows how Linda tries her best to take care of Willy as best as she can, regardless of how he has been behaving. Linda is aware of what her husband is going through and demands everyone in the house, including Biff, to pay attention to him.

"A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man."

(Linda to Biff and Happy) Linda is still trying to explain to the boys, mainly Biff, why Willy shouldn't be confronted about his uncertain behaviors. Linda, calling Willy a "small man", knows of Willy's very little success, but she still believes that he has put in work. Linda compares the "small man" to a "great man" to show that even though both are different, both "man" go through the hard labors of work, whether they achieve the American Dream or not. Linda is aware of Willy's little success when she mentions that Willy has been working at his company for 36 years and now, they have turned their back on Willy.

"Did you see how he cried to me? Oh if I could kiss him."

(Willy to Ben) This occurs after the dispute is over between Biff and Willy. Willy is in the kitchen with "subconscious" Ben. This quote reveals Willy's true humanity towards his son, Biff. Willy reveals the true sympathy and faith he has always had in Biff. Since the beginning, Willy has put a lot of faith into the future of Biff. "If I could kiss him". IF. The word "if" is symbolic of how Willy knows that if he chose the right path and made the right decision, Biff could have achieved much more.

"Does it take more guts to stand here the rest of my life ringing up a zero?"

(Willy to Ben) Willy is speaking with Ben, his subconscious, about his final mission to leave something behind for his family; or Biff rather. This question that Willy asks himself represents his feelings towards the next course of actions that he will take in order to provide and leave behind funds for Biff. Willy is really asking himself "Is my existence really worth if I'm not providing anything?" I think at this point Willy has given up on himself and the American Dream. Willy feels like he has no other will to remain alive and no more dignity as a man.

"Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter."

(Willy to Biff) As Linda, Biff, and Happy discuss the remarkable discovery of the rubber pipe , Willy walks into the room as Biff is talking about how he will help by finding a job. Willy says the quote as a snot remark to Biff, saying being a carpenter is such a bad job that Biff's grandfather was not a carpenter, in fact, he was better than a carpenter. This shows how Willy has very high expectations for his sons to achieve success out there in the real world. He doesn't just want them being carpenters, Willy wants them to be salesmen.

"I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman!"

(Willy to Biff) This quote is still during the confrontation between Biff and Willy. Willy still cannot accept the fact that his goal of achieving the American Dream and becoming a successful salesman will never happen. Willy is obsessed with becoming rich and popular like his infamous brother, Ben, and the most well known salesman, Dave Singleman. But for Willy it is almost impossible to grasp the idea of not being admired by people and building a great reputation. The only one who can understand the realities of life is Biff, and only Biff. Happy is also still under the impression that he is going to be successful by listening to his father.

"I always felt that if a man was impressive and well liked, that nothing-"

(Willy to Charley) In this quote, Willy approaches Charley for a loan of money to pay his rent. We learn that Charley has been doing this for quite some time. In the conversation, Willy is expressing to Charley one of his many illusions. In this illusion, Willy thought that to be rich and successful, you need to be well known and well liked, regardless of performance. Charley breaks it to him and tells him that it is truly how you perform, whether or not people like you.

"Where are you guys, where are you? The woods are burning! I can't drive a car!"

(Willy to Happy) Happy goes downstairs to find Willy sitting at the kitchen table. While engaging in a conversation Willy starts venting about how easy it was for a man to "walk into a jungle" and come out rich so easily. Happy mentions that he will eventually help Willy on his retirement, and this sets off Willy, saying there is no way he will retire him with just 70 dollars a week. This is when Willy says "Where are you guys, where are you?". Willy is asking for help from his two sons. Then he says, "The woods are burning! I cant drive a car!" Willy mentioning that the "woods are burning" is symbolic of how his life is falling apart: he can't achieve the American Dream, his two sons are not helping him, and the rest of the events unfold as the story develops.

"You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit!"

(Willy to Howard) At this moment in the novel, Willy is pleading to Howard for his job. Willy uses this metaphor in order to emphasize how much he has contributed to the company and how long he has been established with the company. Willy has been through thick and thin with the company, and in the end he is left only working on commission. Willy feels as if the company is simply throwing away his job like you would "throw the peel away". Willy is in the illusion that it is still possible for him to achieve the American Dream, but in reality, Willy has hit rock bottom, and it is impossible for him to climb back up.

"Work a lifetime to pay off a home, you finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it"

(Willy to Linda) Very early stages of the play. Willy and Linda are having a conversation, as he has just come back from work. Simply, this quote symbolizes one of the many struggles of average American life and working towards the American Dream. This quote can also be an enormous foreshadow of how Willy is finally able to pay off the house, but is physically unable to enjoy it because he is dead.

"Tell me is there a seed store in the neighborhood?"

(Willy to Stanley the waiter) This quote takes place after Willy, in the restaurant by himself come backs from his day dream about Biff finding out the affair between Willy and the mistress in Boston. On his way out, he asks the waiter, Stanley, where the nearest seed store is. This confuses Stanley. The reason Willy asks if there is a seed store is because it is really the only option left for him to leave something behind for his family. He has lost his job, so he can no longer provide. Willy feels the sudden urge to go plant something into the ground in order to feel like he has actually succeeded in something in his life.