"First time in thirty-five years we were just about free and clear. He only needed a little salary. He was even finished with the dentist" (Death of a Salesman, 1629).
I didn't know you could use the word "requiem" in this kind of context. It makes me think of that "Pie Jesu" song that everybody sings everywhere all the time if you're Catholic. I think of a "requiem" as a song for the dead, so it's a cool way to title the little epilogue.
The principle irony I found in the Requiem was that Laura paid off the house right around the same time that Willy died. Had he not committed suicide, their monthly payments would have decreased, and he would not have needed to provide as much money as before. Seriously -- way to choose an optimal time to die, Willy.
And then we have Biff and Happy still arguing over their father's grave. Biff says, "[Willy] had all the wrong dreams," while Happy argues, "He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have -- to come out number-one man. He fought it out here and this is where I'm gonna win it for him" (1629-30). Biff's attitude is pretty harsh -- especially when they're talking in front of Willy's tombstone. However, Biff seems to have a better understanding of Willy's unrealistic ideals than Happy does. This indicates to me that Biff is a more dynamic character than Happy -- Biff catches on to the idea that perhaps the Lomans are not meant to be salesman after all.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Volume of a Region Rotated About an Axis
"Tell you a secret, boys. Don't breathe it to a soul. Someday I'll have my own business, and I'll never have to leave home any more" (Death of a Salesman, 1559).
Coughdramaticironycough.
Do I think that Willy is a tragic hero? My first thought is that no, I don't think that Willy exemplifies any of the characteristics of dramatic heroes. In fact, his flaws are so easy to point out that it makes me feel really sorry for him -- so I'll start there.
In our small group discussion, some people said that Willy's tragic flaw was his idealism, and others said it was his pride. I say, why can't it be a combination? My quote for this blog post is a good example of his extreme idealism -- idealism that never actually pulls through in the end. But it comes right after an interesting conversation Willy was having with young Biff -- "If somebody else took that ball there'd be an uproar," says Willy (1558). Later he says, "You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer" (1561). Aside from the fact that that's probably a complete lie, Willy is extremely cocky. So prideful and idealistic that he ends up nowhere -- a sense of realism and humility (like that of Charley's*) would have brought him a better life, arguably.
As I said, it's easy to find Willy's flaws -- he cheats on Laura, encourages Biff's stealing, and has a horrible sales record. Perhaps the reason that I feel sorry for him is an indication that he may have some heroic qualities after all. His stuck-in-the-past-ness that he shares with Amanda in The Glass Menagerie is certainly a sympathetic character trait. Though he's not realistic or truthful, Willy cares about his family and wants to see Biff and Happy become successful adults. That's a major factor that pushes him to commit suicide at the end of the play. Laura, Biff, and Happy acquired insurance money to pay off bills and start business. The suicide was extremely unfortunate, of course, but we can't say that it lacked nobility.
*Side note: One of the primary things (that's right, I said "things") I got from this play was from the childhood clash between Biff and Bernard. I think Death of a Salesman is a cautionary tale for those people who don't take math seriously.
Coughdramaticironycough.
Do I think that Willy is a tragic hero? My first thought is that no, I don't think that Willy exemplifies any of the characteristics of dramatic heroes. In fact, his flaws are so easy to point out that it makes me feel really sorry for him -- so I'll start there.
In our small group discussion, some people said that Willy's tragic flaw was his idealism, and others said it was his pride. I say, why can't it be a combination? My quote for this blog post is a good example of his extreme idealism -- idealism that never actually pulls through in the end. But it comes right after an interesting conversation Willy was having with young Biff -- "If somebody else took that ball there'd be an uproar," says Willy (1558). Later he says, "You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer" (1561). Aside from the fact that that's probably a complete lie, Willy is extremely cocky. So prideful and idealistic that he ends up nowhere -- a sense of realism and humility (like that of Charley's*) would have brought him a better life, arguably.
As I said, it's easy to find Willy's flaws -- he cheats on Laura, encourages Biff's stealing, and has a horrible sales record. Perhaps the reason that I feel sorry for him is an indication that he may have some heroic qualities after all. His stuck-in-the-past-ness that he shares with Amanda in The Glass Menagerie is certainly a sympathetic character trait. Though he's not realistic or truthful, Willy cares about his family and wants to see Biff and Happy become successful adults. That's a major factor that pushes him to commit suicide at the end of the play. Laura, Biff, and Happy acquired insurance money to pay off bills and start business. The suicide was extremely unfortunate, of course, but we can't say that it lacked nobility.
*Side note: One of the primary things (that's right, I said "things") I got from this play was from the childhood clash between Biff and Bernard. I think Death of a Salesman is a cautionary tale for those people who don't take math seriously.
And it turns out that I accidentally slept with a prostitute last night.
"Gee, on the way home tonight I'd like to buy some seeds" (Death of a Salesman, 1585).
Throughout Willy's life, he tries to find his place and leave his mark, but his promises are typically empty. Willy told Biff and Happy that he would "have [his] own business" and would "show [them] all the towns" at some point, but that never actually happened (1559). Willy always thought that the key to success was to be liked -- "be liked and you will never want" (1561). However, whatever idealism Willy displays, his neighbor Charlie outperforms him. Charley encourages his son Bernard to study in school, talks less, sells more, and is somehow better liked than Willy (1563). In a way, the two families are foils; we've got Willy versus Charlie and Biff versus Bernard. Willy's optimism is nothing, for he has found no success in being a salesman.
Once Willy has his mind set on committing suicide, his mind returns instantly to the promise he made Laura (quoted at the top of the page). He tells his waiter Stanley, "Oh, I'd better hurry. I've got to get some seeds" (1619). Then, on the night of his death, he plants a garden and has hallucinations about discussing his suicide with his brother Ben.
Before I continue to analyze the significance of the garden, I'd like to point out that this is really sad. Willy found so little success in his life that all he feels he can contribute is a hastily organized garden that most likely won't even last. Simultaneously, his own sons abandoned him to hook up with call girls, and the only person he can talk to as he plants is his brother Ben, who is dead. And it's not even like they slept with the prostitutes on accident (I'm looking at you, Sam Seaborn). That's sad.
I would say that the garden is an important motif in Miller's play. The garden represents the Willy's failure to meet any of his goals in life -- his sons have hazy futures, he was fired from his position, and despite his most idealistic dreams, he is not well liked among his customers.
Throughout Willy's life, he tries to find his place and leave his mark, but his promises are typically empty. Willy told Biff and Happy that he would "have [his] own business" and would "show [them] all the towns" at some point, but that never actually happened (1559). Willy always thought that the key to success was to be liked -- "be liked and you will never want" (1561). However, whatever idealism Willy displays, his neighbor Charlie outperforms him. Charley encourages his son Bernard to study in school, talks less, sells more, and is somehow better liked than Willy (1563). In a way, the two families are foils; we've got Willy versus Charlie and Biff versus Bernard. Willy's optimism is nothing, for he has found no success in being a salesman.
Once Willy has his mind set on committing suicide, his mind returns instantly to the promise he made Laura (quoted at the top of the page). He tells his waiter Stanley, "Oh, I'd better hurry. I've got to get some seeds" (1619). Then, on the night of his death, he plants a garden and has hallucinations about discussing his suicide with his brother Ben.
Before I continue to analyze the significance of the garden, I'd like to point out that this is really sad. Willy found so little success in his life that all he feels he can contribute is a hastily organized garden that most likely won't even last. Simultaneously, his own sons abandoned him to hook up with call girls, and the only person he can talk to as he plants is his brother Ben, who is dead. And it's not even like they slept with the prostitutes on accident (I'm looking at you, Sam Seaborn). That's sad.
I would say that the garden is an important motif in Miller's play. The garden represents the Willy's failure to meet any of his goals in life -- his sons have hazy futures, he was fired from his position, and despite his most idealistic dreams, he is not well liked among his customers.
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