The American Dream is the dominant theme, or main idea, in Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman’s notions of the American Dream equate success with being well-liked. Likeability is an important quality for a salesman like Willy, yet he is unable to achieve the success he desires.
Likewise, What is ironic about Willy’s death?
Willy’s death is ironic because he fails to accomplish his cherished goals of domestic happiness and professional success. At the end of the play, we learn that the only people who attend Willy’s funeral are his immediate family and Charley, his neighbor. No one else shows up, not even Willy’s boss Howard.
Also, Why did Willy’s boss fire him?
Charley offers Willy a job, but Willy refuses repeatedly. Charley is offended and becomes angry; however, he gives Willy the money. Willy reveals that Howard fired him. … He turned down Ben’s job because he wanted to prove to his brother that he could do just as well in Brooklyn.
Secondly, What is Willy’s dream?
He dreamed of being respected and honored by the people around him. He thought that respect and honor could be earned only by becoming a rich person. Willy was searching for that one wrong turn that he took in his life which is stopping him to achieve his dream.
Furthermore What do the stockings symbolize in Death of a Salesman? Stockings assume a metaphorical weight as the symbol of betrayal and sexual infidelity. New stockings are important for both Willy’s pride in being financially successful and thus able to provide for his family and for Willy’s ability to ease his guilt about, and suppress the memory of, his betrayal of Linda and Biff.
Why is Biff a failure?
Failure 3: Biff can’t seem to find a job that suits him, and although things were going well for him in Texas, he panicked because the job he had as a farmhand wasn’t the kind of job Willy expected him to have. … Biff failed to fulfill Willy’s expectations, and that makes him a complete failure in his father’s eyes.
What is the irony in Linda last speech?
The irony in the statement is that Willy Loman killed himself because he thought he was doing his family a favor. After years of working at a job he disliked trying to make enough money to support his family, his work has finally paid off.
What is the last line of Death of a Salesman?
After Biff comes toward her, Linda’s last words take on an additional implication, that Linda and her sons are now free from Willy. The words “We’re free” are the last words spoken in the play.
What is the most important scene in Death of a Salesman?
One of the most important scenes in Death of a Salesman is act 2, scene 3, when Bernard and Willy talk frankly about the real reason why Biff’s life fell apart after having such a promising future.
What did Linda pay off before the funeral?
The most ironic thing about Linda’s speech is when she says that she and the family are now « free. » In a financial sense, that’s perfectly true. Now that Linda’s finally paid off the mortgage, a great burden of debt has been lifted from everyone’s shoulders.
What is the meaning of Happy’s comments at Willy’s funeral?
The Meaning of Happy’s comments at Willy’s funeral seemed to be out of anger. Through he seems to want to make Willy’s dreams come true, he did sound frustrated and mad at his father for making such a decision without asking anyone for help. … We would’ve helped him.” Happy stated in the “Requiem” right after Act II.
What was wrong about Willy’s dreams?
Biff’s assessment that Willy had the wrong dreams was correct. Willy dreamed of getting rich quick through sales rather than developing his gifts through hard work and gaining expertise. His delusions about « easy money » left him unsuccessful and unfulfilled.
What is Willy’s idea of success?
Willy believes that a person must be « well-liked » to achieve true success. Wealth and riches are only part of success, for Willy. The other part of success is related to stature, respect, and reputation.
What was Willy’s problem?
Willy’s problem is his personality, or lack of it: he’s like a cancer within his family. He refuses to see his weaknesses, blaming his son Biff for them instead. In sales, you accept you have weaknesses, but you work on them while playing to your strengths.
What does Linda symbolize in Death of a Salesman?
Linda is probably the most enigmatic and complex character in Death of a Salesman, or even in all of Miller’s work. Linda views freedom as an escape from debt, the reward of total ownership of the material goods that symbolize success and stability.
Why does Linda put the rubber hose back?
Linda puts the hose back because she wants Willy to take the hose off himself. To confront him with the hose would be to insult him and his sense of pride.
What symbolizes money in Act 2 of Death of a Salesman?
Diamonds and the Jungle
The diamonds that made Ben rich are a symbol of concrete wealth in Death of a Salesman. Unlike sales in which Willy has nothing tangible to show for his work, the diamonds represent pure, unadulterated material achievement.
Is Biff Willy’s son?
Biff Loman
Willy’s thirty-four-year-old elder son. … Biff represents Willy’s vulnerable, poetic, tragic side. He cannot ignore his instincts, which tell him to abandon Willy’s paralyzing dreams and move out West to work with his hands. He ultimately fails to reconcile his life with Willy’s expectations of him.
What does Biff realize every time he comes home?
how do biff and happy seem to view women? what does biff realize every time he comes home? … happy wants power and to be recognized as the best. what drives Happy to want to succeed at his job?
Who is older Biff or happy?
Harold « Happy » Loman: Willy’s younger son. He has lived in the shadow of his older brother Biff most of his life and seems to be almost ignored, but he still tries to be supportive toward his family.
Why did Linda say we’re free?
At the end of Death of a Salesman, Linda says « we’re free » because she has just made the final payment on the Loman house.
What is ironic about Linda wondering why no one came to the funeral?
What is ironic about Linda’s wondering why no one came to the funeral? Throughout the play, Linda was the only character who consistently knew the truth. … She knew the truth of Willy’s previous suicide attempt. Of all people, she should be least surprised that no one would attend the funeral.
Why does Linda say they are free and clear?
Linda’s remark at the play’s end means that they’re now free of debt; the mortgage on the house has been paid, evidently with insurance money from Willy’s death. … All their lives together, they have struggled to make ends meet; finally the family has some money but only because Willy chose suicide.
How did the salesman die?
At the end of Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, the main character throughout the story, commits suicide in an automobile accident and dies. Willy commits this act to allow his family to cash in on his 20,000 dollar life insurance policy so that his son Biff can get the money he needs to start his own business.
How does Linda Loman suffer?
Linda is a woman in an awkward situation. She knows that Willy is suicidal, irrational, and difficult to deal with; however, she goes along with Willy’s fantasies in order to protect him from the criticism of others, as well as his own self-criticism.
What does Linda represent in Death of a Salesman?
Linda is probably the most enigmatic and complex character in Death of a Salesman, or even in all of Miller’s work. Linda views freedom as an escape from debt, the reward of total ownership of the material goods that symbolize success and stability.
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