DOAS 2.7 Flashcards
Planting Seeds
. “He is in the blue of the night” his life is ending
. “A man can’t go out the way he came in… a man has to add up to something” must metaphorically plant seeds to make something out of himself, sustain family
. The seed he planted metaphorically: the life insurance policy, struggled to pay for, working “like a coolie to meet every premium on the nose”
Talking to Ben
. “the woman has suffered” life insurance will help
. Says he has “nobody to talk to” but Ben
. Willy sees his money as “guaranteed, gilt-edged”, but it might not be paid if they know it was suicide
. Ben agrees “that is something one can feel with the hand”, Willy convincing himself?
. “They might not honour the policy… it’s called a cowardly thing” Willy waves it aside
. Ben says Biff will call him “coward”, “damned fool”
Willy’s Speech about his Funeral
. Willy wants to be remembered like Singleman
. Poignant: signs of his chronic self-delusion
. He cries “I am known!”, thinks he’ll have a well attended funeral: “from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire!”
. His death will be lonely + tragic, suicide will invalidate the life insurance policy
Another Change in Time
. Willy reminisces and we hear music
. The greatness of old times: when Biff looked up to him and spent his time “simonising, simonising that little red car”
. Ben “drifts upstage”, Biff arrives, shift back to present
The Rubber Tube - Biff’s intention
. Biff doesn’t want to fool his father any longer or have him live in false hope about possibility of him working with Bill Oliver
. He’s truthful: “I’ve got no appointment, Dad.”
. Willy tries to cajole him into lying again: “He put his arm around you and you’ve got no appointment?”
Response to Biff’s intention
. Admirable: he’s trying to make peace after years
. Handshake calculated to put both minds at rest and let them part amicably
. Cowardly: Biff isn’t brave enough to go into real reason of disagreement so tries to paper over dispute
. “Let’s just wrap it up heh?”
How does situation turn out?
. Willy won’t conform to Biff’s terms
. Even though Biff is taking the blame (“This isn’t your fault; it’s me, I’m a bum.”) Willy won’t let him have things his way + refuses to go in with him to tell Linda they’ve made peace
Willy’s Refusal
. Still believes Biff is refusing to be successful to spite him: “I want you to know… wherever you go, that you cut down your life for spite”
. Sees it as a punishment for his infidelity
. So he’s worried Biff will blame him for not being successful: “don’t you dare blame it on me!”
Sympathy with Willy’s position
. Biff doesn’t SEEM to blame W for his failure
. Willy’s fear could be valid: he did encourage B to be sporty over academic + bullied academic Bernard
. But this fear could be seen as a selfish response to a situation that has nothing to do with him
. Biff’s failure is his: “I’m not blaming it on you!”
Biff’s attack on Willy
. Wants him to confront his problems
. “I never saw that” Willy can’t face reality
. “This supposed to make me feel sorry for you?” Harsh, but wants to shock him into seeing the truth
. “There’ll be no pity for you.”
. Wants him to face “what you are and what I am!”
Biff’s self-recognition
. “I stole myself out of every goddamn job since high school!” Huge scene of anagnorisis
. Accusing: “You blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody!”
. Realisation he isn’t special: “I’m a dime a dozen and so are you!” Biff can face the truth Willy can’t
. W: “You vengeful, spiteful mut!”, B: “There’s no spite in it anymore, I’m just what I am, that’s all”
. Wants to end Willy’s belief in his “phoney dream”
Biff’s Tears
. Mental exhaustion, collapses on Willy
. Willy takes this as a sign that Biff’s worth the $20,000
. This signifies to him that Biff still loves him
. He thinks Biff will be “magnificent”
. Tragic: Biff’s speech was meant to end the disillusionment, but it makes W decide to kill himself
Why does Ben appear in the next scene?
. Biff’s intentions failed: Willy still haunted by the past
. “The jungle is dark but full of diamonds… One must go in to fetch a diamond out.” W will die to get money
. Happy’s promise to marry and “run that department before the year is up” renews family dream that Biff wanted to remove
Linda’s assistance that Willy join her
. She’s afraid he’ll attempt suicide again
. She is “almost uttering her fear” at this stage
. Willy brushes aside request, claiming tiredness and that he’ll be “right up”
Ben’s role
. Keeps Willy company, adds to Willy deluding himself
. W can’t escape past: dreams of Biff being “ahead of Bernard again!” once he gets the insurance money
. Connection w death: says it’s “time!”, grim reaper
. Ref to “the boat” - River Styx, link to life + death
