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Death Of A Salesman > Act 2 > Flashcards

Act 2 Flashcards

(79 cards)

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1
Q

How is the contrast to act 1 shown at the beginning of act 2

A

“Music is heard,gay and bright”

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2
Q

Significance of the first appearance of “seeds”

A

Symbolises a new beginning yet this is instantly juxtaposed by Linda’s statement that “nothing’ll grow back there”
The “seeds” show his desire to leave a legacy,later this becomes a main theme and represents his hope for a renewal and ‘new beginning’ for his family through his suicide

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3
Q

Quote showing Willy’s frustration with a system that sells the dream of ownership yet leaves people in debt

A

“I’m always in a race with the junkyard”
New wave of commercialisation as both people and items are used up and discarded within this society

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4
Q

Quote showing Willy as a fragile lost vessel attempting to cling to American dream

A

“Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbour”
Metaphor paints Willy as a lost vessel adrift in the vast uncaring world of business,the metaphor of the ‘harbour’ is the American dream that he attempts to find for safety

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5
Q

Metaphor of gramophone in Howard’s office

A

-Shows his minimal respect for Willy due to him being more interested in gramophone than Willy
-Represents new world of technology replacing humanity
-Minimal respect for Willy despite his years of loyal service to the company represents the unforgiving world of business

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6
Q

Quote showing ruthless capitalist mindset from Howard,finalising Willy’s business death

A

“No but it’s a business kid and everybody’s gotta pull his own weight”

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7
Q

Quote showing Willy’s reliance on a dream that no longer exists,failing to adapt to modern society

A

Today it’s all cut and dried

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8
Q

Significance of Willy recounting Dave Singleman’s funeral

A

Recounting of story shows Willy’s view on ultimate success of being ‘well liked’ but also his failure to adapt to modern society

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9
Q

Metaphor implying Willy’s worthlessness to the company

A

“Kid I can’t take blood from a stone”

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10
Q

Analysis of “kid I can’t take blood from a stone”

A

-Howard implies Willy’s worthlessness,reducing him to a resource to be discarded when no longer useful
- Irony of Willy spending his years “bleeding” for the company but now unable to help

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11
Q

Significant quote of commentary on American dream and discarding of people

A

“You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away-a man is not a piece of fruit”

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12
Q

Analysis of “you can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away-a man is not a piece of fruit”

A

-Metaphor shows Willy as the peel,company used up all his resources and then discarded him
-Injustice clearly seen by Willy yet still continues with dream
-Willy eventually becomes ‘tragic waste’ after his suicide having many other characteristics that could’ve done good in the world
-Willy has tragically thrown his life away chasing a fruitless dream that provides him nothing

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13
Q

What is the significance of Willy jumping away from the recording machine

A

-Frightened of its intrusion into his memory of Frank,Howard’s father
-Symbol of modernity intruding into Willy’s world,unable to cope with this

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14
Q

Quote showing Willy being fired and significance

A

“I don’t want you to represent us”
-Useless to the company now he is fully discarded
-His identity as a salesman tragically crumbles as a result

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15
Q

Quote showing Willy’s pride and stubbornness to accept help from his sons,tragically isolating him further

A

“I can’t throw myself on my sons.Im not a cripple”

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16
Q

Quote showing Willy’s deep desperation to understand Ben’s success

A

“Oh Ben,how did you do it?”
Signals both his moral and existential crisis
Structurally shows Miller’s use of memory and time to convey his deep mental illness

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17
Q

Quote showing the romanticisation of escape and frontier masculinity

A

“Get out of these cities,they’re full of talk and time payments and courts of law”

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18
Q

Analysis of “get out of these cities,they’re full of talk and time payments and courts of law “

A

-Ben’s words romanticise escape and frontier masculinity
-List of “talk and time payments and courts of law” indicates the suffocating beaucraft and capitalism that entraps Willy
-Ben contrasts Willy reflecting broader post war American anxiety on industrialism and lost identity

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19
Q

Quote showing a sudden fragmented exclamation due to Ben’s words

A

“Yes,yes Linda,Linda”

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20
Q

Significance of Willy instantly turning to Linda and saying “Yes,Yes! Linda,Linda!” After bens words

A

-Sudden fragmented exclamation shows his desperation and his declining emotional stability
-Repetition of “Linda” highlights her role as emotional anchor despite his previous refusal to ‘throw himself’ on the family
-Contrasts between Willy’s masculine obsession to his inward need for family love is tragic tension explored throughout

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21
Q

Quote showing Willy’s hyperbolic claims about biff and delusions

A

“Without a penny to his name,three great universities are begging for him”
Added to by Biff entering wearing a ‘Gold Helmet’

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22
Q

Social question from Linda regarding greed and capitalism

A

“Why must everybody conquer the world?”

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23
Q

Quote showing Willy’s belief in success in a system that has already crushed him

A

“We’re gonna do it here”

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24
Q

Significance of Willy reminiscing of Ebert’s field game after Ben’s appearance

A

His reminiscing,especially his handing out of pennants show his literal and metaphorical clinging to symbols of past glory
-Critique of his own shallow ambitions based on popularity and image rather than substance

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25
Significance of Charley making fun of Ebert’s field game and Willy’s violent reaction
-Charley cuts through Willy’s own hallucinations revealing their shallowness -Willy’s infuriation results in him asking for a fight,his own fragile masculinity leads to him resorting to violence
26
What is the threat of violence from Willy to Charley added to by
“Music rises to a mocking frenzy” -Adds to sense of drama,externalising Willy’s own internal collapse and belief that the world around him is ‘jeering’ his downfall -Tragedy of Willy who has built his character surrounding pride,success and dignity and yet is reduced to a figure of pity and ridicule
27
What is the significance of Bernard’s success
-Bernard becomes man Willy envisioned Biff becoming -Failed to value education and had misguided values -Bernard acts as a foil to Biff/Willy,showing how success is not achieved through being ‘well-liked’ but through hard work and determination -Willy does appear genuinely pleased at Bernard’s success showing his ability to have generosity
28
Similie showing moment Biff’s life is shattered beyond repair and analysis
“He flunked the subject and laid down and died like a hammer hit him” -Force from hammer not only shatters Buff’s own future and life but also the idealised Biff that existed in Willy’s imagination
29
Quote from Charley showing general social message of Miller
“Sometimes Willy,its better for a man just to walk away” -Cycle of American dream should be walked away from before it consumes life
30
Significance of Willy’s rejection of Charley offering him a job
-Prideful nature invisions himself above Charley -Own pride leads to selfish actions that hurt both him and his family
31
Significance of Happy attempting to seek validation through Champagne and Lobsters
Happy performs wealth and status in order to mask his deeper insecurity,in doing so he embodies the hollowness of the American Dream
32
Quote signifying deep cynism and sexism reflecting the toxic masculinity throughout the Loman family
“There’s not a good woman in a thousand”
33
Significance of Biff taking fountain pen
-Act of desperation shows his inability to assimilate into the business world -Symbolic of his regression into childhood
34
How do Biff and Happy juxtapose each other in the resteraunt
Biff attempts to shatter the family’s delusions,telling his father the truth Happy attempts to continue the delusions,happy to live within them
35
Quote showing Happy as entangled in the delusions of the household
“Dad is never so happy as when he’s looking forward to something”
36
Quote representing Willy as already mentally broken and ill
“Going to Willy with guilt, as to an invalid”
37
Quotes showing Biff attempting to shatter the family delusions in the resteraunt
“I was never a salesman for Bill Oliver” “I was a shipping clerk” “Let’s hold onto the facts tonight, Pop”
38
39
Quote showing Willy’s revelation on his firing
“I was fired,and I’m looking for a little good news to tell your mother” Willy’s emotional fragility,ambition is no longer his motivation but to maintain the family stability through illusion
40
Quote showing Willy interrupting the telling of the story with details he wants to hear rather than what actually happened
“So tell me, he gave you a warm welcome?”
41
What is the significance of the rising tension in the resteraunt being interrupted by a single trumpet note and then a flashback
Abrupt shirt to past, shows how Willy clings to a single concrete reason as to why Biff failed in life Dreams also become nightmares as even in Willy’s own idealised visions the dream is collapsing
42
Quote showing Willy’s love for Biff as being conditional upon success
“Dad I’ll make good,I’ll make good”
43
Quote signifying Biff trapped between truth and kindness,not wanting to lie but feeling obligated to protect his father’s delusions
“No, no look,Pop I’m supposed to have lunch with them tomorrow”
44
Quote showing a moment of deep emotional release from Biff towards his father
“Look at you! Look at what’s become of you”
45
Quote showing Biff’s desperation to be seen through real view and not Willy’s idealised views
“I’m no good, can’t you see what I am” Reflects crushing weight of his failed ambitions
46
How does Happy bring the family back to illusion in the resteraunt
By the entrance of the girls and him telling them to “cut it out” -He’s an agent of delusion appearing ignorant of his father,betraying his love
47
What is the significance of the returning of the woman in the restaurant
Underscores the lasting familial consequences of his affair
48
Quote showing Biff expressing his love for Willy in the restaurant
“You’ve just seen a Prince walk by.A fine, troubled Prince”
49
Significance of Biff bringing out rolled up hose
Powerful attempt to drag the truth into the open,now seeing the full extent of his fathers failings
50
Quote showing feigned ignorance by Happy for his father
“He’s just a guy”
51
Significance of the atmosphere in the woman scene
“Raw sensuous music” stresses the sexual nature of their relationship Sexual betrayal of Linda is Willy’s greatest moral failure
52
What is the significance of Willy’s terror regarding answering the door
His exclamation of “it’s a mistake” shows his flashback as a nightmarish construction of the scene,knowing who is there he is terrified of answering the door
53
What’s the irony of the way the woman is discovered
-It only occurs due to Willy laughing about Biff’s joke in class and her joining in -Ironically it is Willy’s pleasure at his sons popularity that leads to the discovery of his affair -Willy’s attitude of being ‘well liked’ eventually leads to him alienating his own son
54
What is significant about the stockings that the women asks for after Biff finds out the affair
-Ultimate symbol of dishonesty,Linda forced to mend her own stockings whilst Willy buys ‘the Woman’ some -Signifies materialistic nature of relationship
55
What is significant of Willy’s compulsive lying even when discovered having an affair
-His exclamation that “she’s just a buyer” shows his living in delusions instead of facing reality -Failure to accept reality and this illusion of a happy family has allowed family to continue despite lies
56
Quote signifying Willy’s isolation after his affair discovered
“I was lonely,I was terribly lonely” -Attempts to justify actions again showing his failure to accept responsibility -Highlights his isolation due to the dream
57
Quote summarising Biff’s new view on Willy after his affair
“You phony little fake! You fake! Summarises the fact his respect and trust for his father has been shattered including the idealised image of his father
58
Significance of Stanley quickly coming in after affair scene
Warping of time and place becomes more and more distorted as Willy’s mind becomes more disillusioned
59
Significance of Stanley quickly coming in after affair scene
Warping of time and place becomes more and more distorted as Willy’s mind becomes more disillusioned
60
Significance of Willy’s desire to plant ‘seeds’
-Reflects his desire to leave a legacy behind him -Foreshadows his later death -Symbolic metaphor as poignant reflection of his now barren dreams
61
Significance of lighting and Linda’s placing in Loman home
Light fades on Willy and rises on the family home showing physical and psychological rift between Willy and the family -Linda being originally not visible then startling her son reflects the somber and piteous mood in the home and also her role as a protector of Willy
62
Quotes showing differing in responses of Happy and Biff to Linda attempting to confront the truth
Happy wishes to “come upstairs” showing his dismissal of reality and the family’s problems Biff tells Happy to “go away” showing his new mentality and wish to face reality despite it being tough
63
Quote showing Biff’s self loathing
“The scum of the earth and your looking at him” -The audience feel a sense of pity for Biff in this moment,continually ridiculed despite his attempts to face reality
64
Significance of Willy “Planting the garden”
Desire to leave a form of legacy behind,represents his hope for a renewal of his family and now life -Reflects his failure as a father,seed becomes second chance to father something
65
What shows Willy’s belief that his funeral will be well attended and why is this significant
“Ben that funeral will be massive” -Confirms his belief of being ‘well liked’ and prepared to die just to prove himself to Biff -Hollowness and facade of American dream as funeral is tragically not attended well
66
How is Willy shown in an erratic state between self assurance and euphoria
“Assured with rising power” “Suddenly fearful” Painful moment for audience
67
Poignant remark by Willy showing that all his flashbacks have been attempts to return back to happier times
“Oh Ben, how do we get back to all the great times?”
68
What does Ben say that reconciles himself to never being fit to his fathers illusions
“I’m a bum”
69
Significance of Willy failing to shake Biff’s hand
-Shows him as remaining agitated and unresponsive -Sign of his weakness and refusal to accept Biff’s adulthood and therefore his own personal agency
70
Most appaling line in play from Willy to biff
“May you rot in hell if you ever leave this house” -Does also show his desperation to cling to his relationship with his sons
71
Significance of mention of spite being Biff’s “undoing” throughout
-Willy continually applies external reasons for Biff’s failure -Firstly his status as a general “bum”, secondly his failure at maths, thirdly his ‘spite’ -Throughout this all he fails to blame himself
72
Significance of Bringing out of ‘rubber tube’ and Willy’s reaction
-Powerful image of attempts to break deceit -Willy’s reaction of being “caged, wanting to escape” shows his desperation as he’s been found out by the man he wants to idealise him -Do we feel most sorry for Willy here?
73
How does Biff gain sympathy and love from the audience in his admittance of guilt
Through his admittance and laying out of his character bare in front of the audience that he “stole [himself] out of every good job since high school” increases our sympathy for him
74
What is significant of Biff’s realisation that he has more love for simple things than the American dream
-His realisation of his denial of love for simple things and respect for his own impulses juxtaposes Willy who chases a barren dream he doesn’t enjoy blindly
75
What is an damning commentary on the American dream and discarding of men
“A hard working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them”
76
How does Biff gain pathos in his final speech
“Pop I’m nothing!im nothing,Pop “Breaks down sobbing holding on to Willy” Climactic moment of emotion and a moment of genuine connection in his admission of futility
77
Significance of Willy stating that Biff “likes me”
Profound effect by Biff and perception that his own son likes him Moment of pathos as Willy has lived his life in the view that his own son spites him for his actions in Boston
78
Quote from Ben towards end of story and its significance
“The jungle is dark but full of diamonds,Willy” “One must go in to fetch a diamond out” -Perhaps Willy feels that in order for biff to be successful he must enter the ‘dark place’ of his own death -Diamond becomes powerful symbol of elusive promises of eternal riches -Jungle juxtaposes Willy’s love of nature with darkness and secrecy
79
Significance of Willy’s final moments being him lost in Ebbets field game
-Joyful memory is juxtaposed by his car crash -His life ends on a note of time of hapiness -But also reminder of the fact his own illusions and denial has brought him to this place

Death Of A Salesman (3 decks)

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