Death Of A Salesman Flashcards
1
Q
Who is the author?
A
Arthur Miller
2
Q
What is the American dream?
A
A belief that in the US, hard work and determination can lead to a better life, usually through the earning of money.
3
Q
Who is the protagonist?
A
Willy Loman
4
Q
What is a tragic flaw?
A
A flaw in a character that brings about their downfall; for example, excessive pride or financial greed
5
Q
Themes
A
- family conflicts post WW11 (1949)
- the price paid for the American dream
- americas capitalist materialism centered around a postwar economy
- and individuals search for purpose
- failure in the pursuit of success
6
Q
What do seeds symbolize?
A
Opportunity for growth, but will not always germinate
7
Q
What do diamonds symbolize?
A
Material and tangible wealth
8
Q
What do women’s stockings symbolize?
A
Betrayal and infeidelity
9
Q
What does the rubber hose symbolize?
A
Suicide
10
Q
What does Alaska, Africa… the American west symbolize?
A
Success and failure
11
Q
What characteristics does Millers Modern Tragedy have?
A
- the hero is a common man
- the hero struggles against society
- the hero meets his downfall
- the downfall is a result of an incongruity between his own perception and reality
12
Q
Willy Loman
A
- father, traveling salesman
- believes in chasing the American dream although he never achieves it
- kills himself at the end of the play
13
Q
Biff Loman
A
- elder son, 34 years old
- high school standout-football star, many male friends, and female admirers
- an academic failure but sports hero, the young biff buys into his fathers philosophy of life
- present biff seeks finding himself and escaping the lies in his famiky
14
Q
Linda Loman
A
- loving, devoted wife
- emotionally supportive of Willy
- seems to alternate between believing in Willy’s dreams and seeing them for what they really are
15
Q
Happy Loman
A
- younger son, 32 years old
- in biffs shadow all his life
- buys into his fathers dreams
- often engages in bad business ethics
