Death of a Salesman

Question 1

an air of the dream clings to the place, a dream rising out of reality

Answer 1

Death of a Salesman
analysis : even from Miller’s stage directions it’s clear that dreams v illusions rule this society

Question 2

I’m not bringing home any prizes any more, and you’re going to stop waiting for me to bring them home (Biff)

Answer 2

Death of a Salesman
analysis : Biff shatters the illusion for his father

Question 3

I’m tired to the death

Answer 3

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates Willy’s fleeting mental state, he’s losing it

Question 4

I might’ve killed somebody

Answer 4

Death of a Salesman
analysis : not only indicates Willy’s deranged mind, but also foreshadows his suicide

Question 5

I have such thoughts, such strange thoughts

Answer 5

Death of a Salesman
analysis : not only indicates Willy’s deranged mind, but also acentuates his delusions overtaking

Question 6

Old man wagner … that man was a prince, he was a masterful man

Answer 6

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the power of idolisation and how the American Dream promised him all of this

Question 7

Work a lifetime to pay off a house, you finally own it and there’s nobody to live in it

Answer 7

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the power of the American Dream , and the crushing realities

Question 8

Biff is a lazy bum … Biff - he’s not lazy

Answer 8

Death of a Salesman
analysis : the juxtapostion of these ideas establish how mentally unstable Willy is, he is lost and confused

Question 9

(Linda) with infinite patience

Answer 9

Death of a Salesman
analysis : Linda’s unwavering loyalty and calm nature assures her goodness and faith

Question 10

the way they boxed us in here, bricks and windows, windows and bricks

Answer 10

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights effects of the american dream, ideas of suffocation, entrapment

Question 11

(Happy) sexuality is like a visible color on him, or a scent that many women have discovers

Answer 11

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights that sexuality is weaponised by Happy, he uses it to his advantage

Question 12

(Biff) maybe he’s color-blind
(Happy) he’s got the finest eye for color in the buisness

Answer 12

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights that still, the boys admire him so much, they idolise him

Question 13

(Biff) to suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation … it’s a measly manner of existence

Answer 13

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the toxicity of the american dream

Question 14

(Biff) all I’ve done is to waste my life

Answer 14

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the toxicity of the american dream

Question 15

(Happy) my own appartment, a car, and plenty of women and still goddammit, I’m lonely

Answer 15

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the toxicity of the american dream, that even with everything society says you should desire, loneliness still lingers

Question 16

(Happy) I get that anytime I want

Answer 16

Death of a Salesman
analysis : mysoginstic view of women but also proves Happy’s longing search for power and respect, of which his father deprived him

Question 17

(Willy) they’ll be plenty of girls for a boy like you

Answer 17

Death of a Salesman
analysis : such high hopes are fuelled by the american dream, feeding this toxic illusion

Question 18

(Happy) I’m losing weight, you notice pop?

Answer 18

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the toxic masculine stereotypes set

Question 19

(Willy) someday I’ll have my own buisness and I’ll never have to leave home anymore

Answer 19

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the delusion of Willy and how this is transfered to his boys

Question 20

(Willy) I can park my car in any street in New England and the cops protect it like their own

Answer 20

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the delusion of Willy and how this is transfered to his boys

Question 21

(Willy) to bernard - you looking so anemic

Answer 21

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the toxic masculine stereotypes the boys must live up to

Question 22

(Willy) Ben! That man was a genius , that man was success incarnate … a man started with the clothes on his back and ended up with diamond mines

Answer 22

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the idolisation of Ben

Question 23

(Linda) the man is exhausted

Answer 23

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the reality of the american dream he is broken

Question 24

(Linda) i live from day to day

Answer 24

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights how broken Linda is , willy’s condition effects her too

Question 25

(willy) Nothing grows anymore

Answer 25

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights how broken society is, growth is halted because of the toxicity

Question 26

(willy) Dave Singleman … green velvet slippers … greatest career a man could want … hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral

Answer 26

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights how willy idolises dave singleman, how he achieves what he could not

Question 27

(willy) Charley, you’re the only friend I got

Answer 27

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights willy’s reality, crushing

Question 28

(Biff) We’ve been talking in a dream for 15 years

Answer 28

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the crushing reality of dreams - truly they have nothing

Question 29

(Biff) [Willy is a] fine, troubled prince, a hardworking unappreciated prince

Answer 29

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the good intentions of willy, he is unwell - crushed by delusions

Question 30

(Biff) [to Willy] you phony little fake

Answer 30

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the illusions of Willy, he is not who he said he was

Question 31

(willy) the funeral - they’ll come from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire!

Answer 31

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the illusions of Willy, he truly believes this

Question 32

(Biff) we never told the truth for 5 minutes in this house
(Happy) we always told the truth!

Answer 32

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the illusion and it’s power - also shows naivety of Happy - still!

Question 33

(Biff) we never told the truth for 5 minutes in this house
(Happy) we always told the truth!

Answer 33

Death of a Salesman
analysis : indicates the illusion and it’s power - also shows naivety of Happy - still!

Question 34

(Biff) I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody

Answer 34

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights how Willy hindered the lives of his sons, by forcing the delusions of the american dream upon them

Question 35

(;linda) why didn’t anybody come?

Answer 35

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights willy’s delusions

Question 36

(biff) he had the wrong dreams

Answer 36

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights willy’s delusions

Question 37

(Happy) I’m gonna win it for him

Answer 37

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights naievty and the everlasting power of the american dream, he’s set up as the next victim

Question 38

(Linda) I can’t cry

Answer 38

Death of a Salesman
analysis : highlights the numbness of linda, the toll this has also taken on her