DOAS: TRAGIC FEATURES

Question 1

DISORDER AND CHAOS

Answer 1

• “The woods are burning”- represents Willy’s psychological chaos- his psyche is crumbling down around him and he is losing himself
• “A single trumpet jars the ear” - Use of mobile concurrency displays the disorder Willy is experiencing throughout the play
• “guaranteed twenty-thousand dollar proposition”- Ben is epitome of successfully achieving A.D- that idea causes the chaos in Willy’s head

Question 2

BLINDNESS

Answer 2

• ‘If old man Wagner was alive, I’d a been in charge of New York now’: highlights extent of Willy’s delusion+ how he is blind to how everyone else percieves him
• ‘Your uncle Ben- a great man!’: The audience can see Ben is not a good person nor does he care very much about Willy, but Willy can’t see that
• “Pop? Why he’s got the finest eye for colour in the business” - this tragic blindness has passed onto the younger generation

Question 3

TRAGIC VILLAINS

Answer 3

• “A man who can’t handle tools isn’t a man. You’re disgusting”: toxic masculinity is the true villain
• “The woman’s laugh continues through Linda’s lines”- Willy is the villain to Linda

Question 4

TRAGIC VICTIMS

Answer 4

• “Eighty-four and he made his living”- victim of the American Dream
• “A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man”- Willy is a victim of society
• **“Why does Dad mock me?” **- Biff is a victim of Willy’s criticism

Question 5

TOXIC MASCULINITY

Answer 5

• “Hit that boy- hard as you can”: highlights masculinity- this is what Willy prizes
• “Bernard is not well liked is he?”/”He’s liked but he’s not well liked”
• “The man who creates personal interest is the man who gets ahead”
• “I thank almighty god you’re both built like Adonises”

Question 6

TREATMENT OF WOMEN

Answer 6

• “Remember that big Betsy something… Boy there was a pig.”