Reaction Paper Eng 125

Toward the end of the story, Willy realizes that his life is falling apart: Biff does not have a stable job or family, is making only commissions for his job, his refrigerator and car are in despair, and he talks to himself. Willy just cannot figure out what has gone wrong, especially with Biff who to him seemed so promising because of his good looks and his charm with others. When Biff comes home again, Willy gets real nervous and starts talking to himself (Act I. Scene I). He is stressed out that Biff has done nothing with his life so he starts seeing visions of the past. When Willy talks out loud while seeing visions, he is trying to discover where he went wrong as a person and father. To find where he went wrong he begins to ask anyone in visions or in person. One character that he frequently asks for advice throughout the drama is his older brother Biff (Gross, 319-321).

San Joaquin Delta College presented Arthur Miller 's Death of A Salesman on Sunday the twenty-second of March at 2 o 'clock in the afternoon. This play is about a young man and his father coming to terms with the past and their futures. Willy Loman, an old salesman, is dealing with both financial and health difficulties. He is put under even more pressure when his unsuccessful son, Biff, returns home. Actor, director, and sound designer, Harvey T. Jordan, played the role of Willy in this production. His directing, acting, and sound effects allowed me to grasp the despaired nature of Willy Loman 's character. The theme of this story is respect and the nature of success. Willy wished that when he is dead, his death would be mourned far and wide. Hoping to have the reputation of a famous salesman; in other words he wants to die “The Death of a Salesman”. After Willie heard about a well-liked salesman, one that is known in all the cities he visits and that can make sales just by picking up the phone, Willie thinks that this job is easy, but he soon discovers the stress a truly dedicated salesman must go through.

Later, Willy asks both Biff and Hap to steal lumber and sand from a construction site for the front porch.  He is not dismayed as the security guard chases Biff. He also raises no objection when Ben encourages Biff to fight unfairly. Willy's mixed moral messages eventually lead to Biff's habitual stealing, which is responsible for his continued failure in life.  Even when his sons are older, Willy continues to promote immoral behavior.  Willy urges Biff to lie to Oliver about his work experience so that Biff might borrow $15,000 and start a business.

Arthur Miller’s, “Death of a Salesman,” reveals that one’s ability to tolerate losing their identity and self and not being able to adapt to changes in their society shows that it can lead to their downfall. In the beginning of the play the reader gets introduced to Willy Loman, a salesman that seems to be having trouble paying attention to the road while driving. The reader is then introduced to Willy’s son, Biff, who has come back from working as a farmhand out in the West. There is tension between Willy and Biff because Willy feels as if Biff could be more successful. Willy begins to have flashbacks and they are seeming to make him crazy; at this point in the story Willy wakes everyone up in the house, and reveals that he has troubles. These troubles that he has are his wife and job. After this Willy goes to his job

The story ‘Death of a Salesman’ written by Miller focuses on a man doing all he can to allow him and his family to live the American dream. Throughout the story it is shown how the Loman’s struggle with finding happiness and also with becoming successful. Throughout their entire lives many problems come their way resulting in a devastating death caused by foolishness and the drive to be successful. Ever since he and his wife, Linda, met she has been living a sad and miserable life, because she has been trying support his unachievable goals. Also by him being naïve put his children’s lives in jeopardy and also made them lose sight of who they really were. Miller uses the Loman family to show how feeling the need to appear a certain way to the public and trying to live a life that is not really yours can turn into an American nightmare.

To make a change in his life, Biff decides he will ask his old employer Bill Oliver for money to start a ranch. The boys then suddenly hear willy downstairs talking to himself, and attempt to sleep. Next the lights on the stage move to Willy, who is sitting in the kitchen lost in memory. Willy remembers when biff and happy were young boys and helped him wash their car. He goes on and tells the boys that when he travels he is well liked, and that soon he will open a successful business. Next the neighbors son Bernard enters wondering why Biff has not come over to study with him. After Bernard leaves Willy tells Biff that he can't be successful without being well liked. Soon a younger version of Linda appears. She asks Willy about how much money he made on his trip, at first he says he made $1,200, then drops it to $200, but then admits to it only being 70 dollars. As Willy continues talking to Linda, a laughter appears over hers. Soon, the scene shifts and Willy flirts with The Woman, a secretary for a buyer. He gives her stockings and she thanks him for

At this point, Willy relives several scenes from his past, including the time when, during high school, Biff admits to stealing a football and promises to throw a pass for Willy during the game. Willy also remembers his old dream of the boys visiting him in Boston during a road trip. Finally in his reverie, he relives the time that Bernard, son of

Willy’s unreasonable expectations of Biff creates a hostile relationship between Biff and Willy. Ever since Biff was in highschool, Willy always expected Biff to be very successful without instilling the tools

Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman follows protagonist Willy Loman in his search to better his and his family’s lives. Throughout Willy Loman’s career, his mind starts to wear down, causing predicaments between his wife, two sons and close friends. Willy’s descent into insanity is slowly but surely is taking its toll on him, his job and his family. They cannot understand why the man they have trusted for support all these years is suddenly losing his mind. Along with his slope into insanity, Willy’s actions become more aggressive and odd as the play goes on. Despite Willy and Biff’s “family feud”, his two sons Happy and Biff truly worry about their father’s transformation, Happy saying: “He just wants you to make good, that’s all. I

On the same day, Willy loses his job. He goes to meet his boys for a dinner to “celebrate”. He previously decided he wanted to hear some good news to tell Linda, regardless of the facts. Biff tries desperately to come clean with his father and tell him the truth about the rejection he took from Oliver. Unfortunately, Willy refuses to hear it and Happy learned the same method of dodging reality from his Dad.

Later in a flashback, Willy and Biff are on their way to Ebbets Field for a football game when Charley appears and beings a conversation with Willy. Merely joking around, Charley makes a few comments which Willy takes great offense too and beings insulting Charley and telling him to put his hands up as if to fight. Willy's arrogance shows it's face once again when Willy is talking to Biff about his meeting with Oliver. Completly ignoring what Biff is saying, Willy goes on about how good of a kid Biff is and how impressive he is. Though not directly insulting, Willy ignores what his son has to say and goes off on his own tangents, losing the respect of the reader. Willy then ends up in another flashback in the bathroom of the restauraunt where he met Happy and Biff for dinner. The most disgusting part of Willy is revealed here. Biff walks in on Willy and his woman friend whom hes had a secret relationship with. Willy attempts to cover it up and when that doesnt work he orders Biff around and shows how bad of a person he can be.

Willy goes in and out of daydreams, causing his children to treat him like a child, thus angering the independent minded man. It causes further tension in their relationships. Yet Willy is not merely losing his grip on reality- he is choosing to let it go. Still racked with guilt over his adulterous affair, Willy- in the back of his troubled mind- knows that occurrence is the root of his difficulties with Biff. He pathetically claims over and over again, “…don’t you

Willy’s relationship with Biff and Happy also becomes strained throughout their lives. Since Biff was the older son and football star he made his father proud, and Happy was left without the praise that he needed and deserved, as he was always second best. Biff also was the one who caught his father having an affair with a woman in Boston, causing friction between himself and Willy. More importantly, Biff is extremely disturbed by his father's later behavior, including participating in imaginary conversations and reacting to his memories as though they were happening in the present. Willy's job also falls apart from the beginning of the play towards the end. Willy had been making enough money to support his family, but his unwillingness to learn new sales techniques or utilize modern technology resulted in lackluster sales and the loss of his job. Willy’s house had a mortgage until his death, implying that the family was not even secure in their own home. Finally, the family car, a symbol of pride within the Loman household, was destroyed when Willy committed suicide. This was the last example of Willy's destruction of all that was once important to him. Willy Loman, in this regard, follows Aristotle's suggestion that the tragic hero has "...a change of fortune... from prosperity to misfortune...." (Aristotle,1303)

this wasn't the only incident where he had shown no regard at all for Willy.

Willy’s final words of advise to Biff are no different than his first and no more educational. Biff, like Willy, does not learn from his mistakes and steals a fountain pen from Bill Oliver, leaving him unable to face Oliver again to ask for money. Willy’s advice on the