Discussion on death-of-a-salesman-page-31-40

[Daniel]

Q#10. Willy gives the woman a kiss and then gives her some stockings.
She said that she loves alot of stockings.

[Ms. Mauricio]

From Dakota: Question 13
Biff seems like he is a very successful teenager, he is better in
athletics than marks, but his looks is said to get him father than
brains would. On page 33 willy shows Biff how proud he is by comparing
him to Bernard, he says Bernard may have the brains but in the
business world Biff will get further because he is easily liked by
people and has looks, and then Willy thanks God for blessing his
children for being built like Adonises. On page 31 Biff talks about
how he has become the football team captain, and that after classes
end he is always swarmed by a crowd of girls. He has the women, the
sports but not the marks, which by Willy’s standards are ok. I believe
Biff is a pretty successful teenager because he seems to have the
personality and looks to be successful in school and in the business
world.

[Cass]

Cassandra Marchese

Question 15: What type of memories is Willt having about the past? Do
you think they are true. Was Willy successful?

Some of the memories Willy is having about the past are the times
when Biff played football, and when he met the women that appears to
be his mistress. I dont think that that Willy's memories are all that
true because he tends to switch his stories around through out the
course of the book so far. He also makes me wonder if half the things
he says actually occrred or not. Im not really sure if Willy is
successful or not, but maybe some of you might know, if you do please
share your comments with this part of the question.

Thanks Guys:)

Cassandra Marchese

[Andre]

I was assigned question 11.

Question: What were Willy's plans for the future when he was young?

Answer: The book does not clearly say what Willy's plans for the
future were, but after reading through the act again and looking
through what Willy was saying, i am assuming that he wanted to have
his own business and he wanted it to be successful.

On May 5, 9:29 pm, "Ms. Mauricio" <anna.mauri...@ycdsb.ca> wrote:

[Dana]

Question Number 17- What attitudes does Biff demonstrate in 1928 that
might account for his apparent failure as an adult?

Firstly, I believe we cannot jump to the assumption that Biff is
unsuccessful. Yes, he does not have a current stable job, and makes
less than the 35 dollars a week that Willy expects of him. However, we
do know that he enjoys working on farms, so maybe his idea of success
is just a bit different than that of his parents, or of us, the
readers. After all, we do know that what Willy is in search of (the
American Dream) isn't exactly the healthies of obsessions either.

So, in the first of Willy's flashbacks (1928), we have a scene where
Bernard intrudes Happy, Biff, and Willy's interaction while the boys
are still teenagers, and insists that Biff studies. Biff, who was a
highschool football player at the time, sees right through Bernard and
continues talking about football in attempt to keep impressing his
dad, who seemed very proud. In fact, he looks up at his father so
much, that Willy's extreme confidence and arrognace is rubbed off on
him. On page 33, he says "He is liked, but he's not well liked" about
Bernard, the same thing Willy said on page 30 about Charley.

In my opinion, this ignorant attitude, a very Willy-like, American
Dream and success oriented one, is what might account for Biff's
current failure in the play.

[Cathy Mai]

12. What is the significance of Willy being "well-liked"? How does he
reinforce this philosophy in his boys?

Being "well-liked" is a recurring motif within the novel. It is the
motto, if you will, that Willy lives by. His life is revolved around
being popular and liked - he believes that success comes from being
liked. For example, on pages 32-33, Bernard is introduced to us as a
studious child, as opposed to Biff, who is the typical high school
"jock". Bernard urges Biff to study with him so that he passes,
otherwise, he will fail. However, Willy does not believe that Biff
will get flunked because of his scholarships. After Bernard leaves,
Willy, after finding out that he is not "well-liked", states, "That's
just what I mean. Bernard can get the best marks in school,
y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world,
y'understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That's why
I thank Almighty God you're both built like Adonises. Because the man
who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates
personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will
never want. You take me, for instance, I never have to wait in line to
see a buyer. 'Willy Loman is here!' That's all they have to know, and
I go right through." (pg 33). It is obvious that as a salesman, Willy
lives by this way of life - that popularity will always outshine hard
work and academics. This could be considered his tragic flaw, which
could possibly lead to his death in the novel.

[Ms. Mauricio]

Daniel's Question is actually Question 19 - if you are going with your
1-31 list.
Willy does give her stockings and a kiss - and although you are not
asked why he does this - think of the significance this has and what
it really says about Willy:
- giving stockings to mistress and not wife
- not providing for woman who has loved him/been devoted to him
- a cheat/liar/unfaithful etc.

[Ms. Mauricio]

Great job with your question Cass - I like how you showed your doubts
in Willy. It's like we have been doing all semester - questioning our
narrator and the information they give the reader. Can he be trusted?
Is Willy liked? Is he really responsible for opening up the New
England territory.
Good work!

[Ms. Mauricio]

Andre - think of what he tells Ben that he still does - the hunting
and the carpentry work. I would assume that Willy wanted to work with
his hands - be outside. It would show some connections with he and
Biff. What do you think?

[Ms. Mauricio]

Confidence is contagious - it rubbed off on Biff in his youth. There
is little confidence in Biff now - and also a broken relationship with
his father. Is there a connection here?

I do think you have the right perspective in regards to Biff's success
- it is a different dream but different does not mean that he is not a
success.