Discussion on death-of-a-salesman-questions-p-11-20

[toman...@hotmail.com]

Question 1: What is the significance of the whipped cheese sandwich?

The whipped cheese sandwich plays a role describing Willy Lowman's
resentment to change and also describes Arthur Millers view on the
American Dream. On page 16, Linda, Willy's wife, buys him a new type
of cheese (American whipped cheese). Willy gets disrupted by this and
responds: "I don't want a change! I want Swiss cheese. Why am I always
being contradicted?" (Miller 17). The cheese displays Willy's bold
opposition with change. He also gets upset when he talks about the
developing apartment buildings around him. He is definitely a
character that does not work well with change in anyway. The whipped
cheese can also be connected with the American dream and how it is not
as great as people say it is. Since, the whipped cheese is altered,
maybe Miller is expressing this spoiled view of the American dream
through its change/ alteration? In the note from class today, we
learned that Arthur Miller's story lines are heavily influenced by his
maturing years in the depression. In conclusion, from the first couple
pages of "Death of a Salesman", the whipped cheese is used to describe
Willy's resentment towards change and also Arthur Millers view of the
American dream.

- Nicole :)

Hey guys! Do you have any other ideas? :P

[maria]

3. describe Linda's relationship with Willy at the beginning of Act1.

- linda is willy's wife
- -always listens to what he has to say
-she is preocuppied of willys behaviour
-loves him no matter what and admires him " - his mercurial nature,
his temper, his massive dreams and little cruelties, serve her only as
a sharp reminders of the turbulent longings within him..." ( pg 12,
3rd paragraph)
-worries about willy
-doesnt like it when willy talks bad about biff, tries to defend biff

[ADAMTAVONE!]

Cheese Question: Great answer. There's not much you can change
here. You've got all the points covered its a great answer :). I
have an idea, but it might be a little confusing. So you said that
the American Dream is not as great as it's made out to be, much like
the whipped cheese. I mean, what would you rather have? The
expensive Swiss cheese (masters of the art in other words) or the
cheaper domestic American cheese?

Relationship Question - Include the fact that Linda seems much more
calmer, especially when Willy loses her temper at her, she remains
calm and collective. Like they say, opposites attract.

[Jose]

Question: What is the significance of the discussion of the windshield
in this scene?

Answer: The significance of this discussion was for Arthur Miller to
further demonstrate the fact that Willy is forgetting things and is
always contradicting himself. Another example, of this is when he
calls Biff “a lazy bum” (16), but later says, “There’s one thing about
Biff- he’s not lazy” (16). Readers can use Willy’s age as a reason to
why he’s always contradicting himself.

[Ms. Mauricio]

From Desi

2) on page 17 of act one, Willy explains how he feels trapped because
he is boxed in.
"Willy: Why don't you open a window in here, for God's sake? LINDA,
with infinite patience: They're all open, dear. Willy: The way they
boxed us in here. Bricks and windows, windows and bricks."(Miller 17)
act 1

[Chris]

Probably reading too much into this but the fact that it's a sandwich
instead of just cheese or something else could mean a mixture of two
'forces' that Willy might deal with sooner or later in the book. And
these two 'forces' could be what Adam mentioned for the Swiss Cheese
and the American Cheese.