What is Willy’s dream? What is he searching for throughout the play? Why doesn’t he find it? Did he ever have a chance of fulfilling it? Biff says of Willy: “He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong” (111). Do you agree? Does Willy have the wrong dreams? Inappropriate attitudes? Is he a born loser or a tragic hero who stands in his own way to success?
Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds. “On the basis of being liked” shows Willy’s false belief that being liked will get you success. At the end, Ben is a manifestation of Willy’s subconscious, asks him to go into the jungle to fetch diamonds for Biff. The use of “with greater force” and “with promise” highlights self-deception of Willy lying to himself. Diamonds for Willy are the money he gets with his life insurance which he gives to Biff to become a success but ultimately flawed view of success. This is ironic because diamonds are normally flawless.Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds. “On the basis of being liked” shows Willy’s false belief that being liked will get you success. At the end, Ben is a manifestation of Willy’s subconscious, asks him to go into the jungle to fetch diamonds for Biff. The use of “with greater force” and “with promise” highlights self-deception of Willy lying to himself. Diamonds for Willy are the money he gets with his life insurance which he gives to Biff to become a success but ultimately flawed view of success. This is ironic because diamonds are normally flawless.Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds.
Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds. “On the basis of being liked” shows Willy’s false belief that being liked will get you success. At the end, Ben is a manifestation of Willy’s subconscious, asks him to go into the jungle to fetch diamonds for Biff. The use of “with greater force” and “with promise” highlights self-deception of Willy lying to himself. Diamonds for Willy are the money he gets with his life insurance which he gives to Biff to become a success but ultimately flawed view of success. This is ironic because diamonds are normally flawless.Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds. “On the basis of being liked” shows Willy’s false belief that being liked will get you success. At the end, Ben is a manifestation of Willy’s subconscious, asks him to go into the jungle to fetch diamonds for Biff. The use of “with greater force” and “with promise” highlights self-deception of Willy lying to himself. Diamonds for Willy are the money he gets with his life insurance which he gives to Biff to become a success but ultimately flawed view of success. This is ironic because diamonds are normally flawless.Willy's dream essentially depicts his search for diamonds just like Ben. Diamonds represent the materialism that is Willy’s dream also represents the success that Willy wants to have because it's the symbol of the American Dream - came with nothing but his clothes and left with diamonds.
Why does Miller combine scenes from the past and Willy’s hallucinations alongside the current action of the play in the present? How does this movement between past/present/ and Willy’s imaginings add to the dramatic effect of the play?
What do you notice about the use of music, sound effects and lighting in this section of the play? Note any specific instances that struck you and discuss how these aspects were used and for what effect. How did these dramatic techniques reinforce the action and meaning of the play?
There’s a definite sense of kinship and closeness they possess as siblings. It was interesting to note how they thrived on complimenting each other continuously. But I also noticed a clear distinction between the two characters – it is evident that Biff bore a “worn air and seems less self-assured” about himself. He has succeeded less than Happy, and his more certain about his dreams but is extremely uncertain about his future. Happy on the other hand is “tall powerfully made” and he has never allowed himself to turn his face towards defeat and is thus more confused and hard-skinned, although seemingly more content” (8). Like the descriptions in the play, the way in which Biff talks about himself and his future there’s a definite sense of uncertainty and confusion in his voice. It seemed as though he was somewhat sure about what made him content in his life –farming and owning a ranch but he seemed torn in terms of being “successful” in the society’s eyes. He knew that in order to be “something big in life” he couldn’t be messing around in the farm. Biff possesses an innate desire to be “someone big”, someone successful in society, but what tugs at his heart is the reality that deep inside he knows that’s not what makes him content in life – just purely what’s expected of him. Happy on the other hand, seems like he’s carrying a somewhat successful life – a life that’s socially acceptable. He has a stable career, a girlfriend, and his own apartment. However, the reality that he fools around with women who are engaged reveals a sense of instability and mental disarray. It is evident that even with the facade of normalcy in his life Happy still suffers from immense unhappiness from the never-ending cycle of competition in the business world that chokes and incarcerates him.
There’s a definite sense of kinship and closeness they possess as siblings. It was interesting to note how they thrived on complimenting each other continuously. But I also noticed a clear distinction between the two characters – it is evident that Biff bore a “worn air and seems less self-assured” about himself. He has succeeded less than Happy, and his more certain about his dreams but is extremely uncertain about his future. Happy on the other hand is “tall powerfully made” and he has never allowed himself to turn his face towards defeat and is thus more confused and hard-skinned, although seemingly more content” (8). Like the descriptions in the play, the way in which Biff talks about himself and his future there’s a definite sense of uncertainty and confusion in his voice. It seemed as though he was somewhat sure about what made him content in his life –farming and owning a ranch but he seemed torn in terms of being “successful” in the society’s eyes. He knew that in order to be “something big in life” he couldn’t be messing around in the farm. Biff possesses an innate desire to be “someone big”, someone successful in society, but what tugs at his heart is the reality that deep inside he knows that’s not what makes him content in life – just purely what’s expected of him. Happy on the other hand, seems like he’s carrying a somewhat successful life – a life that’s socially acceptable. He has a stable career, a girlfriend, and his own apartment. However, the reality that he fools around with women who are engaged reveals a sense of instability and mental disarray. It is evident that even with the facade of normalcy in his life Happy still suffers from immense unhappiness from the never-ending cycle of competition in the business world that chokes and incarcerates him.
What would you say are the false values which the play reveals? What are the true values which the play upholds? Here, consider Miller’s commentary on success and failure, the business world, identity, dreams, popularity, integrity. What is one key understanding you’ve taken away from the play that relates to your own life and why?
The false values the play reveals is about the notion of success - the American dream. Through the tragic depiction of Willy and his ultimate failure as a salesman (both psychologically and physically) portrays the negative aspect of "chasing after one's dream". This is revealed when Happy speaks about sleeping around with women whom he knows is supposed to be married to executives he knows - he states that “maybe [he] just has an overdeveloped sense of competition.” Happy also states that “I gotta show some of those pompous, self important executives over there that Hap Loman can make the grade. I want to walk into the store the way he walks in.” Here, we see that Happy possesses a strong desire to succeed more in his work and similar to Biff, be “someone big”. His overwhelming sense of competition and desire to triumph ultimately forces him to sleep around these women as a way to feel like he beat these executives. Something I found interesting during their conversation was how the Loman brothers seemed overly confident about their physical exterior. Unlike when they spoke about their mental stability and contentment, it seemed like their physical comepetence and attractiveness are what they could be sure of. Happy states “I can outbox, outrun, and outlift anybody in that store” and “men built like we are should be working out in the open”. It seemed as though due to their numerous insecurities they have about their future goals and lives they’re carrying – the confidence and reassurance they have about their physical competence is the only thing they can receive a sense of self-assurance. Also the ways in which these brothers speak about women portray their feeling of confidence about their sexuality and physical charm.
The false values the play reveals is about the notion of success - the American dream. Through the tragic depiction of Willy and his ultimate failure as a salesman (both psychologically and physically) portrays the negative aspect of "chasing after one's dream". This is revealed when Happy speaks about sleeping around with women whom he knows is supposed to be married to executives he knows - he states that “maybe [he] just has an overdeveloped sense of competition.” Happy also states that “I gotta show some of those pompous, self important executives over there that Hap Loman can make the grade. I want to walk into the store the way he walks in.” Here, we see that Happy possesses a strong desire to succeed more in his work and similar to Biff, be “someone big”. His overwhelming sense of competition and desire to triumph ultimately forces him to sleep around these women as a way to feel like he beat these executives. Something I found interesting during their conversation was how the Loman brothers seemed overly confident about their physical exterior. Unlike when they spoke about their mental stability and contentment, it seemed like their physical comepetence and attractiveness are what they could be sure of. Happy states “I can outbox, outrun, and outlift anybody in that store” and “men built like we are should be working out in the open”. It seemed as though due to their numerous insecurities they have about their future goals and lives they’re carrying – the confidence and reassurance they have about their physical competence is the only thing they can receive a sense of self-assurance. Also the ways in which these brothers speak about women portray their feeling of confidence about their sexuality and physical charm.
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기