Today you are responsible for responding to the section we read in class from pages 1 - 8. Below are some guiding questions you may choose to answer. Remember, you may ALWAYS choose to answer your own question/make your own comment as long as you use the CCEJ format.
Guiding Questions:
Guiding Questions:
- How does the play so far reflect the ideas of the 1950's and the American Dream?
- What do you think is causing the conflict between Willy and Biff?
- How would you describe Willy and Linda's relationship?
- What is causing Willy's problems with memory loss and mood swings?
- What is the impact of the setting on the conflict? How does the setting affect the characters?
What I think is causing the conflict between Willy and Biff is the fact that Biff is already an adult and still hasn't found a job. Willy his father does not like the idea of his son staying at their home because he believes that he's to old to be pampered. Willy just wants his son to be independent. In the text we Willy states, " Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There's one thing about Biff- he's not lazy" ( miller). As we can see their is a certain conflict that Biff might be facing. Willy wants to know why his son is having trouble with his life, and he see's this this as an unsuspected surprise.
ReplyDeleteAlicia Roberts
ReplyDeleteI describe Willy and Linda's relationship as special. Linda show her love towards Willy she takes care of him like when she wanted to know why he came home so early shows that she cares. Also with different situations where Linda shows her patience with Willy's problems of being cruel and getting angry easily. Although, Willy might say things out of anger and then a few minutes later change his mind Linda doesn't get mad she remains relaxed and still listen to Willy and be there for him.
Daija Ford
ReplyDeleteThis play so far reflects the ideas of the 1950s because during that time, husbands and wives played specific roles. The husbands were the providers who worked throughout the day while the wives were housewives who took care of the children and tended to the home. Willy is salesman and can be inferred as the provider of the family. Willy's wife, Linda, is home when Willy returns so it can also be inferred that she is a housewife who takes care of the house and their children.The play so far reflects the ideas of the American Dream because the American Dream is depicted as having the "perfect life" and it seems to be something that Willy and his family doesn't have. When someone is living the American Dream, they are happy, live in a nice home, have a steady job that pays well, wonderful wife and kids, etc. Although Willy seems to have a steady job, modest home and wife and kids, he is not living the great life of the American Dream as depicted. He has a 34 year old son named Biff whom he is hard on, he is frustrated about nearly everything and seems to not be happy someone living the American Dream would be.
Destiny harris-
ReplyDeleteI believe old age is what might be causing Willy's problems with memory loss and mood swings. Willy has been working as a salesman for a while and he is now to old to handle traveling far distances. While talking to his wife Linda about his accident that just happened while he was on a road, she argues that he should stay in New York and work. She complains " you're sixty years old they can't expect you to keep traveling every week." Linda knows Willy's old age is getting to him which is causing him to have memory loss and mood swings. Such conditions is not healthy and will soon cause Willy to get hurt.
I love that you guys have begun commenting! There are some great ideas here, but if you did not use evidence in your response, please go back and add some (you can comment on your post by clicking reply and then copy and explain a quote that supports your response). This way you can earn full credit for your ideas!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWilly's age is causing with memory loss and mood swings. When Willy arrives home to Linda (his wife) he states, "I was driving along , you understand? And I was fine. I was even observing the scenery... I opened the windshield and just let the warm air bathe over me. And all of a sudden I'm goin' off the road! I'm tellin' ya, I absolutely forget I was driving (3)." Willy also experience mood swings while talking to his wife or about Biff (his son). When Linda tells Willy that she brought American cheese, Willy states, " Why did you get American when I like Swiss... I don't want to change! I want Swiss cheese. Why am I always being contradicted ( 6)?" This shows that Willy age is causing his memory loss and mood swings.
ReplyDeleteMahogany
ReplyDeleteI think what's causing the conflict that Willy and his son, Biff, is having is that fact that Biff is receiving everything on a silver platter, whereas Willy has to work for his earnings. I think this creates tension between the two of them because, Willy feels that his son has it too easy and he needs to struggle a little bit for the things he wants in his life. For example according to "The Death of A Salesman" Willy states to his wife after they start talking about Biff coming home, " No, no some people- some people accomplish something. Did Biff say anything after I went this morning?(5). This is referring to how Biff hasn't accomplish anything on earth as a 34 year old, and how his father thinks he needs to grow up.
The play so far reflects the ideas of the 1950s and the American Dream because it shows the expectations of an adult. An adult is expected to have a job, and without one he is looked down upon. Willy, Biff's father, complains about how "its more than ten years now and [Biff] has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week"(5). Because Biff still hasn't had a job, he isn't living up to Willy's 1950s mindset and the American Dream where every American adult should have a stable job.
ReplyDeleteBriona Hawkins-
ReplyDeleteThe novel Death of a Salesman mentions components of the American Dream by mentioning the belief of owning a house and having a stable amount of income. The character Willy expresses his disbelief of how accomplishing the goal of owning a house wasn't so successful. Willy states," Figure it out. Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it...some people accomplish something"(5). He also expresses his feelings towards his son having a steady income. Willy also sates,'I simply asked him if he was making any money. Is that a criticism?...How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life?...I thought, well, a young man, its good for him to tramp around and take a lot of different jobs. But its more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!"(5). Clearly, Willy has a major obsession with owning property and making enough money to maintain a stable life and afford necessities. His obsession with money and property were also obsessions during the time period he lived within. This time period is the 1950's and these obsessions are apart of the American Dream . Therefore, the novel Death of a Salesman mentions goals apart of the American Dream by showing through characters such as Willy the major belief in having money and property.
What do you think is causing the conflict between Willy and Biff?
ReplyDeleteWilly is concerned because his son, Biff, hasn’t found a steady job; he believes Biff is too worried about “finding himself”. Biff is a thirty-four year old man, and he’s still in his parent’s, Willy and Linda, home. This frustrates Willy because he wants more than just a farm life for his son who would have a lot of potential if he wasn’t so lazy. Willy states “How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand? In the beginning, when he was young, I thought, well, a young man, it’s good for him to tramp around, take a lot of different jobs. But it’s more than ten years now and has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!..Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace!”. Willy is ashamed that his son still hasn’t found himself a steady way to make a living for himself. He feels like his son has too much potential and he’s just letting it all
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ReplyDeleteIt is evident that the central conflict between Biff and Willy is that Willy is constantly pressuring Willy to do and be more than what he already does and is. Willy's Expectations for Biff are set too high for Biff to achieve and still be satisfied. Obviously Biff is most happy when he is working on the farm because all he wants to do is "take [his] shirt off and be outdoors", but according to Willy, happiness means nothing if you aren't successful. Willy's idea of success is so far-fetched that he can't even grasp the high expectations he has set for his own children. Willy is nothing more than a salesman, who, like other parents, wants the best for his children, but his definition of success is to unobtainable for Biff to even live a happy life. Their relationship is the typical father son relationship, where he wants his son to be successful, but the son would rather be happy than to sell his soul for a quick buck. Willy is so caught up in his own expectations for both himself and Biff that he can't even see how unhappy his own son is because all he wants to do is impress his father. Willy's main issue is that he is trying to live vicariously through Biff.
ReplyDeleteWhat causes the conflict between Willy and Biff is Willy's high expectations for his son. Willy wants his son to be less dependent on both he & Linda, as well as be on his own. He's more so disappointed in the out come and development of Biff's life. An excerpt from the text states, "I simply asked him if he was making any money...How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand? ...But it's more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!"(5). Biff's father expected so much more out of his life. Biff was sort of letting him down. This started the issue between the father and son. Willy's constant complaining and naggy may have created a rift between the two. All in all, Willy simply just wanted Biff to do well for himself by himself. He wanted him to stand on his own two feet.
ReplyDeleteWhy was it important to Willy for his sons to know he was well know on page 19?
ReplyDeleteIt was important for Willy to let his sons know that he was well known because he wants his boys to look up to him and admire him. He wants to be a role model figure in their lives. An excerpt from the text states, "'cause one thing, boys: I have friends...This Saturday, Pop, this Saturday --just for you, I'm going to break through for a touchdown"(19). Not only was Willy trying to impress his boys, as a result they wanted to make him proud the best ways they could. Even if that meant showing off for him at football games. Willy wanted to make his boys' eyes grow big once he told them that he had connects in other towns and cities that thought pretty highly of him.
I think the effect of the American dream is that you have to give something up to achieve it. Willy was mad at his son, he thinks he's "a lazy bum". Biff is lazy because he lives at home with his parents. However laziness is a sign of wanting to be free of authority. Biff feels like achieving the American dream by working and earning money will make him obey to authority. Willy, Biff's father, has obeyed authority and wants his son to live in his footsteps. Biff doesn't want to so they consistently but heads
ReplyDeleteI would describe Willy and Linda's relationship as complicated because Linda show how much she loves and adores him, by catering to his every needs where as Willy shows no affection towards him. After coming into the house Willy complain how much pain he was in and Linda says, "Take an aspirin. Should I get you an aspirin? It'll soothe you" (3). Linda love Willy so much that he doesn't really pays her any mind, he just continue to tell her about he day and thanking her for trying to help him to feel better.
ReplyDelete-Amiyah Williamson
I believe the setting is causing a conflict because it has changed so much. As the book opens up they began to describe the setting, saying its set in a apartment building that surrounded by an array of apartment buildings. However to describe an American Dream home you need a big house with a pickett fence and the Salesman home is not that. In the text on page 6 Willy describes his feeling toward the new surroundings," Willy: They way they boxed us in here. Bricks and windows, windows and bricks.
ReplyDeleteLinda: We shoud've brought the land next door.
Willy: The street is lined with cars. There's not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass dont grow anymore, you cant raise a carrot in the back yard." The setting surrounding Willy and his family upsets him and causes conflict because its not what he worked so hard for. He worked to get the Amercian Dream home and thats not what happend. He ended up in a urban area where there are apartment buildings cars and more people instead of farms and open land
I think whats causing the conflict between Willy and Linda. Is that Biff doesn't have a steady job at the age of 34. As Willy and Linda discuss about Biff, Linda explains to Willy that Biff is still finding himself because Willy states, "But its more than ten years now and he has yet to make $35 a week!" (5). Willy is upset that Biff cannot keep a steady Job at the age of 34. If this continues then, the conflict between Willy and Linda may go further.
ReplyDeleteThe cause of Willy's mood swings and memory loss is the exhaustion from working and the fact that he's getting old. Willy is a sixty years old salesman trying to travel every week to complete his work and it's over powering his mind. Linda tried to help him by telling him to relax but he refuses to listen , "well, you'll just have to take a rest you can't continue this way"(3). Linda acknowledges that Willy needs to get some rest because his age and job is burning out his mind.
ReplyDeleteWilly's and Linda's relationship tend to have argumentative conversations. Throughout these pages throughout the text Willy latches back at what Linda has to say. He has one point of view while Linda has a another.Having two opposing sides causes them to engage in arguments. The text states. " he's finding himself willy.Not finding himself at the age of thirty four is a disgrace ! Shh! The trouble is he's lazy, goddamit! Willy please! Biff is a lazy bum!"(5). Biff is Willy and Linda's son. They both had two opposing opinions of how they felt towards him. Willy seen him as being lazy and cant accomplish must while Linda was in denial about her son and his accomplishments. For this reasoning their conversations which showed thier relationship was argumentative. - Bryanah Wilkins
ReplyDeleteNaheem Height
ReplyDeleteI believe old age is the reason for Willy's memory loss and frequent mood swings. Willy is an elderly man no longer capable of traveling long distances as a salesman. His wife, Linda says, "But you're sixty years old. They can't expect you to keep traveling every week"(Miller 4). As an older man his memory may not be as good as it use to be. His wife expresses her concerns for her husband in regard to his age kbowing that he ia now limited to certain tasks. Also, Willy often contradicts himself by later going against what he said earlier. He says, "Biff is a lazy bum"(Miller 5) but later goes on to say, "There's one thing about Biff--he's not lazy"(Miller 6). Willy isn't able to keep up with his own thoughts and actually says something that goes against his own words. Willy wont be able to function the same as he use to and shouldn't be expected to behave the same. As his frequent mood swings demonstrate his lack of emotional stability. Willy's only cause for memory loss and mood swings is his old age.
The conflict between Willy and Biff is due to the fact that Biff is a adult and still do not have a job. Willy and Linda is having a conversation about the outburst that Willy had because Biff is grown without a income, and Willy feels that Biff is a bum. " Not finding himself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace . . . Biff is a lazy bum " ( Miller 5 ). Willy is upset with the way is adult son is living his life because Biff is not working and he's not making any money to suppose himself. Willy feel that Biff is just being a lazy bum and don't want to do good in life.
ReplyDeleteQuestiontion: How had the community changed due to Mr. Willy?
ReplyDeleteMr Willy believes the community has been massacred because of the builders who have cut down the trees. He stress that streets lines of with cars are the reason to why there's not a breath of fresh air on the neighborhood. Mr. Willy shouts "There's more people, that's ruining this country. Population is getting out of control. Competition is maddening,"(7). Due to the drastic changes it's to crowded with more people and the area is completely different due to the population of cars, cut down trees causing a pungent smell to occur.
The play reflects the ideas of family lifestyle and the american dream during the 1950s because during this time the father in the house or family is look upon as the head of his household, the bread winner, and the rule maker. In the play "Death of a salesmean" Willy which is the husband to Linda and the father to biff and happy, he is very strict and he has much to say about the things that are occuring in his house hold. He often states how he feels about his son not having a job, " ... In the beginning, when he was younge, I thought, well, a younge man, it's good for him to tramp around, take a lot of different jobs. But it's more than ten years nowand he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week! " (5) This quote shows that Willy being in charge of his household, that he has the right to critise his sons on not upholding their responsibilites as grown men.
ReplyDeleteMirandah Philips
ReplyDeleteSo far in the play, I would describe Linda's and Willy relationship as the average husband and wife relationship in the 1950's. The average married couple in the 1950's involves the man working while the wife stays home and take care of him an their family. When Willy first arrived home he was not feeling very well and Linda did all she did in order to accommodate him. She asks questions of what she can do in order to help in for example she states " Should I get you an aspirin? It'll soothe you"(3). Linda tries her best to meet her husband needs just as the average wife in the 1950's.Linda is trying to attend to all of her husband needs as he works and as he come home. From their actions they have the average relationship on a married couple of the 1950's
I believe what's causing the conflict between Willy and Biff is that Willy which is the father of Biff believes his son is too old to be staying in his house. Also he doesn't like how the mother is taking her son's side into letting him stay in the house even though he passed the age limit and should at least be independent. In the passage it says "Willy: How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand?... But its more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week !, The trouble is he's lazy !" (pg.5)
ReplyDeleteZiana Hunter
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I believe that the cause of Willy and Biff's conflict is that Willy is so hard on his son about getting his life together and finding a job. Biff on the other hand wants to make decisions for himself without anyone's consent and he also wants to move at his own pace. Willy continuously push Biff into becoming a better man. In the text Willy says, "Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace" (5). This shows that Willy and Biff will continue to have a conflict or have some type of conflict with one another because Willy (Biff's) father criticizes Biff for not doing what he wants him to do. All he wants for his son is to become successful at a fast pace , but Biff wants to do things on his own and make wise choices that he thinks is appropriate for himself.
The reason for the conflict between Willy and Biff is that Willy expects more for both of his sons and he wants to make sure that they are settled and financially stable. In the text Willy goes back and forth with his emotions for his son not because he dislikes his son or because he is crazy, but because he wants to believe in his son and he knows that his son isn't lazy , he just wants to see more effort. "Willy: Biff is a lazy bum... Why did he come home ? I would like to know what brought him home." (5) "Willy: ...There's one thing about Biff--he's not lazy"(6). Willy only wants what's best for Biff and Biff doesn't see that because his father is constantly scolding him or not understanding his vision , there's more of a misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteLinda and Willy are fixated on what the american dream has offer . The american dream looks like a family that is always happy , with everything they want . Linda and Willy do not show that type of happiness . This also cause Willy to contradict himself about Biff . Linda says to Willy , " But you're sixty years old. They can't expect you to keep traveling everyweek " (4) . Linda notices how Willy is working too hard to be a sixty year old man . Biff not having a job and depending on his parents has caused confusion is causing Willy and Linda to stress .
ReplyDeleteThis play reflects the ideas of 1950's and the american dad because during that time the husbands and wives played different roles. The husband had a job outside of the house as in work in the fields and hunt and things like that but the women stayed home and cook, cleaned and took care of the kids. What causes the conflict between Willy and Biff is due to the fact that Biff is a adult and still do not have a job. Biff is a grown man and has nothing in life that he has had success on. Biff does not even get any income and relies on Willy and the family to help him. Willy being older he thinks Biff wasted his time and life and is dumb for not having a job or anything. " Not finding himself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace . . . Biff is a lazy bum " ( Miller 5 ). Linda and Willy relationship is good because Linda shows that she care about Willy alot. She takes care of him and when he came home she wanted to know why he came back and checking in on him seeing if everything was ok. What is causing the moody swings and memory loss for Willy is his age. When you start to become old you lose memory and insight on things that you know about and the fact that you have alot on your mind have you lose memory and the fact that he works and is trying to provide for Willy and Linda is putting pressure on him. " Linda notices how Willy is working too hard to be a sixty year old man." (4). I think the impact of the setting is affected the household and people living there because the fact that there is less cars and the government cut the all the trees causes people to lose their mind and lack on oxygen for people to breath.
ReplyDeleteWhat might cause the conflict between Willy and Biff, is that Willy expected more out of Biff. To be who Biff is a strong smart man to have wasted basically his life not accomplishing anything. To Willy, Biff is a lazy bum he does nothing he's not even making good money, but expect Willy to take care of him. In the play Willy says "In the beginning, when he was young, I though, well, a young man, it's good for him to tramp around, take a lot of different jobs. But it's more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!" (Miller 5).This shows how upset Willy is of Biff and wants more of him to do better in life than to be lazy and rely on him.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1950s the American Dreams gave women & men a role in society. They were suppose to be married & live in a nice big house . Women were suppose to stay home and basically do all the cooking and cleaning and other housewife duties. Men were suppose to be like the provider. They were suppose to go out & work. The play reflects this idea in Biff's life. Biff cant keep a job or money therefor he feels as though he is not successful. While talking to Happy he states , " I'm like a boy. I'm not married, I'm not in business, I just - I'm like a boy " ( 11). Biff feels less of a man because he is not living up to the standards of the American Dream. He says he feels " like a boy" because he has no "business" and is not married. Because he is a grown man without a job or a woman he feels like a boy instead of a man. The american dream makes people feel like they must live up to it.
ReplyDelete-An-Nisa Jones
The play relates to the American Dream because this is a typical family who are striving for the American Dream.Willy and Biff have a conflict because Willy wants more from his son. He prefers for him to take on the family tradition of being a salesman, but Biff doesn't want to. Instead, Biff wants to "be outdoors, with [his] shirt off" (11). Willy has devoted so many years to achieving his dream of being closer to the American Dream by becoming a business man, while Biff has given up. Like any father that wants to be a leader to his son, Willy is simply angered by the fact of them not wanting the same thing.
ReplyDeleteBaleegh McCrimmon
ReplyDeleteThis play relates to the 1950's based on the American Dream and different roles that husbands and wives played during this time. Basically how men would be in charge and strive for the greatness in them to keep things in check. "If old man Wagner was alive I'd been in charge of New York now! That man was a prince, he was a masterful man (4)." This shows how during that time the power that the men had and what they were able to do with that power. This play also portrays how the women of that time stayed home and didn't do anything but cook and clean for their husbands and kids.
I don't think Willy is okay because he isn't happy with his life. When describing his travels to work " [he] opened the windshield and just let the warm air bath over [him]. And then all of a sudden [he was] goin' off the road! [he's] tellin' [Linda] [he] absolutely forgot I was diving" 930. Willy feels incapable of driving because he starts fantasizing. Will himself didn't have "fresh air in [his] neighborhood' (6). Due to his inability to have what he sees on his way to work everyday, Willy isn't mentally stable and happy.
ReplyDeleteTarae Caldwell
ReplyDeletebiff and willy are having a conflict because biff relies on his parents a lot as an adult. on page 6, willy said to Linda, " biff is a lazy bum! ... Why did [biff] come home? I would like to know what brought [biff] home." In willy's eyes , he doesn't know why his son , biff, is so reliant of his parents. he comes home and is dependent of his parents. Biff doesn't even have a job to take care of himself.