https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux Made by Alanna, Izzy, and Riley en-us 2018-04-16 14:33:45 UTC 2025-10-30 10:54:15 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Bigthunderstorm.png 21004068 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253009897 Bernard, Charlie's son, is meant to be a foil character, or complete opposite of Biff. When he was younger, Bernard was a "nerd" according to social standards, while Biff was very popular and having friends was his main priority. While Biff never became successful in life, Bernard became very successful. "How did you? Why didn't he ever catch on?" (Miller 93). Willy is asking Bernard why Biff never followed in his footsteps of being successful. He always wanted Biff to be as successful as Bernard because he believed that when you are well liked and popular, you are able to be successful, but this is not accurate for Biff. "I've often thought how strange it was that I knew he'd given up his life" (Miller 94). Bernard knew that Biff had potential, but he didn't ever care enough about success to try. Bernard is seen to be what Willy always wanted for Biff, but not what actually happens in his life. While Bernard is successful, Biff is not and has never tried to be, making Biff and Bernard polar opposites. ]]> 2018-04-18 14:15:00 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253009897 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253010546 Ben is Willy's dead older brother. Ben is a minor character, although he has a significant impact. Ben is Willy's image of success, he is able to travel. "The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, the age of 21 and he's rich!" (Miller 48). Willy is very proud of his brothers success, so proud he holds him as an example for his sons Biff and Happy. "Listen to this. This is your Uncle Ben, a great man! Tell my boys Ben!" (Miller 48). Ben is a symbol of luck to Willy. For example, Willy interprets Ben's fortune of finding diamonds in Africa as proof that dreams of making it big are possible.]]> 2018-04-18 14:16:13 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253010546 21004226 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253010592 Charley, Willy's neighbor, is the direct foil character to Willy. He represents every aspect of success that Willy Loman was never able to achieve, especially since Charley has a sense of responsibility and a considerable lack of stubbornness and pride. Charley shows all traits of being grounded that cannot be shown the same for Mr. Loman. When the two are seen arguing in Willy's kitchen, Charley offers Willy a job, to which Willy responds, "Don't insult me." (Miller, 43) The scene goes on to portray the rest of the argument, which unfods into Willy's pride preventing him from success. Charley, on the other hand, never got in his own way. He valued intuition and motivation over popularity (as he taught his son, Bernard), which lead to his massive wealth and value in the business community. As he represents a higher level of accomplishment, Charley sees how blind Willy becomes. He notices that Willy's refusal to see the truth is what's holding him back, which is why he finally snaps at Mr. Loman during one of Willy's own flashbacks. "Willy, when are you going to grow up?" (Miller, 68) The reader can clearly see that even in the far past while Biff was still in high school, there was already reason for Charley to raise concern. He was rich and business savvy, knowing from the start that if Willy didn't break free from his delusions that his life would not end well. Charley is seen as more of the 'adult' with clear sight and intuition, which bought him to his future, and as the foil, brought Willy to his demise.]]> 2018-04-18 14:16:19 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253010592 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253099705 In Death of a Salesman, one of Willy's many downfalls that ultimately lead to his death is his affair in Boston. While Willy is doing a sales job out of town he cheats on his wife Linda. One symbol of his affair is Linda's stockings. For example, the stockings are a constant reminder of the woman he has the affair with. Willy gives the woman a pair of stockings. Then later on, when he sees Linda mending a pair of her stockings he repeatedly yells at her since it makes him feel guilty for his actions. "I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!" (Miller 39). Linda basically just cooks, cleans and makes sure Willy is ok, he never asks how Linda's doing. He made the money and she made he was ok and when Willy stopped making the money that's when things began to fall apart. " For much of history, and in many parts of the world today, marriage was a pragmatic alliance that ensured economic stability and social cohesion" (Perel). This overall shows how money can govern the way a family is run.]]> 2018-04-18 16:56:22 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253099705 21004068 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253106480 Throughout the book, Willy makes many references to historical figures, mainly from Greek mythology. In Act I, he mentions Hercules when talking about Biff. It is used to symbolize the strength and fame and fortune Biff used to have when he was younger. "Like a young god. Hercules-- something like that. And the sun, the sun all around him" (Miller 68). When Biff was younger, Willy thought that he would have a bright future in front of him because of his popularity, just like Hercules, but this turns out to not be true. Also in Act I, Willy also makes a reference to Adonis, a Greek god of beauty and desire. "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 a personal interest, is the man who gets ahead" ( Miller 33). Willy compares Happy and Biff to Adonis because they are well liked and very handsome, so he claims they will get ahead in life because of that.  However, Biff is never successful or well liked

]]> 2018-04-18 17:06:14 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253106480 21004226 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253431853 1. Crestfallen (Miller, 15): discouraged; when one's spirit is taken away
- This word was used in reference to Biff's lack of faith in his own success, and the power of the vocabulary eloquently conveyed Miller's tone. 
2. Having "too much on the ball" (Miller, 18): to have too much to worry about: attentive to too many subjects
- Linda mentions this to Willy in a flashback as he worries about financial hardship, but she tries to reassure him, explaining that he already had enough to worry about. 
3. Simonizing (Miller, 20): to polish to a high sheen 
- The context of the word in the story would better be interpreted as a characteristic of a job that one must be polished for, seeing as it will take much out of you.
4. Can't take blood from a stone (Miller, 81): you cannot extract what isn't there to begin with
- Throughout several points in the novel, the characters struggle trying to scrape together rationalizations that just aren't there. Happy makes this point to Biff during one of their arguments in which to convey that problems cannot be solved by trying to pull solutions from places they do not exist. 
5. Lick the world (Miller, 64): to overcome, vanquish, or control
- Willy exclaims proudly to his sons that if they were to put their heads together, they could truly accomplish anything, which was in reference to their business idea. 
6. To ruin a woman (Miller, 116): to take a woman's virtue or chastity; to do so without reason
-The Woman is furious with Willy because he will never marry her but he has taken her virtue and left her with a life that has been compromised by a man she cannot marry. ]]> 2018-04-19 14:02:12 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253431853 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253436308 The idea of the American Dream is that, through determination and charisma you can achieve your goals. Willy is a firm believer of the American Dream. Although it alters his perception of himself at times. For example, when Willy tries to use “personality” to ask his boss for a raise, he gets fired instead. "I'll go to Boston-- I don't want you to represent us. I've been meaning to tell you this fir a long time now" (Miller 83). Willy is almost desperate to make this work out. Willy is not able to realize his mistakes in the past, this makes him believe he is successful but he completely incompetent. "You're practically full of it! We all are! And I'm through with it!" (Miller 131). Willy is not able to see how the American Dream isn't a possible goal and more of a dream.]]> 2018-04-19 14:09:56 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253436308 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253622738 The reader never formally meets Dave Singleman, although he is in Willy's flashback when he is trying to convince Howard to let him work in the New York area instead of all of New England. Willy admires Dave and he lived a true life of a salesman. "Because what would be more satisfying then being able to go, at the age of 84, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?" (Miller 81). Dave sets a bad example for Willy. For example, Dave working at 84 gives Willy the idea that he may not ever have to retire. So in Willy's mind he doesn't think he has anything to worry about. Dave Singleman lived a life of a salesman and died a death of a salesman. He was popular and had good character, which was everything Willy could ever desire.]]> 2018-04-19 20:09:51 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253622738 21004068 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253659854 Throughout the book, illusion is used to show how Willy thinks of himself vs. how he actually performs at his job. Willy always claims that he is the best salesman to his sons so that they will be proud of him. "I'm telling you, I was selling thousands and thousands, but I had to come home" (Miller 34). Willy lies about how much income he is making and is saying that he is selling many properties. In reality, Biff claims that Willy is a "fake" because he is lying about how successful he really is. "Because I know he's a fake and doesn't like anybody around who knows" (Miller 58). Biff claims that Willy doesn't like to be called out on his lies about being successful. While Willy claims that he is very popular with the buyers, it turns out he is not at all. "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" (Miller 33). Willy thinks that because he is Willy Loman, he is very famous and popular, along with being successful. In reality, we find out later that Willy is not as popular as he believes. "I don't know the reason for it, but they just pass me by. I'm not noticed" (Miller 37). Willy is not as popular as he says to his sons. The buyers don't pay attention to him anymore and he is not getting sales. Willy also believed that because he was so popular, many people would come to his funeral when he committed suicide. "Ben, that funeral will be massive! They'll come from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire!" (Miller 126). After he commits suicide, it turns out that this is not the case. All the people he had intended to come did not arrive. "Why didn't anyone come?" (Miller 137). Nobody came to Willy's funeral, like he imagined. Willy believed that because he was a great salesman, people from all over would come to his funeral, like Dave Singleman when he died, but this is not true. Willy often over compensated his thoughts about himself, and often the outcome of these events is not as Willy had hoped. ]]> 2018-04-19 23:57:47 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253659854 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253840183 2018-04-20 14:15:06 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253840183 21004226 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253842630 Willy Loman, a suicidal try-hard, was in fact a tragic hero. He represents a great number of American men who work hard all their lives only for their jobs to amount to nothing. The reader spends the entirety of the novel wanting Willy to be successful, sharing his longing desire for stability. Sadly, Willy dies a death of tragedy, when he ends his life knowing that he'll never achieve what he's striven for all along. Charley makes it a point to mention nobody can blame Willy for his own demise. "He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine, and when they stop smiling back- that's an earthquake" (Miller, 138). Willy's foil means to get the point across that Willy Loman tried all his life to ride by on popularity. All salesmen are blinded by the thought that they are adored, but sadly once that adoration fades away, it may feel as though the world has collapsed. Miller makes it clear that salesmen are among the most average of all people of the day in which the play was written.  Due to this, the novel quickly escalates the story in order to make it clear just how much adoration men like Willy desire. Earlier in the novel, as foreshadowing to Loman's suicide, Linda explains to her sons , "He's a human being. Something terrible is happening and attention must be paid." (Miller, 56) Mr. Loman's deterioration plagues the household. It drags him down while Willy wholeheartedly ensures his family that he can continue on this path to glory as he has been attempting. As the playwright, Miller conveys the message that Mr. Loman's plague was indeed the fault of his own, even while those he loved watched while he suffered. Willy ignored all reason, producing the largest character flaw he could possess that inevitably doomed his career and life as a whole. Conclusively, Willy Loman was a tragic hero. ]]> 2018-04-20 14:19:55 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/253842630 icerak2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/254486912 Ethics are moral principles that govern the way a person thinks and acts. Willy Loman and his family make many unethical decisions that tear the family in half. One of most impactful choices Willy makes is when he cheats on his wife Linda. "I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!" (Miller 39). Willy loses his mind while seeing his loving wife mending a pair of her stockings. The stockings remind him of his betrayal and how he cheated on Linda, considering while Willy was seeing The Woman he bought her a pair of stockings. Willy's decision to cheat on Linda was unethical, since being caught it a lie is considered unethical. Another unethical choice made in Death of Salesman was when Biff was failing his math class and all he had to do was go to summer school. Biff said he was going to get the marks and pass, but in reality he didn't go. "Yeah Willy all he had to do was go to summer school and make up that subject-- He flunked the subject, and laid down and died like a hammer hit him!" (Miller 93). Biff choice was unethical an breaks two of the five cornerstones of ethical behavior. This contradicts not getting involved in a lie and doing what you say you'll do. If Biff stuck to his word the whole situation could've been avoided completely. Biff could have been successful and graduated high school. Ethical behavior plays deep role in how the characters act and interact with each other. ]]> 2018-04-23 16:28:16 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/254486912 210040561_2 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/255494754 I fully agree that Willy's perceptions of the American dream were unattainable and that if he had let go of his expectations, things would have been easier for him.]]> 2018-04-26 03:01:23 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/255494754 https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/1263115229 2021-03-03 11:07:47 UTC https://padlet.com/21004068/m9cgsx1zgoux/wish/1263115229