Death of a Salesman

Willy Loman

• Quotes:

  • "I'm a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine." (This quote highlights his fragile ambition and dependence on external validation.)

  • "You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away—a man is not a piece of fruit!" (This quote demonstrates his feeling of being discarded by the company after a lifetime of work.)

  • "The jungle is dark but full of diamonds." (This quote represents his distorted view of the American Dream, as told to him by his brother Ben.)

  • "He's liked, but he's not well liked." (This quote reveals his obsession with being popular, and his belief that personality is more important than hard work.)

  • "We're going to get a little place out in the country, and I'm gonna raise some vegetables, and maybe some chickens." (This quote shows his longing for a simpler, more authentic life, which stands in stark contrast to his pursuit of material success.)

  • "I don't know the reason for it, but they just can't stand me." (This quote illustrates his paranoia and sense of failure.)

• Methods: Metaphor, symbolism, dramatic irony, and anaphora.

Tragic Conventions:Willy is a modern tragic hero. His downfall is caused by his own flaws (hubris, denial, and a misguided view of the American Dream) rather than a grand destiny. He experiences a moment of self-realisation before his death, understanding the futility of his lifelong pursuit.

Linda Loman

• Quotes:

  • "He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him." (This quote shows her unwavering loyalty and empathy for Willy.)

  • "Attention, attention must be paid to such a person." (This quote is her powerful plea for Willy to be recognised and valued.)

  • "We’re free and clear. We’re free and clear. We’re free and clear." (This quote is uttered at Willy's grave, showing the ironic freedom from debt that came at the cost of his life.)

  • "He put his whole life into that house." (This quote reveals the sacrifices Willy made for his family.)

• Methods: Repetition, pathos, hyperbole.

• Tragic Conventions: Linda acts as the chorus in the play, offering commentary and emotional weight to the tragic events. She elicits sympathy from the audience, highlighting the human cost of Willy's struggles.

Biff Loman

• Quotes:

  • "I've got to get some air around here." (This quote shows his feeling of being trapped by his family's lies and expectations.)

  • "I don't know who I am, I don't know what I'm doing." (This quote highlights his identity crisis, stemming from his father's unrealistic expectations and the discovery of his infidelity.)

  • "He had all the wrong dreams. All, all wrong." (This quote is his final, poignant realisation about his father’s misguided life.)

  • "We're a dime a dozen, and so are the people we know!" (This quote is a harsh reality check, contrasting Willy's belief in their exceptionalism.)

  • "I'm not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you." (This quote shatters Willy’s illusions about himself and his son.)

• Methods: Direct address, symbolism, and anagnorisis (a moment of self-realisation).

• Tragic Conventions: Biff is the foil to his father. He represents the potential for a new, more honest American Dream, but is also a victim of his father’s tragic flaws. He experiences a cathartic moment of truth at the end.

Happy Loman

• Quotes:

  • "I'm gonna get married, Pop. I'm gonna get married." (This quote shows his desperate attempts to gain his father's approval.)

  • "I'm gonna be a bachelor till I'm forty." (This quote is an example of his contradictory and immature behaviour.)

  • "It's the only dream you can have—the only dream that matters." (This quote reveals his continued adherence to Willy's false values, even after his death.)

  • "We've got to show them. We've got to show them that we can be a success." (This quote shows his failure to learn from his father's downfall.)

• Methods: Juxtaposition, tragic irony.

• Tragic Conventions: Happy's character serves as tragic irony. Despite witnessing his father's failure, he still clings to the same misguided dreams, suggesting the cycle of delusion will continue.

Howard

• Quotes:

  • "It's a business, kid. You don't have a personal thing here." (This quote shows the impersonal nature of corporate capitalism.)

  • "The jungle is dark but full of diamonds." (This quote is said by Willy to Ben.)

  • "I have my own phone, with my own number." (This quote highlights the power dynamic and his modern, detached attitude.)

  • "I don't need a dime from you, Willy." (This quote is the final blow to Willy's dignity.)

• Methods: Symbolism, truncated sentences.

• Tragic Conventions: Howard serves as an antagonist and a symbol of the ruthless, dehumanising force of corporate America that contributes to Willy's downfall.

Charlie

• Quotes:

  • "Nobody dares to say he's an enemy of the American Dream, but he's an enemy of the American Dream!" (This quote is said by Willy to Ben.)

  • "When you're all finished with your dreams, you wake up in the morning and go back to work." (This quote is Charlie’s pragmatic and realistic view of life.)

  • "A man who doesn't have a job—a man who doesn't have money—is a man who doesn't have a life." (This quote is a brutal, but truthful, assessment of Willy’s situation.)

• Methods: Pragmatism, foil character.

Tragic Conventions: Charlie is the foil to Willy. He is successful through hard work and integrity, highlighting Willy's tragic flaws.

Ben Loman

• Quotes:

  • "The jungle is dark but full of diamonds." (This quote is a key metaphor for the ruthless pursuit of wealth, and Willy’s misguided view of the American Dream.)

  • "I walked into the jungle when I was seventeen and I walked out when I was twenty-one, and by God I was rich!" (This quote is the source of Willy’s misguided ambition.)

  • "It’s a jungle out there, and you’re going to get devoured if you don’t stand on your own two feet." (This quote shows the aggressive nature of his philosophy.)

• Methods: Symbolism, ghost-like presence.

Tragic Conventions: Ben acts as a supernatural element and a fatal attraction, drawing Willy toward his tragic end. He symbolises the illusory promise of easy wealth.

Bernard

• Quotes:

  • "It's a jungle out there, and you’re going to get devoured if you don’t stand on your own two feet." (This quote is said by Ben to Willy.)

  • "Don't you remember what a great kid you were in high school, and you could do anything you wanted to do?" (This quote shows his admiration for Biff, but also his understanding of Biff's wasted potential.)

  • "I’m not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you." (This quote is said by Biff to Willy.)

• Methods: Foil character, juxtaposition.

Tragic Conventions: Bernard is a foil to Biff, showing the path Biff could have taken. His success through hard work contrasts with Biff’s failure, reinforcing the theme of misguided values.

The Woman

• Quotes:

  • "I'm a busy woman. I don't have time for this." (This quote shows her indifference to Willy, contrasting with Linda's unconditional love.)

  • "It’s the first time in his life he’s not been selling." (This quote is said by Linda to Willy.)

  • "Look at that Biff! That’s my boy, that’s my boy!" (This quote is said by Willy to The Woman.)

• Methods: Symbolism, truncated sentences.

Tragic Conventions: The Woman represents betrayal and Willy’s escape from reality. Her presence in his mind contributes to his psychological breakdown and alienation from his family.

Context

Death of a Salesman was written by Arthur Miller in 1949, a period of post-World War II prosperity in the United States. This era was marked by a boom in consumer culture, suburban expansion, and the rise of the modern corporation. The play is a critique of the American Dream, which, in this context, had shifted from a focus on hard work and independence to a more materialistic and superficial pursuit of success. Miller questions whether this dream is achievable for the common man and exposes the psychological toll it can take. The play also explores themes of father-son conflict, appearance vs. reality, and the dehumanising effects of capitalism.