ACT II

What is the source of the optimism at the beginning of this act?

At the beginning of Act Two, there is optimism in the atmosphere because Biff is meeting with his old boss, Oliver, to get a business loan to open up a sporting goods store with Happy in Florida. Happy and Biff plan to call their business The Loman Brothersand refer to their plan as the "Florida idea." While he is eating breakfast, Willy is excited at the thought of his sons going in business together...

The scene with Howard, Willy, and the tape recorder goes on for nearly two pages. What is the purpose of this scene? What purpose does Howard serve for the audience?

In the second act, Arthur Miller uses Howard Wagner as a symbol of progress and innovation in contrast with Willy Loman's outdated notions of business tactics. Most of the details in Howard's office emphasize technological innovation and novelty, from his well-appointed, modern office to the recording machine that fascinates Howard. This shows that Howard is more interested in the future than the past, as he ignores Willy to consider his new machine. In contrast, Willy speaks not of his future with the company but with his history and past promises. That Willy is frightened by the recorder is a symbol of Willy's obsolescence within a modern business world; he cannot deal with innovation. Even his values, as he notes, belong to a different time. Willy speaks of a past time when being a salesman demanded respect and friendship, a time that has clearly passed, if it ever existed at all.

What purpose does Howard serve for the audience?

Howard's character represents the way time waits for no one. Howard is a symbol of changing times, changing values, and changing views of capitalism.

What does Dave Singleman represent for Willy?

Dave Singleman represents the epitome of a salesman to Willy. Willy looks up to Dave as his role model, as who Willy strives to be like.

How accurately do you suppose Willy is remembering Dave Singleman? What is significant about Singleman's name?

I don't think Willy is accurately remembering Dave Singleman. When you really look up to a person, you tend to look past their flaws and place them upon an altar where you feel they could never do anything wrong. What's significant about Singleman's name is that Dave was indeed a single man. He was a bachelor who didn't need to worry about providing for a family, and because he was a special single type of man that could work well into his old age.

How might Willy's comparing himself to an orange be interpreted as a criticism of the capitalistic system?

It can be interpreted as a criticism of the capitalistic system because it's saying that a man isn't a piece of fruit; you cannot just use a man up for his talents and work and then throw him away when he's useless (in reference to the way a person throws away the orange peel after eating the

orange).

Judging from what Bernard says, what took the life out of Biff? What about Bernard irks Willy?

What took the life out of Biff was something that happened between Biff and Willy in Boston, which most likely has something to do with the Woman. Willy is irked by Bernard's success and previously, how even though in high school no one "liked" Bernard and, Willy still feels less than him and Charley.

What important exposition do we learn from Bernard?

We learn that Biff basically gave up on his life after he had visited Willy in Boston. Thus, it can be said that Willy is responsible for Biff's downward spiral after high school.

What is the purpose of the scene between Stanley and Happy and then between Happy and the girl?

The purpose of the scene between Stanley and Happy is to show how Happy is so much like his father in the sense that both Willy and Happy like being treated like the priority and being placedfirst. The purpose of the scene between Stanley and the girl is to draw a parallel between Happy and Willy in terms of infidelity and lying. When Happy lies and flirts with Miss Forsythe, she makes us recall how Willy too is willing to lie and cheat to get what he wants in life.

What is significant about the way Biff's meeting went with Bill Oliver?

Shows the dismissiveness by Oliver shows the disillusionment of the Loman clan. The fact that Biff is afraid to tell Willy shows the instability of the family as a whole.

List the complications that have been added to the Act-1 inciting incidents and carry the plot toward an imminent climax.

What was never a sales rep; he was a shipping clerk. Biff flunked math → turning point that was coupled with his visit to Boston to see his father.

What suspense still lingers as we mount toward an obvious climax?

Willy's inability to handle the truth and Happy's efforts to hide the truth. Biff's desire to tell the truth

The climax of the play will obviously have something to do with the characters' finally giving up their illusions and facing the truth of the past. Who seems to be the character who is going to make this happen?

Biff.

How do Willy and Happy prevent him from doing this?

Fear and guilt.

How does this final flashback represent the convergence of plotlines in climax?

The background plot once presented shows why in present day plot Biff and Willy act the way they do to each other.

what is the lowest point of the sons' relationship with their father death of a salesman

cheating

what do the seeds and willy's planting a garden represent

The seeds symbolize how Willy is trying to work his way up in life. By planting seeds, it symbolizes how Willy attempts to begin a new life. The physical seed symbolizes Willy and the reality of his external life (not well liked, hidden from world, much like an underground seed).

what occurs in the absolute moment of climax that determines this play will be a tragedy

The climax in Act 2 is the climax of the play. The climax of the play takes place at the Chop House after Willy is fired from his job. When the boys attempt to tell Willy about their failed bid to finance their business, Willy takes it as an insult to himself and becomes defensive. He launches into a tirade and begins to blame his son for past disappointments and memories of what happened in the hotel room in Boston when Biff caught his father with a prostitute. Willy has lost it, and the boys attempt to pick up the pieces and calm him down. Afterward, a confused Willy retreats to the men's room, prompting his son's to leave the restaurant and their father, as quickly as possible.