Death of a Salesman | Act 1 - Part 4

The discovery of Willy's planned suicide - Biff in the basement

In what ways is Happy more prepared to indulge in Willy's dreams than Biff?

Which son has the closer relationship with their father and why?

• Happy is already trapped, working within the system

• Biff displays a desire to connect with his true essence on multiple occasions

• ‘[continuing over Happy’s line]’

• Willy's whole demeanour shifts when Happy mentions Bill Oliver

• Biff sacrifices his true essence ‘[with reserve, but trying, trying]’

• Happy's business idea connects to Willy's idea of a legacy

• Biff has a closer relationship with their father than Happy arguably due to Biff's teenage glory

How has Willy's job as a salesman consumed him?

• Willy constantly tries to sell himself in order to be ‘well-liked’ and encourages his sons to do the same

• as a salesman, Willy is prepared for him and his sons to lie 

• Willy constantly lies to himself and to his family

• Willy's sense of self worth is based on his material success, or lack of, at work

Why does Willy continue to refuse to face the failure of his career?

• if he were to accept the failure of his career, Willy would also have to accept the failure of his parenting of his sons

• Willy refuses to see his obsoleteness as he is blinded by his hubris

What does Biff taking the hose away symbolise?

• the rubber hose symbolises the truth in the play

• foreshadows Biff's pursuit of the truth in the family

• symbolises the discovery of hidden, dark truths