Spring Literature Analysis #1

Death of a Salesman
General:

1) Willy Loman is a man who spends his life following "the American Way", by living out his belief in salesmanship as a way to reinvent himself. As the story continues, the riches and respect he has held on to have done him wrong. At age sixty-three, he looks for the moment his life took a bad turn, the moment he lost his relationship with his wife and son, to whom he invested all his faith. This narrative fulfills the author's purpose in a way where the readers are able to understand what point the author is trying to get across.



2) The theme of the novel is, that the key to success is not all about being well liked. There are other factors and life isn't all about how many people show up to your funeral.

3) The author's tone is mainly shown through the play’s stage directions. The directions show the real pain suffered and felt by the characters. The tone is helpless and fearful. “Funny, y’know? After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive” (95). “He [Willy] never knew who he was” (130). “A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory” (130).

4)

1. Analogy: "The world is an oyster, but you don't crack it open on a mattress." (pg. 28) This is explaining a life lesson by using a certain object to convey the same meaning.
2. Allusion – “Smell the stink from that apartment house!” (pg 17) The apartments are an allusion to the early days of urban development in New York and it sets the time period of the play.
3. Characterization – “He is past sixty years of age, dressed quietly.” (pg 12) Throughout the play, stage direction and descriptions are offered to the actors but not the audience. A view of how the writer sees his own characters.
4. Foreshadow: “From the darkness is heard the laughter of a woman.” (pg 37) The laughter of the woman is foreshadowing the laughter of Willy’s mistress.
5. Conflict – “Don’t you care whether he lives or dies?” (pg 123) Willy’s conflict is internal, but also causes secondary conflicts that the rest of the Loman family must deal with.
6. Epilogue – “Linda doesn’t react. She stares at the grave.” (pg 136) At the end of the play a requiem is written in. It acts very much like an epilogue providing information about after the end of the play.
7. Euphemism – “Ah, it’s a dog’s life.” (pg 99) This is used to express the same level of distaste as more fowl language.
8. Foreshadow – “The Woman enters, laughing.” (pg 116) Nearly every hallucination in the play is a flashback to a period in Willy’s life, where he was much happier than he is currently.
9. Point of View – “The curtain rises.” (pg 1) This play has stage direction and instructions to the actors, which depending how you view it, could mean something completely different.
10. Symbolism: “What the hell is that seed?” (pg 127) Seeds are Willy’s attempts to prove his worth. He tries to grow vegetables at night, which symbolizes his shame of not being able to provide for his family.

CHARACTERIZATION

1) Two examples of direct characterization: "Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff— he’s not lazy." (Act 1) The direct characterization describes what the characters look like based on physical appearance.
Two examples of indirect characterization: "[with pity and resolve]" (pg.6) "[He loses himself in reminiscences.]" (pg.6) The author uses both approaches to create a better understanding of the characters not only by their appearance, but their actions and body language.




2) The author's syntax and diction changes when he focuses on a character. Due to the book being a play, the stage direction is where you understand what the author wants you to see. Depending on what is written, you are able to tell how the author views that character. "[A sob rises in her throat.]" (pg.112)

3) The protagonist is a static, flat character. The character's values don't seem to change over the course of the book. He has the same mindset from the beginning to his death.

4) After reading this book, I felt like I watched their lives unfold before me. Since this book was written as a play, I was able to view it as one. From the rising curtain to the last song of the flute, I was apart of every piece. "We're free and clear." (pg.112)