This is a place for you to reflect and share regarding Death of a Salesman. You must post. How you choose to reflect is totally up to you.
This is a place for you to reflect and share regarding Death of a Salesman. You must post. How you choose to reflect is totally up to you.
Here are some various resources that may further your insights regarding the play. You could choose to react to one of them, rather than post your own website and reaction. Address a point made in the article and give your reaction. These are points made by others; you may choose to disagree, but make sure you validate your views. You may choose to make an observation about an enlightening asect. Bottom line is that your reaction is your reaction. The article based on the abstract is available on the page; you just need to look for it.
ReplyDelete1. Existentialist viewpoint: https://lib.unb.ca/Texts/JSW/number25/goyeche.html
2. Role of Anti Hero:
http://litthe.oxfordjournals.org/content/12/2/205.abstract
3. Role of diction and psychological aspects:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cjas/june_miller.html
Hey Mrs. Edwards or anyone else who knows, for the article reflections when we write should it just be about one idea from the article or should we hit multiple ideas from each? Thanks for any help :)
ReplyDeleteHello Ariana. If you recall the reflection activity that we did earlier, it will clarify your thoughts. Some of the comments were inresponse to the article en total; some were inresponse to idea put forth within the article. The point of this activity is for you to research viewpoints about facets of the plays that are if specific interest to you. Also, you learn about the diversity of information that is out there: graduate student voices, professional articles, abstracts... You learn to deal in electronic sources, evaluating the credential of the source, as well as the information within the article. Does this help you:)?
ReplyDeleteYes thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mrs. Edwards.
ReplyDeleteSo I know you said if we post our good reflections by Friday, it would be extra credit, but if we do not post by Friday, when are our reflections due?
Kelsey. End of next week:)
ReplyDeleteI chose to read and respond to the article regarding the role of Willy Loman as an anti-hero. Overall, I agreed with the article. I do believe that Willy is treated as a very lowly and un-heroic character through his characterizations as a negative and destructive influence, as well as through his cowardly way of ending his own life and abandoning his family. Throughout Biff’s childhood, Willy encouraged his habit of stealing. From calling his theft of the football “initiative” to ordering him to take sand from the construction yard, Willy not only does not condemn the act but actively encourages it, ingraining into Biff the necessity to steal to please his father. Also, Willy is un-heroic in the way he chooses to take his own life. His family, especially Linda, needs Willy, both as a husband/father figure and as a provider for the family. Linda is now left with no man to earn money, and women would have had a hard time earning any money in that time period. The way he chose to end his life in an attempt at glory and pity was both selfish and cowardly. I also agree with the style of the play romanticizing and making famous an obscure figure as the protagonist. Willy is not really very important in the business world, but we are shown his life through his memories and fantasies which paint him as an influential and respected man. Through this portrayal, which is obviously falsified and is an attempt to improve his sense of self-worth, along with his characterization through his actions, the audience is alienated from Willy and his fall does not evoke a great deal of pity within the audience.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards-
ReplyDeleteIs this on the right track for what you want us to do here?
Kevin. You are correct AND brave for going first:) Make sure that you post on the Streetcar blog as well:)
ReplyDeleteIn the article pertaining to the existentialist point of view, they allude to all choices being black and white. This meaning that everyone has two choices usually a right one and a wrong one. I disagree with this perspective; I believe that there are many grey areas when making decisions. On the contrary I do find some truth associated with the paragraph on Willy Loman’s adulterous ways. This is one aspect of the article where the black and white views of the existentialist apply correctly. Willy Loman has a faithful, caring and loving wife waiting for him at his house but he chooses to have an affair while traveling for his job in Boston. He knows that this is morally wrong and clashes with what is acceptable in society, but continues to go through with his decision. There is no excuse for cheating on your significant other and there is always another option. Willy Loman should have made the correct decision and not have strayed from his wife. With regards to the rest of the article I believe that there are multiple factors that go into account when making choices, one of these being societal pressure. Willy Loman is a victim to the harsh strains that society has put on him. He is constantly aware of his lowly status and takes this into consideration whenever he makes a decision. All of his choices are swayed to the option that will give him the materialistic goods that he believes will make him successful. Thus in Willy’s mind bring happiness to him and his family.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Individual Choice," which contemplates whether Miller's "Death of a Salesman" accentuates the idea of failure of a system verses failure of an indiviual, an existentialist point of view. The article favors the existentialist point of view, which I agree with. I believe that it was Willy Loman's personal choices that led him to where he was, seeking the relatively unattainable "American Dream." Firstly, he chooses to fall in the shadows of his father and brother, seeking success that happened upon both of them. With this, he continually sets unrealistic goals for himself in the business world, and puts the same goals on his sons, Biff and Happy. This results in Willy being constantly unsatisfied by Biff's lack of success in the business world. Despite Happy's success, Willy is still unhappy with him some of the time. On the same note, Willy stubbornly refuses to accept a job offer from Charley, who was trying to help him. This prevents Willy from moving anywhere closer to his dream of personal success. In another instance, the dillusional Willy Loman chooses to commit adultery with a secretary, which haunts him relentlessly. He tries to 'make it up to Linda,' but is unable to do so because a sin of that measure is not easily forgotten. Lastly, Willy's personal choices affect him negatively when he encourages Biff to cheat and steal. Ironically, Biff is likely unable to meet his father's requirements because of this, because it ultimately kept him from having success later in life. Willy instead must often dwell in the past when Biff was popular and prosperous. Therefore, Willy Loman's state of mind and eventual suicide were due to his poor personal choices and were a representation of the failure of an individual.
ReplyDeleteI chose to read the second article over the idea of Willy Loman as the anti-hero. On the whole, I agree with the article as Willy is portrayed as a selfish, cowardly, pitiful bully who destroys every opportunity to influence and lead others to strong, moral choices. Our society sees a hero as one who sacrifices for the common good and others while displaying certain amiable traits possessed by great individuals. Willy does not choose the right as shown with his nonchalant attitude towards Biff's stealing of the football and sand from a nearby lot in addition to cheating on his own wife. He avoids his responsibility as a leader in his home by way of a cowardly suicide, which in turn left his wife, Linda, alone and heart-broken with no means to support herself. Willy does not face the troubles in his life with dignity, but pathetically wallows in self-pity because his life was never enough for him and his idea of the "American dream." So, as the article states, I agree that the audience does not feel pity for the fall of Willy Loman since his personality and attitude is not ideal or attractive. Indeed, Willy would not be the type of man seen among the ranks of the Spartans or the Norse, being a man who shows little signs of heroic action.
ReplyDeleteI read the existentialist paper and I agree that in the end the members of the Lohman family are responsible for their own failures and choices. No matter the power of societal influences, the Lohmans still have the freedom to make any decision they choose. Willy makes the decision to not take a new job or course in life when offered one by Charley and Ben. Instead of leaving the "dog eat dog" world of business just for one sector of his life, he introduces this notion to his sons by encouraging theivery and allowing cheating. Linda chooses to be the perfect housewife and, therefore, give excuses for her husband and does not defend herself when Willy yells at her. Charley and Bernard reflect characters who choose a more moral way of life despite any pressure they face by refusing to cheat and choosing to help not just themselves, but also the Lohmans, as when Bernard tries to get Biff to study or Charley checks up on Willy. This all reflects that every final decision made by the Lohman family is of their choosing, meaning any consequence that follows is directly caused by themselves.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the existentialist view and I firmly believe that Willy Loman's struggles and unhappiness is due to his own decisions and attitudes. I do believe that one's surroundings and the themes of society are very influential to one's decisions but just like peer pressure it is only that, pressure and therefore doesn't force you to choose any particular choice. In Willy's situation, he chose to agree with society's view that a person's worth is judged solely by what he can bring in and how well liked he is. This shows that he is living to please people and the people looking in on his life. He is so focused on appearing to be good that he appeases his son Biff's stealing, showing that he has a machiavellian mindset.This lack of security drove him to the point of insanity and gave him the need to excape into his mind and manipulate reality to excuse his actions. So the sorrow he delt with was a natural consequence of his own conformation to the will of society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how the second article portrays Arthur Miller's protagonist in "Death of a Salesman" as an antihero. Unlike Greek tragedy in which the audience can relate to the protagonist and experiences pity and fear, Miller's audience is alienated from the lowly Willy Loman and may safely watch his downfall virtually unaffected. Willy is portrayed as a lowly and pathetic man, and the audience does not well relate to him due to his self-delusion, low moral standards, and possible lack of sanity. Willy constantly contradicts himself and often lies to make his current standing seem better to himself and others. He is unable to accept his personal failures and begins to believe the fantasy he creates for himself. He puts so much importance into material gain and self advancement that traditional moral standards have been put aside. Willy pays no attention to the means of gaining success, only the result, which is exemplified by his encouragement of his son's cheating and stealing. Willy is also seen as pathetic because of his lack of sanity. He becomes so distressed with his current situation that he resorts to reminiscing of the "glory days" of when his sons were in high school. His mind is often in this state of flashback, making him unaware of his surroundings, and segments of Willy's past conversations often slip into his current conversations. The audience is able to see the lack of stability in Willy's mind, as well as the falseness of his claims to his success and reputation. The audience thus loses respect for Willy and feels alienated, lacking the relations required to feel a sense of pity and fear.
ReplyDeleteI read the "Swollen Legacy" article, and although I disagree that Death of a Salesman is simply 'medium' as Mr. Cardullo put it, I found my self noticing details within the play that I hadn't taken note of before until I read this article. Bert Cardullo points out that the grammar used by the Lomans far surpasses that of uneducated people in the time period. Although this is causes issues with the piece’s atmosphere and believability, my opinion of the masterpiece is not harmed by the correct usage of ‘me’ and ‘I’. Who knows? Perhaps Miller was a perfectionist and could not stand to see the English language misused! The author goes on to criticize the fact that Willy is incredibly inconsistent in his comments. But isn’t that is the point of the character? In his decaying mind, he has been driven to convoluted logic and contradicting thoughts. He’s also come to value materials over family and health, a theme heavily present in the play. I recognize that the article’s author does not support Willy’s worship of money. However, I see this faulty deity of his as an extraordinary remark by Arthur Miller upon the materialistic capitalist monster (the American economy) during this time frame. I also think this is quite an appropriate set of values for a salesman of the setting and time frame while Bert conveys his feeling of disconnect because of these morals in the main character. Cardullo goes on to insist that the tragic hero of Willy Loman is diminished due to the fact that he was not a public figure. I, however, maintain my belief that it is his anonymity that makes this piece so poignant. The author’s problem with the fact that Salesman has a few holes in the plot (how did the Loman brothers avoid the war that was raging at the time etc.) is irrational. In my opinion, these overlooked details enhance the universality and timelessness of this tragic figure who is plagued by a passion for money. Overall, I can see Bert Cardullo’s points about Death of a Salesman’s inaccuracies in grammar, themes, and even structure. However, Arthur Miller still managed to produce a captivating and bold play about the fallibility of the American dream, and that is what makes the work valuable to society.
ReplyDeleteI read the "Swollen Legacy" article, and although I disagree that Death of a Salesman is simply 'medium' as Mr. Cardullo put it, I found my self noticing details within the play that I hadn't taken note of before until I read this article. Bert Cardullo points out that the grammar used by the Lomans far surpasses that of uneducated people in the time period. Although this is causes issues with the piece’s atmosphere and believability, my opinion of the masterpiece is not harmed by the correct usage of ‘me’ and ‘I’. Who knows? Perhaps Miller was a perfectionist and could not stand to see the English language misused! The author goes on to criticize the fact that Willy is incredibly inconsistent in his comments. But isn’t that is the point of the character? In his decaying mind, he has been driven to convoluted logic and contradicting thoughts. He’s also come to value materials over family and health, a theme heavily present in the play. I recognize that the article’s author does not support Willy’s worship of money. However, I see this faulty deity of his as an extraordinary remark by Arthur Miller upon the materialistic capitalist monster (the American economy) during this time frame. I also think this is quite an appropriate set of values for a salesman of the setting and time frame while Bert conveys his feeling of disconnect because of these morals in the main character. Cardullo goes on to insist that the tragic hero of Willy Loman is diminished due to the fact that he was not a public figure. I, however, maintain my belief that it is his anonymity that makes this piece so poignant. The author’s problem with the fact that Salesman has a few holes in the plot (how did the Loman brothers avoid the war that was raging at the time etc.) is irrational. In my opinion, these overlooked details enhance the universality and timelessness of this tragic figure who is plagued by a passion for money. Overall, I can see Bert Cardullo’s points about Death of a Salesman’s inaccuracies in grammar, themes, and even structure. However, Arthur Miller still managed to produce a captivating and bold play about the fallibility of the American dream, and that is what makes the work valuable to society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the article referring to the existentialist view. Willy chose the life he made for himself and he needs to face the consequences. Starting with how he raised his sons. He raised them with the beliefs that it is acceptable to cheat or steal as long as you get what you want in the end, material goods. This is best shown when Willy does not punish Biff for stealing the football, but instead laughs and praises him for his "initiative". Willy's economic situation was also mainly because of his own choices. He could have accepted the job offer from Charley but out of pride and selfishness he refused. He was so desperate to reach the "American Dream" that he loses all moral values. This is also shown when Willy chooses to commit adultery. This is the most relevant case of existentialism. Willy clearly chose to commit adultery and keep the job that was far away from his family, despite being offered a closer job from Willy. The article states that he could have just called Linda when he was lonely instead of commiting adultery; I agree with this. Also as the article mentions, it could be argued that Willy's moral standing is not his own fault but is due to the views of the western capitalist system. Although this may have had some affect on Willy, he still chose to go along with it and desperately search for the American Dream. While he is doing this, other characters such as Charley, who is living in the samee society, choose to have higher moral standards than Willy and in the end, Charley is more succesful than Willy Lohman. Overall, I strongly agree to the article interpreting Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman from and existentialist viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteI was interested in the characterization of each person in Death of Salesman. I found a book that was accessible online:
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SLC_g-4uHqUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA33&dq=death+of+a+salesman+characterization+of+linda&ots=bgH7i-_WV_&sig=IrUGBuibUpIz3Mfw0_5lCvGcqpY#v=onepage&q=death%20of%20a%20salesman%20characterization%20of%20linda&f=false
Obviously I did not read all of it, I focused on pages 55-64.
I do not easily sympathize with characters in literature because I hold people to high standards, and therefore, I am not very understanding of flaws. However, this excerpt from Harold Bloom's book that explored Willy's psychological processes and motives really helped me connect better to the play. At first glance, I felt as though Willy lived a dishonorable life and that he did not take proper blame for his actions that caused great strain on both his family and business relationships. Although I still do not support his lack of morals, I am intrigued by his delusional outlook on life. Bloom states that all of Willy's actions are a result of his need to be loved and respected by his family. Furthermore, he explores the idea that Willy believes that his success as a father is fully related to his success as a businessman. This perspective causes greater sympathy towards Willy, for if his image obsession is mainly directed towards the love of his family, his constant lies and reconstructed memories are more forgivable. Also, his suicide becomes less of a selfish act and more of a sacrificial act of releiving his family of all the pain he has caused them. Another idea explored by Bloom is the idea that each character represents a different side of Willy's personality: Linda his conscience, Charley his reason, and Ben his personal aspirations. I really like this characterization of Willy through the actions and words of other characters for it makes the play more intricate and detailed.
I read the third article about the Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller. Throughout the article I found several points made by Bert Cardullo that I couldn’t shake. The first being his idea that the character Willy Loman “exists as an insulted extrusion of commercial society battling for some sliver of authenticity before he slips into the great dark,” meaning Willy’s character struggles with the materialism society has idealized and that all he wants is something clear, accepted, and stress-free before he dies. I would agree with this opinion because it’s clear throughout the play that 1) Willy is striving to be accepted by society in that he works hard and craves success and 2) Willy uses his selective memories to feel better about his “achievements” and childhood, even though he was utterly unsuccessful. Secondly, I found the journalist’s point about the diction of the characters very intriguing. Cardullo points out that the “dialogue often slips away from a true first-generation Brooklyn Jewish and into a fanciness that is slightly ludicrous in context.” He backs this observation up with examples of Biff, Linda, and Willy being rather articulate when it’s made clear in the play that Willy does not have the intelligence(or sanity) to be anything more than a salesman and that Biff could hardly make it through high school without cheating. In contrast, I disagree with Cardullo’s opinion on Willy being a modern tragic hero. Miller explains in his famous essay “Tragedy and the Common Man” that the average-Joe can be a just as appropriate a protagonist for complex tragedy as the royal leader, while Cardullo argues that the common man does not have complete freedom of action and that his actions do not have a deep, moral, political, or philosophical significance for society. I believe Miller’s theme of the destructiveness of materialism definitely disproves the idea that the common man’s actions cannot impact society significantly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the play The Death of a Salesman leaves the audience with an intense catharsis, grieving for the deranged, disillusioned children and the ever-caring mother and learning that money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Additionally, I find Cardullo’s curious expansion on the lack of mention of the Great Depression and World War II interesting, but irrelevant and unimportant. He explains that the national issues surrounding the Loman’s should have been mentioned due to their importance to society and their effect on all common citizens, but I find this erroneous. There are a number of national catastrophes surrounding all of us common folk, including the war in the Middle East, the economy, education, etc., yet I find myself going weeks without discussing any of these topics at home. It’s natural that the Loman family doesn’t discuss national issues at home because they are more concerned with the success of their personal lives than that of the country. Finally, I love the journalist’s analogy towards the end of the article (“Miller’s most highly regarded work… has been for me like going to the funeral of a man you wish you could have liked more”), but for a different reason. I feel this way towards Willy Loman; I wish I could’ve liked him more because of the immense pressure and stress he went through that ultimately cost him his life, but he was so obnoxious and crazy I just couldn’t enjoy his character.
ReplyDeleteIs this good? I have more I could write about if necessary.
sorry it wouldn't let me put it all in one post
ReplyDeleteI am going to respond to the existentialist point of view article. Existentialists believe that a person’s decisions and choices are only the responsibility of the individual. The say society has no role in one’s moral standards. I agree with this viewpoint in Willy Loman’s case. He is completely obsessed with the American Dream and materialism. Conforming to society is a personal decision that Willy made, a choice that simply cannot be blamed on society. Willy cheats on his wife and encourages Biff to steal. Yes, Willy has had hardships in his life that can be blamed on society, but those do not have to affect his decisions. There are many other characters living in the same society who do not have the low moral standards that Willy has. Both Charley and Bernard fit this description. There are negative aspects in society, but Willy has the opportunity to make choices that would positively impact his life.
ReplyDeleteI chose to read the article on existentialism. I agree and disagree with this point of view. On one side, Willy has been raised to be materialstic and selfish and that he is not able to chose otherwise. His father and brother are the two men in his life that he wants to be so badly because of how successful they were but Willy's definition of success may be wrong. No one really knows how to measure a man's success, and Willy was unable to define it on his own because of how he was raised. However, one could also say that he chose not to define his own success and that he chose to be unfaithful to Linda and teach his children to be materialistic. The nature of the society that Willy lived in and the idea of the American dream only made it easier for him to make excuses for himself and children. He wanted that American dream to be his dream so badly that he sabotaged any chance for himself to advance in his career. He lied his way through life to make his life seem perfect.
ReplyDelete*I was absent the day we discussed the article on individual choice, so I promise I am not trying to copy what was said or take the easy way out. I am honestly most interested in this topic *
ReplyDeleteReflecting on the article that supports individual choice in relation to Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman I was struck by the quote of Jean Paul Sartre stating, “We are condemned to be free.” I believe that this idea applies directly to the characters of Death of a Salesman. Though some may see them as victims, it would be foolish to assume that any human being is a mindless puppet of society. Therefore, the characters are responsible for their own actions as they choose to pursue or not to pursue the ‘American Dream’ and it is just that they should have to deal with the miserable consequences of their own decisions. All people have human feelings and a basic human morality at the core of their being. This is why Willy’s conscious will not give him any rest. He knows he has things in his life that he has done wrong and this is especially shown in the scene in Act 1 of the play where he apologizes to Linda for an affair he had, though she is at the time unaware of the reason for his apology. This conscious we all have tries to keep us in line and direct our actions. However, like Willy, sometimes we strive for a goal that is in contrast to our morals; usually something society suggests will make us more successful. Here is where our freedom exists though, in the choice to believe the lies of society or to choose a different truth. Within Death of a Salesman is an excellent example of characters who struggle between what society says and what is truth. Biff and Happy represent opposites sides of this struggle for Biff dreams to move out west, settle down and is critical of his lowly role in society only because his parents find it unacceptable. In contrast, Happy represents a conformist in that he lives to fulfill his father’s worldly goals and strives to please others while ignoring the emptiness he feels. Each brother has made a choice and must now own the outcomes of the life he picked for himself. Again, the reader sees that despite society promising shallow happiness through the American dream, people are undoubtedly free and, as a result, the characters in Death of a Salesman must choose the pathway they walk down and be responsible for the results of their choice.
"Death of a Salesman and Death of a Salesman: The Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller" by Bert Cardullo presents a rather harsh critique of Miller's play "Death of a Salesman"and downgrades it's status as one of the greatest American plays ever written. His arguments certainly have thought in them, and even some sense from time to time, but I disagree with many of his statements. Cardullo talks about how Miller's use of grammar and diction affect the play (in a negative way) and also points out the "inconsistencies" in reference to Willy's contradictions. Perhaps what Mr. Cardullo is missing is the very essence of the contradictions; it is not because of Miller's careless inconsistencies, Miller is trying to portray Willy's lack of connection to reality, and the ever-blending presence of his decaying mind and inability to both accept and face reality for what it is (which shows him to be a failure). As for the grammar, this is a very particular detail but I can understand what Cardullo is trying to say about this peculiarity. However, the fact that they do use grammar and diction that is not congruent with their cultural status may represent the idealized appearance of the family that WIlly was always trying to create; a perfect American family, with all their perfect cars, their perfect money, their perfect successful children, with perfect looks and perfect grammar. In response to Cardullo's comments about the tragic hero and how Willy Loman does not represent this or make the audience emotionally involved, I say that Willy's character makes it even more tragic. Cardullo comments on how since Willy does not have the absolute freedom of choice, it lowers the effect of the tragedy on the audience. However, I believe that Willy did have choices, to an extent, but also that his tragedy comes not from his personal choices, but the corruption of the materialistic capitalist American society, which should be enough to evoke a sense of tragedy in the audience. Cardullo also states "By contrast, the unique pathos of the salesman lies in the fact that he has neither sufficient freedom of action nor demonstrable public significance. He is one of many just like himself, and unlike classical or neoclassical tragic protagonists, appears to have been conditioned passively and even gladly to accept the very conditions of life that will lead to his own annihilation.This is perhaps sad in the end, but it does not arouse the same kind of feeling as the classic tragedies," however, Willy's position is exactly what makes it so tragic. Not only is it more relatable to everyday American audiences, but it also exemplifies how Willy is already so low, that his fall is so heartbreaking and tragic.
ReplyDeleteI did section 1-4 of the diction and psychological aspects of Streetcar. Although I did not agree with most of the things the author wrote, I did like some of his points. Firstly, the idea that Willy bought into the American dream and then it ended up that the American dream 'didn't want him' is pivitol. This shows that he kills himself trying to live a life he was not meant for. Furthermore, Willy's self-contradictions parallel his unstable emotional state. Also, I believe the critic was right in saying that Miller was inconsistent when it came to social rank and dialogue. He should have had the Lowmans speaking worse.
ReplyDeleteThings that Bert Cardullo and I disagree on is Willy not having a 'real villian' and an anagnorisis. Willy does have a real villian, which is the false American dream. If he had not bought into the lie, his life would have been better. Also, Cardullo believes Willy did not have an anagnorisis because even as he kills himself, he does it for money. I think that when he realizes that the life he has been living his entire life was not the right choice was his anagnorisis. Granted, I have not read the end of the play, but this is what I think is happening when he is fired by Howard and is talking about growing things.
I hope this was on the right track
I read the article on Existentialism. I completely agree with this article. I feel that the failures are based on the individuals fault. I believe that is not always society's fault for what happens to a person. I think that Willy is very hypocritical. He always complains of his job and wants out yet when he is offered a new job, he turns it down. It is Willy's fault for how his life plays out, not society's. Also, everything is so materialistic that they can't see over how much they already have. I believe overall that this article is true to all it says. It's very frustrating how much all of the characters complain about their own lives but I think that it is their fault. Society should not be blamed for all of their actions.
ReplyDeleteI did not choose to read an article provided on the blog but found one that considered the consequences that the American Dream brings to those who pursue it and what the "right" dream may be.
ReplyDeletehttp://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010-0994%28196404%2925%3A7%3C547%3ATRDIMD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-k
For Salesman, I read an excerpt from the book College English called “The Right Dream in Miller’s Death of a Salesman.” This small essay talked about how the dream in which Willy pursues destroys who he is, takes away his freedom, and removes all love from his life. It says that the “problem” with Willy is that he has the ability to love and that is why he cannot be successful. This idea makes much sense because in pursuit of success, Willy surrenders his life with his family, his health, and his happiness. The excerpt says that success is not having money or possessions, but having relationships with family and doing something that you love. I completely agree with this viewpoint because if Willy would have gone and done something he loved instead of trying to follow in his father’s footsteps, he would have been much more happy with his life because he would have followed his dreams and have been able to pass that same idea of doing what you love onto his sons. Also, if Biff continued to work and do what he loved, despite the salary and his father’s pressure, he would have felt satisfied with himself and his efforts. Again, this idea is viewed in today’s busy society. People who work eighty hours a week and make loads of money are not nearly as happy as those who get to spend time with their families and do a job that may not make as much money but is something they love. I can relate to this idea because the American Dream is still ubiquitous today and people are now finding out what true happiness is and changing the Dream. The “right” dream is for people to do meaningful things with family and do things they enjoy so they can achieve true happiness.
Mrs. Edwards, if this link doesn't work, I saved the PDF I opened so I can e-mail the document to you to show it is a valid opinion.
http://research.cincinnatilibrary.org:2085/servlet/LitCrit?dd=0&locID=cinc37305&d1=CLCX_179_0005&srchtp=b&c=2&df=f&docNum=FJ3543350005&b0=death+of+a+salesman&vrsn=1.0&srs=ALL&b1=KE&d3=5&ste=10&d4=0.33&stp=DateDescend&n=10&tiPG=0
ReplyDeleteI used our public library's online database of literary criticisms to find my article.
The aspect of this article that I chose to address is the conflict between "ideality and actuality" present in Arthur Millers "Death of a Salesman." The main character Willy Loman continually struggles with the differences between his dreams and reality. Willy Loman has lofty, extravagant dreams for himself. He wants to be a very successful salesman who is well-liked by all and can provide everything that his wife and sons need. In contrast to this dream, Willy is a very unsuccessful salesman who is not wanted or needed in his position. He is pitied, but never respected, by the other characters. Throughout the play Willy struggles to deal with this huge gap between his ideal life and reality, resulting in his own delusion and madness. Willy contradicts himself multiple times during the play, demonstrating his loose grip on reality and his desire for his ideal world to be true. Eventually, unable to cope with his personal failure, Willy commits suicide so he will no longer need to deal with his disappointing reality. I thought that this literary criticism did a good job of explaining this aspect of the play. I agree with the article that Willy Loman is a man torn between two conflicting claims of ideality and reality.
I found a bibliography about Arthur Miller by Robert Hogan through The Scribner Writers Series in the media center. Hogan analyzed many facets of Death of a Salesman, but I was particularly interested in his take on the role of the American dream. The author summarized that Willy is numbly baffled by the failure of the American dream. Willy thinks that if he works hard and is well-liked good things will happen to him, and Willy becomes disillusioned when his fortune doesn’t change. Hogan describes Willy as honest, industrious, and thrifty, and thus deserving of the good life. I don’t agree with this because in Willy’s case the dream is skewed by dishonesty and he expects something for nothing. Willy’s dishonesty is shown in his exaggerations of being well-liked and also his attempts to make out Biff’s meeting with Oliver more than it was. Although Willy believed in the American dream, he wasn’t applying the main principles and I think he did not deserve it.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards or anyone who knows-
ReplyDeleteIs the quiz tomorrow all multiple choice?
Hi Kevin:) Yes, it is multiple choice and matching. Focus on content and comprehension. Do me a favor and pass the word via text message. I guess this would be a good Twitter opportunity, if I did that:D LOL Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI read the article on existentialist and agree with the existentialist point of view. Willy choose a materialistic life based off his belief of the American dream. Wily becomes so involved with this dream that he loses and ignores reality. Biff and happy could have avoided their materialistic beliefs if they would have realized their father is living in a dream instead of reality. They then could have snapped their father out of his allusion and live life successfully based off their own values instead of their fathers. Society may have influenced their beliefs, but they choose to believe them instead of having their own beliefs about society. The Loman's tragedy was due to their choice to believe in materialism instead of reality and forming their own beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first article on existentialism, I believe the basic concept of the article is valid. When it really comes down to the basis of what we are, we are what we make of ourselves. It is true that different environments can't influence an individual to sway towards one direction or the other, but ultimately our character is defined by our decisions and reactions. Willy Loman could have chosen to face life at it's true value and step up to the plate of his responsibilities to his family. His conformity to the illusion of the American dream proved him to be easily sold. If he'd been a strongly moral man, his heart would have kept him on the right road through even the most dark moments of his mentality. I'm not ignoring the fact that if he had been successful in his business that he would have appeared to be a better man, since he probably would have, but who's to say that he would actually be a better man? I believe that even if he had found "wealth", he still would have been poor father figure. Seeing that he was already riding on a high horse of false pride, I imagine that if he obtained his dream that his head would have inflated so to speak. Also, if he himself had not suffered such a tragic fate I believe that one of his sons probably would have. In terms of the affair, I as well blame Willy completely for his actions. His wife was nothing but good to him and treated him better than he deserved. I agree with author of the article in believing that the "excuse" of loneliness is rather pathetic. The Woman was most simply an outlet for his hormones which his weak morality was superseded by, and he truly could have just stepped down off his platform and taken the job that would have kept him closer to home. His decisions speak to who he is more so than it reflects the fault of society.
ReplyDeleteI read the article on existentialism. One thing that I found very interesting about this article was the line which stated, "in the making of these choices we define ourselves and influence for good or evil the lives around us". I found it somewhat ironic that the following line stated that there are no moral absolutes. I began wondering how existentialists can claim that actions have a direct effect on what is good and evil in our world when they also claim that there are no moral absolutes. If there were no moral absolutes, what do humans base the nature of good and evil on? Willy Loman lives a life which is full of many poor decisions. He raises his children to cheat and steal, he is unfaithful to his wife and he is often very cruel to those people who are closest to him. I am unsure how to interpret Willy's actions from an existentialist point of view. It would appear that existentialists would blame Willy's faults on his personal decisions but I also wonder if they would be able to find any personality flaws in Willy at all. If the world has no moral absolutes then who can say that cheating, stealing and being an adulterer is wrong? I don't agree with the existentialist point of view because I feel that it has many contradictive elements.
ReplyDeletecommenting on the existentialist article. I agree, but hestitantly. It says "in the end the choice is always our own, and we bear the responisibility alone." Will makes his decisions alone, but has many influences that guide him. Since Willy can be easily manipulated through whats considered good news to him, he easily conforms to what society tells him he should want. Things such as money, possessions, "stuff", success, being "well-liked". I like how the article states that "Charlie lives within the same social system as Willy, yet he chooses to have higher moral standards than Willy". This shows that Charley in very individual and sure of himself.
ReplyDelete-these are my opinions-
This so called "American dream" is a dream in itself. What is it; married, house, kids, successful job, money, get kids through college, retire, die. Personally, I don't want that life for me. To have a life, already set out for you by other people and having to live by society's rules and never your own? Talk about manipulation. The "American dream" frustrates me. Just be yourself!
-sorry, I had to say that-
Existentialist viewpoint: https://lib.unb.ca/Texts/JSW/number25/goyeche.html
ReplyDeleteI decided to comment on the article titled "Individual Choice". This article discusses the existentialists viewpoint that an individual fails due to their own actions and not society. In the middle of the article the author discusses Willy Loman and materialistic values. With these values Willy has become delusional and believes in a false american dream where one must have money and possessions in order to be happy. Through this delusion Willy's family and himself suffer. As I mentioned earlier existentialists believe when an individual fails, it is completly their fault. For instance, when Willy was offered Charley he declined because his philosophy was challenged by Charley's beliefs. Due to his OWN decesion to not take this opportunity he suffered and his delusional dream and reality further deepened.
Existentialist viewpoint: https://lib.unb.ca/Texts/JSW/number25/goyeche.html
ReplyDeleteI read "Individual Choice" and I wanted to comment on how I reacted to it. It states that the individual is to blame for failures in life, not the society. While I think that society shapes and helps to orchestrate failures, as well as causing the individual to have misconceptions that lead to failure, the final choice is determined by the individual. The individual has to be their own master and not let the edicts of society control them or their destiny. Succumbing to ridiculous standards is unacceptable and shows weakness of a person's character. It shows that they are unwilling to think and act for themselves, as well as being responsible for the consequences of those actions. Instead, they blame their shortcomings on outside influences because they do not want to admit that they do not have control over their own lives. Willy Loman wants control of his life and he pretends to have it by secluding himself in a fabricated world of disillusionment that depicts him and his sons as successful and valuable members of society. It also waives and justifies their faults, such as Biff's constant kleptomania and Willy's affair with a woman in Boston. As well, he declines a golden opportunity from Ben to join in his business, because he does not want to face the truth: that he has not achieved anything in life. The existentialist viewpoint states this failure as being his fault for letting opportunities slip away and not paying attention to his problems. Even though the American Dream was conceived by others seeking great lives before Willy, he elevated it and read into it entirely too much. He became obsessed with embodying it and thus in this excessive immersion, he trapped himself in this "dream." Therein lies his problem: his ability to live a fake life based on his blindness to the truth and reality. He became so intertwined with the dream that he distorted his own reality. His dreamlike and real worlds mixed and confused him. This haze of his led to his death: via suicide by car crash. He got too deep in to make it out, and the only way to freedom (from the truth of his failures) was through death.