adultery

The whole adultery scene is confusing to me. It seems as if it is just symbolic. The woman represents Willy's discontent in life. Willy is always concerned about being "well liked". This woman seems like a means to attain that specific end. His wife loves him even when he rebukes her and causes her to worry constantly about his delusional state. However, this lady regards herself as a means for Willy to get to the buyers more efficiently. This desire to be "well liked" is a coping tragedy for all the abandonment he has dealt with from his father and brother. In the end, it ends up making his son Biff abandon him as well.

THEMES

One of the themes in this play is abandonment. We see abandonment from Willy's father in his past. We are not given much information about Willy's father but we can assume that is similar to his relationship with Biff; a sad misunderstanding. When his brother departs for Alaska, leaving Willy alone, we see him develop a fear of abandonment. HE then decides to raise a family and make his sons perfect with an understandment of how to be successful. When Biff learns of his father's adultery, he loses all respect for him. Everything that he was taught growing up goes out the window. Biff no longer desires to impress his father of be the man that he is. Finally, when Willy thinks that his son is about to become successful at last, Biff shatters him telling him of his illusions at Frank's Chop Shop. Biff then abandons his father in the restroom. This theme shows us the reason why Willy lives in his delusional state. His constant let downs have reformed him to be the sad man he is.

FOIL CHARACTERS

Throughout this play, Willy and Biff are foils. They are constantly arguing with each other. Ironically, they are both working to impress each other and seem to keep failing. They are constantly making things up about themselves to build themselves up. Biff's idea of business is suffering and agony. Willy believes that it is the only way to make a prestigious living for his family. Willy also talks about how "Biff is a lazy bum". He thinks that his lack of material success reflects that he is lazy. Really, Biff desires to be outdoors and work hard around a farm. In the next sentence, Willy contradicts himself. He says, "Biff is anything but lazy". This delusion shows how Willy is hopeful that Biff will someday become successful. He is not ready to give into the idea that Biff is not trying to become a salesman like Willy is. Just like Willy is delusional about Biff's future, he is also delusional about his own past. He puts himself on a pedestal and is always bragging about the many achievements that he has had.

Physical Componets

The stage directions in this play are extremely specific. It makes the play more unrealistic. When the music begins during a scene and the lighting changes, it adds effect to what the character is saying. However, it is meant to be seen and not read so it doesn't come off the same way. For example, when Tom is talking about getting out of his house and seeing the world, the picture of their father lights up. As he keeps making his point, it lights up even more. This would make sense if we were the audience watching the play. However, it seems unrealistic reading it. Another example is the songs that come on. Randomly when Tom is making up with his mother, Ave Maria starts to play. The perfectness of the songs and the lights creates the unrealistic tone.

protagonist and antagonist

I think that the antagonist in this play is Amanda. She seems like she is always pushing her kids around with things she wants them to do. She has no concern for what they want in life. She signs Laura up for college and trys to throw all of these different things at her that clearly are not what she wants. It is sad because Amanda has good intentions but she is going about it all the wrong way. Amanda also does this with Tom. She is constantly fighting with him. Amanda does not agree with what Tom does every night. She doesn't believe that he is actually going to the movies and she thinks he is off doing bad things. At first, I thought Tom was serious about all the sarcastic things he was saying to his mother. It caught me off guard. I think that Amanda is so scared of what Tom is doing because she is afraid that he will do what his father did and leave them.