Act 2 Part 2 responses

1    What is Willy’s dream? What is he searching for throughout the play? Why doesn’t he find it? Did he ever have a chance of fulfilling it? Biff says of Willy: “He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong” (111). Do you agree? Does Willy have the wrong dreams? Inappropriate attitudes? Is he a born loser or a tragic hero who stands in his own way to success?

a.    “I did a terrible thing today…it’s been the strangest day I ever went through” (Williams 80). “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been. We’ve been talking in a dream for fifteen years” (81). “He’s got to understand that I’m not the man somebody lends that kind of money too” (81). “[going to WILLY with guilt, as to an invalid]” (82). “I don’t know who said it first, but I was never a salesman for Bill Oliver” (83). Personally, this scene is one of the most intense scenes in this play. I can feel Willy’s anxiety over Biff’s appointment. First of all, Willy doesn't even let Biff explain anything to him as Biff claims, ““Dad, you’re not letting me tell you what I want to tell you!” (85). All of the ellipses also shows that the conversation is interrupted by each other. Willy wants to only hear good news. On the other hand, Biff wants to tell Willy the harsh truth. At the same time, Happy is trying to be on Willy’s side.


      Willy reminds me of a prisoner who wants to be set free. Willy wants to escape the reality and be set free. However, just as he is about to break out of the cell, he is caught. The interesting thing is, it was just a few days before he complete his duty. As Linda claims "I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear" (112). Willy was just about to be set free. At least he died as a freeman. Whether he is a born loser or a tragic hero, he stands in his own way to success. He stays firm until the very end, which shows his consistency and it's sad because it never becomes true. It is almost like the prisoner who always dream of breaking free and he gets caught on day of his free day.  

2    Why does Miller combine scenes from the past and Willy’s hallucinations alongside the current action of the play in the present? How does this movement between past/present/ and Willy’s imaginings add to the dramatic effect of the play?

a.    “Math, math, math!” (85). Is it just me that this repetition reminded me of King Lear’s famous “Howl, Howl, Howl” (Shakespeare). “[furiously]: If you hadn’t flunked you’d’ve been set by now!” (85). “No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything” (87). This father figure reminds me of a conservative tradition where family members enforce an unfair kind of pressure on the child’s future. I saw them especially in Asian cultures, but since this is set right after the World War II, the traditional custom still remains. Willy’s hallucination and going back and forth from the past and present shows Willy’s insanity. Willy cannot accept the reality that Biff cannot “have lunch tomorrow” with Oliver (88). Biff insists that “a team of horses couldn't have dragged me back to Bill Oliver” (88). However, Willy claims “You don’t want to be anything, is that what’s behind it?” (88). Biff is “[angry at WILLY for not crediting his sympathy]” (88). “You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?” (88). Very intense scene between a father and son. The original title of this play is called The Inside of His Head. This shows that this play is 

3     What do you notice about the use of music, sound effects and lighting in this section of the play? Note any specific instances that struck you and discuss how these aspects were used and for what effect. How did these dramatic techniques reinforce the action and meaning of the play?

a.    “A single trumpet note jars the ear. The light of green leaves stains the house which holds the air of night and a dream” (85). I only noticed as I was watching the actual movie. The music has a huge impact on the meaning of the play. First of all, the trumpet is used to emphasize the hallucination of Willy. The jazzy trumpet sound makes the hallucination become more intense and at the same time exults a certain erotic mood in the play. This is important in this scene especially because there are so many women involved.

4     What would you say are the false values which the play reveals? What are the true values which the play upholds? Here, consider Miller’s commentary on success and failure, the business world, identity, dreams, popularity, integrity. What is one key understanding you’ve taken away from the play that relates to your own life and why?

a.     Does Miller criticize the business world? I think that is the question that needs to be cleared up in order to answer these series of questions. First of all, this play deals with integrity. Miller presents many integrity problems such as cheating, lying, and deceiving. By comparing Charley and Miller, we can see that Miller is trying to critique how Willy has lived his entire life.


      One of the most striking things in the play is that Biff is the one who actually truly cares for his father. On the other hand, Happy does not really care for him. Biff senses that “you don't give a good goddam about him” as he takes out the rolled-up hose from his pocket (90). One of the shocking lines of Happy is “No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy” (91). I cannot believe that Happy said that. All this time, I had thought that Happy was a caring peacemaker. But in fact he only cares about himself most of the time. William shows us that the true values within each character are revealed when true hardship strikes them. 
      The essential bottom line is that all Willy and Biff want is love. Willy wants Biff to respect him and love him. Similarly, Biff wants his father to simply love him without any superficial elements such as success and popularity.