Death of a salesman

Connected to becoming wealthy and the ability to achieve everything if one works hard enough for it.    - Willy and Happy

"My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women"

Others believe it living simply, happily and fulfilling life. Faith and equality.     - Biff

"Screw the business world!"

To have the perfect American household, a steady job, married with kids.    - Willy and Linda

"And such a hard worker... He could be big in no time."

"He could be anything in that suit!"

Consumerism - first came into society after WW2 as more jobs were available.   - Howard and Willy

"Sure they're only a hundred and a half. You can't do without it"

During the 40s, the role of women began to expand as they were allowed to work in factories.

Partriarchal society, men had authority.

Women's opinions weren't valued or valid.

Linda is repeatedly interrupted nd told to stop speaking by Willy. Demonstrates his traditional patriarchal view.

"Don't interrupt."

Biff stands up for Linda demonstrating his more respectable view for women.

"Stop yelling at her!"

Happy objectifies women and talks about them in a disrespectful manner - Willy's influence.

"because I don't want the girl, and still, I take it and - I love it"

Willy's hubris leads to the inevitable downfall of the tragic hero as he fails to accept the flaws in his life.                         "Ben, that funeral will be massive."

His hubris causes him to ignore divine and important warnings and the presence of fate.          "I'm tired to the death."

His continued hubris and behaviour affects the world around him, affecting the lives of others.                     "I just can't work for you, Charley."

Willy's hubris means he fails to see that dreams turn out to be illusory.           "I'll have my own business"

Emphasis of psychological aspects and disorder of the mind are made apparent by his hubris.  "I'm - I can't seem to keep my mind to it"

There is a significant element of the past impinging on the present - his hubris fails to allows him to move on from past events in his life.                    "Remember those days?"

Willy influences Happy to have the same views and attitudes towards life as him.

"Be liked and you will never want." Willy

"I can outbox, and outrun anybody in that store" Happy

Willy's failures and illusory dreams have an opposite effect on Biff. Biff learns from his Father's mistakes and gains a realistic view of society and life.

"Why am I trying to be what I don't want to be?" Biff.

Linda fails to understand Willy even after his death as a result of his own honesty to himself and her.

"Why would they laugh at you? Don't talk that way, Willy."

"But where were all the people he knew?"

The protagonist is a man/woman of high rank, noble birth and show wisdom.

He/she must suffer beyond what most people ever endure in their lives.

His/her downfall is caused by bad choices and their hamartia.

Usually a scene where the character comes to recognise their own flaw - allowing catharsis.

Due to the aspects of a domestic tragedy, Willy Loman is an ordinary character, this means that some of Aristotle's theories are not acknowledged in the plot of DOASM.

"...all these accidents in the last year weren't accidents"- Linda.

"The common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in it's highest sense as kings were... apply to everyone in similar emotional situations."

"...the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, to secure one thing - his sense of personal dignity."

"...struggles that of the individual attempting to gain his "rightful" position in his society."

"Tragedy, then, is the consequence of a man's total compulsio to evaluate himself justly."

"...in being torn away from our chosen image of what or who we are in this world."

"...if society alone is responsible for the cramping of our lives, then the protagonist must needs be sopure and faultless as to force us to deny his validity as a character."

"The commonest of men may take on that stature to the extent of his willingness to throw all he has into the contest, the battle to secure his rightful place in his world."

Characters are ordinary people

Family life is diseased       "We never told the truth for 10 minutes in this house" Biff

Anti-heroes are depicted           "Willy Loman did not die in vain." Happy

The world can be full of deceit           "You fake! You phony life fake! You fake!" Biff

Dreams turn out to be illusory                "Call out the name Willy Loman and see what happens!"

Element of the past impinging of the present-"Your father came to me the day you were born" Willy

Emphasis on psychological aspects. Disorder of the mind         "I don't want a change!" Willy

Characters are manoeuvring for control                 "What're you, takin' over this house?" Willy