Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The Death of a Salesman, Act 1

The main characters are Willy, Linda, Biff and Happy, Bernard, Uncle Ben and Charley.
I know nothing about this story. The story quickly reveals the important events, feelings, relationships and desires that the reader needs to understand what is happening.
I think I imagine the appearances of the setting and characters. The story seems straight forward, there is no need for one to use too much imagination.
I think the story is interesting, it seems to explore some traditional problems that family members encounter as they mature, such as communication, aging, money, and relationships.
I feel very sad when reading this. It is depressing. The hopes everyone in the family had did not materialize, dissappointment is known by all members. I wonder where the true culprit is? Was Willy wrong to allow the boys to only develop their athletic/physical potency? Why did Willy's company pull him down to commission only? Was it greed, or did he fail in some way and deserve this demotion? Ultimatley I see some flaws in Willy, he seems to treat his family and friends with disrespect and cruelty. It could be his dementia, or just his real personality. He also seems to place too much value on some things and not enough value on other things. The fact that he is suicidal indicates that he is in a very bad place.
The things that are taking place in this story are unfortunate. Sales is a very tough endeavor. If I found out that my father was suicidal, I would do everything I could to help. Sometimes there is no helping. If I was in my sixties and a salesman: I would probably be just about like Willy is: suicidal and delusional.
I think I can relate a bit to Biff, he is indecisive and not on any valid path to a good career that will financially serve him, and he is too old to still be floundering.

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