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Description
Mind Map by Sarah Taupan, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Sarah Taupan
almost 10 years ago
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Death of a Salesman Concept Map:
Perspective on Success
- WILLY: Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with
such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing
about Biff—he’s not lazy." (act 1, p 8) Willy's reflections suggest complete faith in the
notion that popularity and personal attractiveness bring success.
- WILLY: [stopping the incipient argument, to
Happy]: Sure, he’s gotta practice with a regulation
ball, doesn’t he? [To Biff] Coach’ll probably
congratulate you on your initiative! (act 1, p 19)
Willy elevates being well liked over all virtues when
he suggests that Biff can get away with stealing
because of his popularity.
- WILLYL Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not—liked. He’s liked, but he’s not–-well liked. (Act 1,
p 21) Willy indicates his belief that being well liked is the most important quality to achieving success. He thinks
it's impossible for someone to succeed without a gang of friends around them.
- Being "well Liked" The Lomans believed that being successful
meant that people had to like and favour you.
- The Lomans boys different idea of
success
- HAPPY But then, it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, plenty of
women, and still, goddamnit, I’m lonely. (Act 1, p13) Although hes making
money , its the intangible aspects of life that Happy craves. Material things and
lots of hook ups with random girls just don't seem to be the kind of success that
Happy truly wants.
- BIFF: I am not a leader of men, Willy,
and neither are you. You were never
anything but a hard-working drummer
who landed in the ash can like the rest
of them! I’m one-dollar an hour, Willy!
(ACT 2, p 98) Biff insists he be left
alone to live his life. He's begging his
father to allow him to measure his
personal success in his own way.
- HAPPY But then, it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, plenty of
women, and still, goddamnit, I’m lonely. (Act 1, p13) Although hes making
money , its the intangible aspects of life that Happy craves. Material things and
lots of hook ups with random girls just don't seem to be the kind of success that
Happy truly wants.
- The three characters from Death of a
Salesman that are successful are Dave
Singleman, Ben and Bernard. These
characters earned their success by working
hard. As a result of hard work and devotion
money is usually the prize. However in
some cases happiness may also be a
reward of success.
- In order to make a sale all he had to do
was "pick up his phone and call the
buyers, and without ever leaving his
room, he made his living..." (Death of a
Salesman, p81.) This quote describes
his success as a salesman. At the age
of eighty four he was able to make an
adequate amount of sales. Although he
did not get rich from the sales that he
made, he enjoyed what he was doing.
- "...gonna argue a case in front
of the Supreme Court." (p95.)
In this example one can
obviously see that Bernard is
successful. Being chosen to
argue a case in front of the
Supreme Court proves that
Bernard is successful because
it shows that he is at a high
position in his career.
Furthermore Bernard is married
and has two sons, showing that
he is settled.
- Willy often asks Ben, "what's the
secret?" (DOS, p91.) This quote
proves that Willy is aware of
Ben's success. As a result Willy
want's Ben to tell him the secret
to success. The real reason Ben
was successful was because he
had determination. "He knew what
he wanted and went out and got
it." ( p41.)
- In order to make a sale all he had to do
was "pick up his phone and call the
buyers, and without ever leaving his
room, he made his living..." (Death of a
Salesman, p81.) This quote describes
his success as a salesman. At the age
of eighty four he was able to make an
adequate amount of sales. Although he
did not get rich from the sales that he
made, he enjoyed what he was doing.
- The importance of appearances in Death of A Salesman makes them
believe that it has a big weight on being successful. Their perception on
success is based on looks.
- LINDA: His blue suit. He’s so handsome
in that suit. He could be a—anything in that
suit! (Act 2, p 50) Once again we see that
Linda and Willy's fixation on Biff's physical
appearance as the source of his success
denies the importance of other qualities
and virtues.
- WILLY: God! Remember how they used to follow him around in high school? When he smiled at
one of them their faces lit up. When he walked down the street… [He loses himself in
reminiscences.] (Act 1, p8) Willy attributes Biff's former popularity and success to his smile. Now,
however, it seems that Biff's smile and good looks just haven't been enough to get him to a
stable place in life.
- WILLY: I gotta overcome it. I know I gotta overcome it. I’m not dressing to
advantage, maybe. (Act 1,p 24) Willy assumes his business problems have to do
primarily with his appearance. He thinks he would be more successful if he looked
better.
- WILLY: Yeah. Sing to me. [Linda hums a soft
lullaby]. When that team came out- he was the
tallest, remember? (Act 2, p 48) Willy and Linda
place great importance on Biff's appearance
when he was a high school football star, as if that
had something to do with his talent. The very fact
that he was so attractive made them positive that
he would one day be successful.
- LINDA: His blue suit. He’s so handsome
in that suit. He could be a—anything in that
suit! (Act 2, p 50) Once again we see that
Linda and Willy's fixation on Biff's physical
appearance as the source of his success
denies the importance of other qualities
and virtues.
- Women provide the illusions of
success in Death of a Salesman
- LINDA (without hesitation): Two hundred gross. That’s... (She figures.) (p23) Loman likes to hide from reality,
Linda offers Willy this shelter when she plays dumb as to the knowledge of how much he really makes
- HAPPY: . I don’t know what gets into
me, maybe I just have an
overdeveloped sense of competition or
something, but I went and ruined her,
and furthermore I can’t get rid of her (p
15) Happy "ruins" the fiances of the
bosses for whom he works. Because
he's jealous of their success and his
lack of relative stature within the
company, he uses his skill for luring
women into his bed to get even with
them. For the purpose of feeling like he
has gotten something and the feeling
of accomplishment.
- LINDA (without hesitation): Two hundred gross. That’s... (She figures.) (p23) Loman likes to hide from reality,
Linda offers Willy this shelter when she plays dumb as to the knowledge of how much he really makes
- The Lomans are all extremely self-deceptive, and in their delusions
and blindness to reality, is what fuels their lies and it feeds off of
one another Willy uses these lies to convinces himself that he is
successful.
- WILLY: "Willy Loman is here!"
That’s all they have to know and I go
right through. (act 1 p 21) Willy
continues see himself as successful
and well liked it becomes his reality
- WILLY: I don’t know the
reason for it, but they just
pass me by. I’m not
noticed. (Act 1, 24 )Willy
contradicts himself by
saying that he is both well
liked and ignored,
suggesting that he
frequently deceives
himself about his
success. However, the
truth seems to always be
just under the surface.
- WILLY [turning to
Ben]: Business is
bad, it’s murderous.
But not for me, of
course. (Act 1, 25)
Willy continually
lies outright in order
to try and impress
Ben and make
himself feel better.
- WILLY: "Willy Loman is here!"
That’s all they have to know and I go
right through. (act 1 p 21) Willy
continues see himself as successful
and well liked it becomes his reality
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