What is your initial impression of the main character Willy Loman?
There is a page and a half of stage directions before the dialogue starts. What information do you learn about the immediate setting and character descriptions?
I feel that Willy is an unhappy man due to the fact that his son made nothing of himself and his life has gotten him nowhere. He seems depressed and insecure, and despite his wife's attempt to comfort him, he still sees everything as negative. It sounds like he feels that his life is overwhelming and he is depressed because of it.
My initial impression of Willy is that he isn't satisfied with his life and where he's ended, as well as where his son's life is going. He makes comments about how some people do make it somewhere in their lives, suggesting that he's not proud of how his life has ended up and wishes he could go back and change whatever made his life the way it is. From the stage directions, the immediate setting is described as they Lomans' house and appears "wholly" and dream-like. We learn Willy is over 60, appears very plainly, and tires easily. We see that his wife desires to comfort him event though he can be harsh towards her.
Willy seems like a man definitely due for retirement who can't due to his financial situation. Forced to care for his wife and 2 sons even though he is well over 60, Willy struggles with finding purpose in his monotonous life. From the stage direction i learned that Linda is a caring wife to Willy who realizes she can't change their situation so all she can do is be supportive to Willy. It is clear that setting and description are going to play important roles in the play.
Initially the main character Willy Loman comes off as a hard working, traditional sort of man. His traditional senses are causing his relationship with his son to suffer. While his son wants to find himself Loman wants his son to have a career where he would be able to support himself and a family like Loman, whether his son likes it or not. Loman is also a quiet person, rather than insist upon the promotion to New York that he has wanted for years he remains quiet and does what he is told, no matter how wearing it is on him in his old age. In the beginning of the book, readers learn that Loman and his wife have two sons who have grown up and moved out but the sons have come home to visit. Readers also learn that Loman is old and is starting to have difficulty working as a traveling salesman and that he has been a salesman for many years.
Willy seems a bit eccentric compared to other people. Even his wife treats him like he has "episodes" sometimes. However, I think he's a good guy at heart.
The stage directions set the scene/ stage. The method of conveying information is presented: the flashback while the flute is playing seamlessly becoming reality when the flute stops, the observance of the house walls at certain times but not at others. So there is a "house" on the stage much like there was in Our Town. The characters will observe the walls and doors of "it" and when they don't we, the readers, will know that something has changed in the narration.
Willy seems like a tired, worn out man. He seems like he is having trouble holding onto the "American Dream" because the description mentions his perfect house, but then once the story moves inside we realized that he is still working hard to make ends meet and that his grown sons still live with him. Willy has worked all of his life for the American dream but it seems as though he has been unable to achieve it, and still lives the same monotonous life. He is stuck in his job and can't go anywhere else because he needs the money.
Willy seems to be a man with very good intentions. He works hard to do his job right and accommodate his family and colleagues at the same time. You can tell because his wife complains about him having to travel such long distances for work. He also wants only the best for his children and gets upset and accuses his son of being lazy because he doesn't understand his career choice. Willy is a classic example of the American Dream because he works hard makes his money and tries to give his kids better opportunities than he had. The setting of the story explains that the house is bare but they have all of the necessities. However, no luxury items are seen and no excessive furniture is in the house. This shows that Willy makes a decent living (because the house is a decent size) but clearly they aren't rich. It is also in the scene description that Willy is tired and/or stressed about something. We can also tell that his wife is extremely loving and feels bad that Willy never got to achieve his dreams.
Willy seems to be at his breaking point. He is so stressed and fatigued that he cannot drive a car without crashing it. His relationship with his wife and children are strained, and he does not speak to them with kindness and compassion. His job is very stressful, and he is overwhelmed with the task of making ends meet for his family in such a difficult time. The stage directions tell us that the family gets by on the bare minimum; they do not have much furniture, and only use appliances that are absolutely necessary. Willy seems to be realizing that he may never achieve the American Dream, although he hasn't given up just yet. However, because him and his family need the money to survive, he cannot leave his job and pursue another, which basically means that he is stuck with his current occupation unless he gets lucky.
Initially, Willy Loman comes off as a character working hard to achieve the "American Dream," but is not satisfied with where his life is going, as well as his son's. He has a wife who cares for him deeply, and whom wishes she had the temperament to follow her longings as he does. This is shown in the stage directions and helps to display how Willy's wife is very loving and supportive.
Willy seems overwhelmed with work and years of work have had an obvious psychological effect on him. He is unable to focus. He is disappointed in his son for leading the life he wants rathe than the life Willy wants him to live. Willy wants better for himself and for his son.
I feel that Willy is an unhappy man due to the fact that his son made nothing of himself and his life has gotten him nowhere. He seems depressed and insecure, and despite his wife's attempt to comfort him, he still sees everything as negative. It sounds like he feels that his life is overwhelming and he is depressed because of it.
ReplyDeleteMy initial impression of Willy is that he isn't satisfied with his life and where he's ended, as well as where his son's life is going. He makes comments about how some people do make it somewhere in their lives, suggesting that he's not proud of how his life has ended up and wishes he could go back and change whatever made his life the way it is. From the stage directions, the immediate setting is described as they Lomans' house and appears "wholly" and dream-like. We learn Willy is over 60, appears very plainly, and tires easily. We see that his wife desires to comfort him event though he can be harsh towards her.
ReplyDeleteWilly seems like a man definitely due for retirement who can't due to his financial situation. Forced to care for his wife and 2 sons even though he is well over 60, Willy struggles with finding purpose in his monotonous life. From the stage direction i learned that Linda is a caring wife to Willy who realizes she can't change their situation so all she can do is be supportive to Willy. It is clear that setting and description are going to play important roles in the play.
ReplyDeleteInitially the main character Willy Loman comes off as a hard working, traditional sort of man. His traditional senses are causing his relationship with his son to suffer. While his son wants to find himself Loman wants his son to have a career where he would be able to support himself and a family like Loman, whether his son likes it or not. Loman is also a quiet person, rather than insist upon the promotion to New York that he has wanted for years he remains quiet and does what he is told, no matter how wearing it is on him in his old age. In the beginning of the book, readers learn that Loman and his wife have two sons who have grown up and moved out but the sons have come home to visit. Readers also learn that Loman is old and is starting to have difficulty working as a traveling salesman and that he has been a salesman for many years.
ReplyDeleteWilly seems a bit eccentric compared to other people. Even his wife treats him like he has "episodes" sometimes. However, I think he's a good guy at heart.
ReplyDeleteThe stage directions set the scene/ stage. The method of conveying information is presented: the flashback while the flute is playing seamlessly becoming reality when the flute stops, the observance of the house walls at certain times but not at others. So there is a "house" on the stage much like there was in Our Town. The characters will observe the walls and doors of "it" and when they don't we, the readers, will know that something has changed in the narration.
Willy seems like a tired, worn out man. He seems like he is having trouble holding onto the "American Dream" because the description mentions his perfect house, but then once the story moves inside we realized that he is still working hard to make ends meet and that his grown sons still live with him. Willy has worked all of his life for the American dream but it seems as though he has been unable to achieve it, and still lives the same monotonous life. He is stuck in his job and can't go anywhere else because he needs the money.
ReplyDeleteWilly seems to be a man with very good intentions. He works hard to do his job right and accommodate his family and colleagues at the same time. You can tell because his wife complains about him having to travel such long distances for work. He also wants only the best for his children and gets upset and accuses his son of being lazy because he doesn't understand his career choice. Willy is a classic example of the American Dream because he works hard makes his money and tries to give his kids better opportunities than he had.
ReplyDeleteThe setting of the story explains that the house is bare but they have all of the necessities. However, no luxury items are seen and no excessive furniture is in the house. This shows that Willy makes a decent living (because the house is a decent size) but clearly they aren't rich. It is also in the scene description that Willy is tired and/or stressed about something. We can also tell that his wife is extremely loving and feels bad that Willy never got to achieve his dreams.
Willy seems to be at his breaking point. He is so stressed and fatigued that he cannot drive a car without crashing it. His relationship with his wife and children are strained, and he does not speak to them with kindness and compassion. His job is very stressful, and he is overwhelmed with the task of making ends meet for his family in such a difficult time. The stage directions tell us that the family gets by on the bare minimum; they do not have much furniture, and only use appliances that are absolutely necessary. Willy seems to be realizing that he may never achieve the American Dream, although he hasn't given up just yet. However, because him and his family need the money to survive, he cannot leave his job and pursue another, which basically means that he is stuck with his current occupation unless he gets lucky.
ReplyDeleteInitially, Willy Loman comes off as a character working hard to achieve the "American Dream," but is not satisfied with where his life is going, as well as his son's. He has a wife who cares for him deeply, and whom wishes she had the temperament to follow her longings as he does. This is shown in the stage directions and helps to display how Willy's wife is very loving and supportive.
ReplyDeleteWilly seems overwhelmed with work and years of work have had an obvious psychological effect on him. He is unable to focus. He is disappointed in his son for leading the life he wants rathe than the life Willy wants him to live. Willy wants better for himself and for his son.
ReplyDelete