This activity has brought to light some new thoughts on this play. I see more of how it was influenced by the American Dream. I see now also that even though they are constantly bickering, I think it is all out of love, just no one else can see it yet.
After talking today, I feel like this story reflects how corrupt the American Dream is during this time period. Erika brought up Happy, and how he may be a symbol of the generation. I feel like this generation only cares about money, fancy houses, cars, women, etc. They are very materialistic and only care about their physical appearance which includes how much wealth they possess and how many girls they can get. I think this story is sad because it shows how this American Dream can destroy a person. Clearly Happy isn't so Happy since he still feels unsatifisfied despite his material belongings. It is evident from this story that wealth and other material things will never satisfy. All the characters are still empty and suffering.
After looking at quotes and having discussion, I have come to the conclusion that Arthur Miller is critical of the typical American Dream of buying a house, getting a car, and having romance. Happy's reflection on page 12 shows that the American Dream is not all it has cracked up to be, because Happy has all of the material things that he has always wanted, yet he still feels lonely. Hannah also made a good point that Biff says on page 11 that people work fifty weeks a year just for two weeks of vacation. The American Dream in and of itself is essentially a never-ending cycle of desire and achievement. Once someone achieves what they wanted and earned the item that he wants, he still is left wanting more. Striving to achieve the American Dream alone will leave everyone feeling empty unless they create solid relationships and memorable moments along the way.
I realized that all the men in the Loman family all chase the American Dream by going after success, girls, and money. All of their motivations seem to be in those three things and everything they do and gain in life is because of those three things. They do not care for others, they only want to get ahead. I think Happy and Biff learned this from their father because even in his memory, he tells his sons, "Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead" (20). They all just want to be liked to get success, girls, and money.
I feel that Willy is trying to make himself seem better or happier through twisting his old memories into illusions that trap him in the past. He seems further and further from reality every time he goes deeper in to his dreams.
Willy is literally living in the past and not appreciating the time that he has with his family in the present. He is constantly reliving and skewing his memories to make his life appear better in the eyes of someone who values the American Dream. Willy needs to learn how to move on from what has happened in the past and live in the now. He is too harsh on Biff and Happy because of how he envisioned their lives. He needs to let them live how they want to and not dictate their lives or push them towards business. Willy is living only for the success and money. The theme of living in the past is evident here through Willy's values and lifestyle.
Today I figured out how to make the distinction between what's happening in real life and what's happening in his hallucinations. Being able to discern between the two helped me to get a better understanding of the plot and Willy as a character. Going into Willy's philosophy about business was also helpful in trying to characterize him. The conflict between the family seems to stem from the pursuit of the American Dream so it's an important subject to delve into.
On my blog I asked why Willy is hallucinating what he is hallucinating. After reading Erika's response and hearing her think about his mental exhaustion made me think about The American Dream and how in Willy's real life he does not fulfill that. Willy is tired and unsuccessful, which is the exact opposite of what the typical American would want. But in the iidealized memories, he fulfills the American dream. He is happy, healthy, successful, and his sons actually like him. His dreams are the idealized version of his life.
I think the roles portrayed in the play are interesting. The mother, Linda, plays into the role of the nurturing mother. While the father, is a workaholic. The boys ars both rebellious and seem lost. I think Miller could be portraying the message that although the family seems to fit the "American Dream" ideals with the middle class nature, it doesn't mean their life is perfect. In fact it is far from it. Miller could be trying to portray the corruption that can happen when one strives to conform to societal "norms."
I feel like Willy is holding on to the past. He twists his old family memories into his idea of a perfect family life. As a result of trying to live in his dreams, he grows further away from his family and reality.
This story is pulling me I separate directions. I pity Willy for his suicidal desires due to his lack of confidence, however, I pity Linda due to how poorly Willy treats her. I pity Biff because of the pressure on him from Willy, but I also don't like his bluntness with his family. I pity Happy because of how ignored and overlooked he is, but he also is a pushover, and doesn't stand up for himself or voice real opinions if they are not encouraging. Similar to Linda, I pity her kind, helpful heart; however, she needs to defend herself against the cruelty of her family. She is dying of her weakness socially. I am interested to see how the relationships develop. (If you want quotes of these instances, let me know).
One thing I learned from our class question session is how much we pay attention to the relationships that are forming throughout the story, primarily that of Biff and Willy. Nearly every question was about these relationships. It is interesting to see how these relationships have been formed and broken and how they are applicable to us.
This activity has brought to light some new thoughts on this play. I see more of how it was influenced by the American Dream. I see now also that even though they are constantly bickering, I think it is all out of love, just no one else can see it yet.
ReplyDeleteAfter talking today, I feel like this story reflects how corrupt the American Dream is during this time period. Erika brought up Happy, and how he may be a symbol of the generation. I feel like this generation only cares about money, fancy houses, cars, women, etc. They are very materialistic and only care about their physical appearance which includes how much wealth they possess and how many girls they can get. I think this story is sad because it shows how this American Dream can destroy a person. Clearly Happy isn't so Happy since he still feels unsatifisfied despite his material belongings. It is evident from this story that wealth and other material things will never satisfy. All the characters are still empty and suffering.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at quotes and having discussion, I have come to the conclusion that Arthur Miller is critical of the typical American Dream of buying a house, getting a car, and having romance. Happy's reflection on page 12 shows that the American Dream is not all it has cracked up to be, because Happy has all of the material things that he has always wanted, yet he still feels lonely. Hannah also made a good point that Biff says on page 11 that people work fifty weeks a year just for two weeks of vacation. The American Dream in and of itself is essentially a never-ending cycle of desire and achievement. Once someone achieves what they wanted and earned the item that he wants, he still is left wanting more. Striving to achieve the American Dream alone will leave everyone feeling empty unless they create solid relationships and memorable moments along the way.
ReplyDeleteI realized that all the men in the Loman family all chase the American Dream by going after success, girls, and money. All of their motivations seem to be in those three things and everything they do and gain in life is because of those three things. They do not care for others, they only want to get ahead. I think Happy and Biff learned this from their father because even in his memory, he tells his sons, "Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead" (20). They all just want to be liked to get success, girls, and money.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Willy is trying to make himself seem better or happier through twisting his old memories into illusions that trap him in the past. He seems further and further from reality every time he goes deeper in to his dreams.
ReplyDeleteWilly is literally living in the past and not appreciating the time that he has with his family in the present. He is constantly reliving and skewing his memories to make his life appear better in the eyes of someone who values the American Dream. Willy needs to learn how to move on from what has happened in the past and live in the now. He is too harsh on Biff and Happy because of how he envisioned their lives. He needs to let them live how they want to and not dictate their lives or push them towards business. Willy is living only for the success and money. The theme of living in the past is evident here through Willy's values and lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteToday I figured out how to make the distinction between what's happening in real life and what's happening in his hallucinations. Being able to discern between the two helped me to get a better understanding of the plot and Willy as a character. Going into Willy's philosophy about business was also helpful in trying to characterize him. The conflict between the family seems to stem from the pursuit of the American Dream so it's an important subject to delve into.
ReplyDeleteOn my blog I asked why Willy is hallucinating what he is hallucinating. After reading Erika's response and hearing her think about his mental exhaustion made me think about The American Dream and how in Willy's real life he does not fulfill that. Willy is tired and unsuccessful, which is the exact opposite of what the typical American would want. But in the iidealized memories, he fulfills the American dream. He is happy, healthy, successful, and his sons actually like him. His dreams are the idealized version of his life.
ReplyDeleteI think the roles portrayed in the play are interesting. The mother, Linda, plays into the role of the nurturing mother. While the father, is a workaholic. The boys ars both rebellious and seem lost. I think Miller could be portraying the message that although the family seems to fit the "American Dream" ideals with the middle class nature, it doesn't mean their life is perfect. In fact it is far from it. Miller could be trying to portray the corruption that can happen when one strives to conform to societal "norms."
ReplyDeleteI feel like Willy is holding on to the past. He twists his old family memories into his idea of a perfect family life. As a result of trying to live in his dreams, he grows further away from his family and reality.
ReplyDeleteThis story is pulling me I separate directions. I pity Willy for his suicidal desires due to his lack of confidence, however, I pity Linda due to how poorly Willy treats her. I pity Biff because of the pressure on him from Willy, but I also don't like his bluntness with his family. I pity Happy because of how ignored and overlooked he is, but he also is a pushover, and doesn't stand up for himself or voice real opinions if they are not encouraging. Similar to Linda, I pity her kind, helpful heart; however, she needs to defend herself against the cruelty of her family. She is dying of her weakness socially. I am interested to see how the relationships develop. (If you want quotes of these instances, let me know).
ReplyDeleteOne thing I learned from our class question session is how much we pay attention to the relationships that are forming throughout the story, primarily that of Biff and Willy. Nearly every question was about these relationships. It is interesting to see how these relationships have been formed and broken and how they are applicable to us.
ReplyDelete