11.2.2
Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes
Act One: Key Events 4-6
Act One: Key Events 4-6
Here are three quotations showing key events in Act One:


Key quotation 4
Key quotation 4
- Happy discusses his father with the recently returned Biff.
- “HAPPY: …Like I’m not supposed to take bribes. Manufacturers offer me a hundred-dollar bill now and then to throw an order their way. You know how honest I am, but it’s like this girls, see. I hate myself for it… and still, I take it…”
- Happy knows how corrupt his line of work can be and shows how corrupt he is. He accepts bribes and sleeps with the partners of colleagues, but still perceives himself to be “honest”.
- “HAPPY: …Like I’m not supposed to take bribes. Manufacturers offer me a hundred-dollar bill now and then to throw an order their way. You know how honest I am, but it’s like this girls, see. I hate myself for it… and still, I take it…”


Key quotation 5
Key quotation 5
- The first memory scene. Willy remembers Biff and Happy as boys cleaning “that red Chevvy”.
- “WILLY: [stopping the incipient argument, to HAPPY]: Sure, he’s gotta practise with a regulation ball, doesn’t he? [To BIFF] Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!”
- The quote reveals Willy’s clear favouritism, chiding Happy while defending Biff. It also demonstrates Willy teaching Biff the wrong lesson: that the coach will applaud Biff’s theft.
- “WILLY: [stopping the incipient argument, to HAPPY]: Sure, he’s gotta practise with a regulation ball, doesn’t he? [To BIFF] Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!”


Key quotation 6
Key quotation 6
- Still in the past, we see Willy and Linda calculate Willy’s earnings and go over the bills they have to pay.
- “Oh, I’ll knock ‘em dead next week. I’ll go to Hartford. I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.”
- We see how quickly Willy can contradict himself as reality intrudes into his dream-world. At this vulnerable moment, he cannot keep up the pretence to his wife.
- “Oh, I’ll knock ‘em dead next week. I’ll go to Hartford. I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.”
1Introduction
1.1Introductions
2Act One
3Act Two
4Extended Passage Analysis
5Character Profiles
5.1Willy & Linda Loman
5.2Biff & Happy Loman
5.3Other Characters
6Key Themes
7Writing Techniques
7.1Structure
7.3Expressionism
8Historical Context
8.1Historical Context
9Literary Context
9.1Tragedy
10Critical Debates
10.1Introduction
10.2The Marxist Reading
10.3The Feminist Reading
10.4The Eco-Critical Reading
10.5Other Debates
11Recap: Main Quotes
11.1Characters Quotes
11.2Quotes by Act
11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes
11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes
11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes
11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes
11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes
11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes
11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes
11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes
11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes
11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes
11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes
11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes
11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Introduction
1.1Introductions
2Act One
3Act Two
4Extended Passage Analysis
5Character Profiles
5.1Willy & Linda Loman
5.2Biff & Happy Loman
5.3Other Characters
6Key Themes
7Writing Techniques
7.1Structure
7.3Expressionism
8Historical Context
8.1Historical Context
9Literary Context
9.1Tragedy
10Critical Debates
10.1Introduction
10.2The Marxist Reading
10.3The Feminist Reading
10.4The Eco-Critical Reading
10.5Other Debates
11Recap: Main Quotes
11.1Characters Quotes
11.2Quotes by Act
11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes
11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes
11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes
11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes
11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes
11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes
11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes
11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes
11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes
11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes
11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes
11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes
11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes
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