2.1.5

Key Events 7&8

Test yourself on Key Events 7&8

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Act One: Key Event Seven

The play returns to the present and Willy's current feelings of inferiority and shame.

Key event seven

Key event seven

  • One memory now merges into another as Willy reacts to Linda’s attempts to comfort him.
Significance

Significance

  • We begin to see how Willy is unable to control his memories and how they torment him.
  • The guilty secret that Willy has kept from his wife for years surfaces and leads to an angry outburst.
Quotation

Quotation

  • “WILLY [angrily, taking them from her]: I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!”
Explanation

Explanation

  • Willy’s anger springs from two sources.
  • First, there is a sense of wounded pride as he is not able to provide for his wife to afford new stockings.
    • That Linda must mend them reminds him of his failure.
  • The sight of silk stockings also provokes a sense of guilt as they remind Willy of his affair with the Woman in Boston.

Act One: Key Event Eight

We are introduced to Willy's neighbour Charley and their simultaneously close and strained relationship.

Key event eight

Key event eight

  • Charley, Willy’s friend and neighbour calls by, despite the late hour, worried about the noise he has heard.
  • He and Willy settle down to a game of cards
Significance

Significance

  • We see the difficult relationship between Willy and Charley.
  • Willy feels able to open up to Charley, asking him for advice on how to deal with Biff, but he reacts angrily when Charley offers him a job.
  • The squabble then moves on to Charley not being able to put up a ceiling.
Quotation

Quotation

  • “A man who can’t handle tools is not a man. You’re disgusting.”
Explanation

Explanation

  • Willy dismisses Charley as a “man”, perhaps because Charley does not share the Loman men’s ability to work with their hands but perhaps also because Willy is resentful of Charley.
  • His pride is wounded by Charley being able to offer him a job and, on Willy’s side, there is a competitive streak looking for a way to put Charley down.
Jump to other topics
1

Introduction

1.1

Introductions

1.1.1Author1.1.2Historical Context1.1.3Setting1.1.4Social Issues
2

Act One

2.1

Key Events

2.1.1Staging2.1.2Key Events 1&22.1.3Key Events 3&42.1.4Key Events 5&62.1.5Key Events 7&82.1.6Key Events 9&102.1.7Key Events 11&12
2.2

Key Themes & Literary Techniques

2.2.1Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, Settings2.2.2Family, Reality, Fantasy
3

Act Two

3.1

Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&23.1.2Key Events 3&43.1.3Key Events 5&63.1.4Key Events 7&83.1.5Key Events 9&10
3.2

Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride3.2.2Metaphor3.2.3Self-Realisation
4

Extended Passage Analysis

4.1

Act One

4.1.1Staging4.1.2The Woman
4.2

Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office4.2.2The Final Confrontation4.2.3The Requiem
5

Character Profiles

5.1

Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman5.1.2Linda Loman
5.2

Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy5.2.3Happy Loman
5.3

Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben5.3.2Charley5.3.3Bernard
6

Key Themes

6.1

Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream6.1.2Fathers & Sons6.1.3Nature & the City6.1.4Success6.1.5Men & Women
7

Writing Techniques

7.1

Structure

7.1.1Act One7.1.2Act Two
7.2

Realism

7.2.1Introduction7.2.2Staging7.2.3Language
7.3

Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction7.3.2Staging7.3.3Music
7.4

Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds7.4.2Diamonds7.4.3Alaska & Africa
7.5

Motifs

7.5.1Introduction7.5.2Cars7.5.3Silk Stockings7.5.4Money7.5.5Mythological Figures
8

Historical Context

8.1

Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression8.1.2America’s Recovery
9

Literary Context

9.1

Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction
9.2

Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero9.2.2The Tragic Flaw9.2.3Recognition9.2.4Emotional Release9.2.5Chaos & Disorder9.2.6Revenge9.2.7Inevitability
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Introduction

10.1.1Introduction
10.2

The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis10.2.2The Marxist Reading
10.3

The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis10.3.2The Feminist Reading
10.4

The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading10.4.3Post-pastoral
10.5

Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy10.5.2The Critics
11

Recap: Main Quotes

11.1

Characters Quotes

11.1.1Willy Loman11.1.2Linda Loman11.1.3Biff Loman11.1.4Happy Loman11.1.5Uncle Ben11.1.6Charley11.1.7Bernard
11.2

Quotes by Act

11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes

Practice questions on Key Events 7&8

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Sources of Willy’s anger over Linda mending stockings:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    What is Willy's guilty secret that he has kept from Linda for years?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Why does Charley call round on the Loman's at this point in the play?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Causes of Willy and Charley's argument while playing cards:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    What is Charley unable to do that causes him to argue with Willy?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Key Events 7&8

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Key Events 5&6

Key Events 9&10