2.2.2
Family, Reality, Fantasy
Fathers and Sons
Fathers and Sons
Willy's difficult relationship with his son and his own father are examined in the play.


Willy and Son
Willy and Son
- Death of a Salesman is structured around the conflict between father and son:
- Willy’s dreams of a golden future for Biff.
- Biff’s frustration at having to live up to an ideal.


Willy and Father
Willy and Father
- Willy’s problematic relationship with his own father, a man he never knew but who he has always idealised, is symbolised in the sound of the flute which opens the play, and which will recur at key moments.


Reality v fantasy
Reality v fantasy
- Death of a Salesman features protagonists who prefer to live in fantasy but are ultimately confronted by reality.
- As Miller says in the opening stage direction, “an air of the dream” pervades the Loman household and, in Act One, we have seen Willy retreat into fantasy when challenged by reality:
- “Oh, I’ll knock ‘em dead next week”.
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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