Key Events 5&6
English Lit: AQA A Level Death of a Salesman, topic 2.1.4
Act One: Key Event Five
The first memory scene is triggered by Willy thinking of his old car.
Key event five
- The first memory scene is triggered by Willy thinking of his old car.
- Willy remembers Biff and Happy as boys cleaning “that red Chevvy”.
Significance
- Willy retreats back to happier times, where his boys idolised him and together they made plans for the future.
- His boys trust and believe in Willy, both competing for his attention.
Quotation
- “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!”
Explanation
- 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.
Explanation cont.
- Miller here introduces the motif of Biff’s petty thefts which will escalate, from the crate of basketballs to the suit in Kansas City, and ultimately lead Biff to jail.
- Miller shows us Willy’s responsibility for Biff’s behaviour.
Act One: Key Event Six
We remain in the past and begin to see Willy's reality rather than his constructed version of events.
Key event six
- Still in the past, we see Willy and Linda calculate Willy’s earnings and go over the bills they have to pay.
Significance
- We see behind Willy’s fantasy world and learn how much he and his family are struggling to make ends meet.
Quotation
- “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.”
Explanation
- 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.
Explanation cont.
- The quote also reveals the doubts and insecurity Willy carries inside.
- He has built his notions of success on popularity and charisma but it is in these areas that he is failing.
Test yourself on Key Events 5&6
Where does Willy plan to go the following week to "knock ‘em dead"?