Eric+&+Kristin

Title: Death of a Salesman Author: Arthur Miller Setting: the late 1940s in Brooklyn; flashbacks from Willy's past

Main Characters: Willy Loman- the main character in the book, salesman; tragic hero; highly emotional, unstable, worn down by life Linda Loman- Willy's wife; Biff and Happy's mother; family peacemaker Happy Loman- younger brother; Willy and Linda's son; shadow of his older brother Biff Loman- eldest son; Willy and Linda's son; was a high school football idol; troubled/frustrated sad man; betrayed by father Ben Loman- Willy's older brother; Willy's definition of true success Bernard- Charley's son; successful; parallel to Happy and Biff-showing the success they aspired but never reached Charley- Willy's only friend and supporter outside of his family; Willy's sole financial support The Woman-Willy has an affair with her Howard Wagner- Willy's boss; rejects and fires Willy

Summary: Willy returned from a sales trip that was once again unsuccessful. He had recently been in several automobile accidents and seemed to be emotionally unstable. Linda and Willy argue about Biff (their son) because Willy said Biff needs to make something out of himself. Happy and Biff talk about their past and discuss the tension between Willy and Biff. Both of the boys then ranted on their dissatisfactions with their lives and speculate their options that could lead them to success(can't commit to any changes). While they talked, Willy was downstairs talking loudly to himself. Willy was immersed in a daydream where everyone was much happier. He bragged about how well-known and well-liked he was in the East coast towns he traveled through as a salesman. (These statements were made frequently throughout the play, even though his financial situation proved it to not be true). In the flashback, Biff was in danger of failing a class, which would cause him to not graduate and not allow him to accept an athletic scholarship to UVA. Willy was taken off salary at his job and put entirely on commission. Willy and Linda discussed their financial problems. He then has a flashback of "the woman" whose significance was not clear at this point in the play. Linda revealed their financial difficulties to her sons, but they criticize Willy's firm and Linda realizes they all are neglectful of their status. She reveals Willy had been trying to kill himself, with the frequent automobile accidents and with a rubber tube attached to the gas water heater. Willy talked to his boss Howard and tried to persuade him to give him a position in New York, where he was not required to travel. Howard declined and caused Willy to "go crazy". Willy exasperates Howard and he ultimately fired him. Charley offered wily a job, but Willy was too proud to accept it. Charley was disgusted, but continued to supply money to Willy. Biff and happy then waited to meet Willy at a restaurant, as told to by their mother. While waiting, Happy attempted to pick up a prostitute and Biff came in disappointed about Bill Oliver, his former employer, who didn't remember him and didn't give him a job. Biff then tried to have a frank conversation with Willy, they all choose to ignore the truth as always. Biff explodes at Willy for being unwilling to listen. In the conversation Willy has a crucial flashback where Biff had failed math and caught Willy with another women, while going to persuade his father to intervene with his teachers decision. It was this discovery that caused Biff to refuse to attend summer school and relinquish his opportunity for a college education. Biff and Happy then left the restaurant in order to accompany the prostitute Happy met earlier. The next morning, Linda asked her sons to leave because of what happened the night before. Willy became more unstable and thinks more of suicide. The Act ended with Willy speeding off in his car. Lastly the family attended his funeral. Biff says he will return to the west, while Happy will remain in business in New York. Linda remarks ironically that they are "free", because there house can be paid with Willy's insurance money.

Themes: Appearance vs. Reality-what appears to be true to the characters is a far cry from real Individual vs. Society-Willy worries about how he is perceived by others Individual vs. Self-Willy's perception of what he should be is continually at odds with what he is: a mediocre salesman American Dream-"self-made man" Abandonment-people "leaving" out of Willy's life Betrayal-Willy to Biff

Motifs/Symbols: Mythic Figures The American West, Alaska and the African Jungle Diamonds Linda and the Woman’s Stocking The rubber hose

__Criticism for Of Mice And Men__- http://www.answers.com/topic/of-mice-and-men-novel-7
 * Author**: John Steinbeck **Title**: __Of Mice And Men__
 * Setting**: near Soledad, California in the early 1900's during the Great Depression
 * Characters**: **George Milton**- looks after Lennie, the smart one
 * Lennie Small**- strong, big, oafy, not so bright, follows George, likes soft things
 * Slim**- jerkline skinner, intelligent, handsome
 * Curley**- the boss’s son, cocky lightweight boxer, always “looking for his wife”
 * Crooks**- the stable buck, the only African American, has a crooked back, lives in the harness room
 * Candy**- an old handyman with one hand, has an old dog
 * Curley’s Wife-** beautiful, lonely**,** hates Curley, always “looking for Curley”
 * Carlson**: a large man with a gut, owns a gun

After Lennie and George go out bucking, George and Slim talk about Lennie’s power and how he will do anything George says. Carlson complains about how Candy’s dog reeks of a terrible odor and how it can barely walk. He convinces Candy to let him shoot it, to put it out of its misery. Slim gave Lennie one of his pups to have, but he can’t pet it often because it is only a few days old. It satisfies Lennie’s need for softness until he kills it by accidently squeezing it because it bit him. Lennie always asks George to tell him about their fantasy house and how he can tend the rabbits. They will never have to work and can grow and eat all their own food. It almost becomes a reality because Candy offers to give about half of the money needed (300$ or so) if he can come with them, but it stays a dream. Curley is mad and comes in looking for his wife and goes out to the barn because he thinks Slim is with her. Slim and him come into the bunk and argue. Curley takes it out on Lennie and begins to punch him, but Lennie is scared and won’t fight back until George says to. He crushes Curley’s hand and Slim protects Lennie by making Curley say his hand got caught in a machine. Everyone but Lennie, Candy, Curley’s wife, and Crooks went to a whore house. Lennie wanders into Crooks’ room though he isn’t exactly welcome. Candy does the same. They talk about what Lennie would do if George never comes back and Lennie gets worried. Curley’s wife stops by and says that she knows Lennie crushed the hand and that she hates Curley. The next day Lennie is in the barn mourning his dead puppy. He squeezed it too hard like the mice he used to find. Curley’s wife visits him and he says George told him not to talk to her because she causes trouble. She finds out Lennie likes her soft hair and lets him touch it. She doesn’t want him messing it up and gets mad, so he panics and grabs her. She won’t stop yelling so he instinctively shakes her and breaks her neck. He then goes to hide in a bush that was on the way to the ranch because George had told him to go there before if anything happened. George and Candy find her dead and know Lennie did it, but set it up so that Curley will know George wasn’t a part of it. Curley comes in and decides to go kill Lennie with the rest of them. Carlson can’t find his gun because George took it. George finds Lennie before the rest do and tells him about their dream house before shooting him. The others show up and Slim and George know that it had to be done for Lennie’s own good.
 * Summary:** George and Lennie travel around together because Lennie happened to work with George a lot so he decided to take care of him. have left the town of Weed because Lennie was stroking a woman’s dress because it was soft. She overreacted and told the police she was raped. The two are on their way to a new ranch to buck barley. They get there Saturday at noon instead of Friday night and meet with the angry boss, who tells them they will start that evening. He is suspicious of their motives for working together.Curley comes in and sees the two as new guys and immediately eyes up Lennie. George tells Lennie that Curley is trouble and to stay away from him. Then Curley’s wife comes in the room looking for Curley. Lennie is fascinated by her beauty, but George tells him to avoid her too because she gives men “the Eye.”


 * Key Words/images**: **Paws**- Lennie’s hands are referred to as paws as if he was a great big bear
 * Softness**- Lennie’s obsession with soft things leads to trouble every time


 * Themes/Motifs**: **Keep cockyness limited**- Curley let his ego get to his head and it broke his hand and put him in his place
 * Loneliness**- Crooks and Curley’s wife were treated as outsiders, but all they wanted was someone to talk to
 * American Dreams-** George and Lennie had their dream of a house with rabbits and animals. They didn't have to work if they didn't want to and life would be good.
 * Doing what’s right-** George looked after Lennie because Lennie needed someone. He killed him to save him from Curley’s wrath.
 * Friends-** Everyone envied how George and Lennie went around together. Some characters like Crooks just wanted friends to talk to and be with.