Premiered in Morosco Theatre in New York in 1949.
Contradicts himself. Touch of senility? But does it even in the earlier scenes.
Talking to himself. Doesn't pay attention to the driving.
LINDA: Lotta love. Practical too, it would seem. Paying off the bills, etc.
BIFF: Works on a farm. Not making a lot of money, and according to his father(?) hasn't found his place in life yet, at 34.
Steals small things. Also maybe/probably big things. Probably will fail math and not graduate.
HAPPY: "Sexuality is like a visible color on him. Or a scent that many women have discovered."
"Ruining" women. Sleeping with them when they're engaged to be married to business execs. And then going to the wedding.
As a boy, largely ignored. Perhaps fat, or at least not fit.
---
BERNARD: Younger than Biff, loyal. "Not well-liked." Trying to look out for Biff.
Charley's son. Not athletic, so looked down upon.
THE WOMAN: Willy is cheating with her? She "picked him"
CHARLEY: Willy's friend. They kid around, apparently? They share some pretty harsh words. But "despite what Charley says, there is pity." Not sure if that's the same thing as what's coming from Willy, or if he actually means it.
Bernard's father, and their neighbor.
Not athletic, so looked down upon.
UNCLE BEN: Willy's brother. Has died, but is remembered. Went to Alaska and made his fortune. Invited Willy along.
HOWARD: Willy's boss. Distractable. Kinda nice, but needs to let Willy go. He's not doing what he needs to be doing.
JENNY: Charley's secretary.
STANLEY: Waiter
MISS FORSYTHE: Random girl Happy's hitting on. And lying to.
LETTA: Same
Foreshadowing with car? He was asleep at the car, perhaps will kill himself with car? Also obvious "death" in title, and in one of his first lines. (Foreshadowing confirmed.)
Why is popularity so fucking important in this play? Is that really the way things were? Is that the way things are now?
Appearances, etc? Grrr. We are such a stupid society, and also with the latter, I'm a hypocrite.
So Willy doesn't make any money anymore? Just borrows from Charley?
Biff knows something about Willy that he won't say, it's what's causing them to fight.
Foreshadowing with car? He was asleep at the car, perhaps will kill himself with car? Also obvious "death" in title, and in one of his first lines. (Foreshadowing confirmed.)
Why is popularity so fucking important in this play? Is that really the way things were? Is that the way things are now?
Appearances, etc? Grrr. We are such a stupid society, and also with the latter, I'm a hypocrite.
So Willy doesn't make any money anymore? Just borrows from Charley?
Biff knows something about Willy that he won't say, it's what's causing them to fight.
This play is quite sad. Nothing goes the way it should, in part because Willy wasn't giving his kids real-life advice, just love (rather than tough love, which I think in this instance would have been more useful).
I think it would make more sense to see it staged rather than just read it. A lot of the language, etc is so convoluted, because they hardly say what they mean. Well, that or they keep changing their minds.
Monologue:
WILLY talking to Biff about going in to borrow money. Turns out Willy doesn't really know what advice he wants to give, and winds up contradicting himself.
Possible arc Honest/serious (but light)-> Angry? (Could manage it, though nothing in the script seems to indicate that, but hey, choices!) -> Smiling and light (personality wins through)
