View more about Death of a Salesman reviews
Willie's inner monologue
Ken 2022-12-17 18:53:23
Isn't Willy's life a reflection of our present life? Now I feel that I have an ideal to pursue, and I will not regret anything I do. But if a person reaches middle age, half a hundred years later, the ideal of the past is no longer, and the passion of the past can not be exchanged for a life that requires only food and clothing. The child seems to be following the path of success he planned, but in the end it doesn't come as he wishes. Looking back at his friends and childhood friends, why are they better than him? What did I do wrong? Pursuing a better life, urging children to do their best, and constantly striving for their own goals, which step is wrong? Make my life so unsatisfactory? Retiring soon, but earning less and less money, can't even support my family; getting more and more irritable, yelling at my family, my beloved wife, the only woman who understands why I have a nervous breakdown ; The children have no love for me, only resentment, I can't even feel my deep love for them, and guilt; I feel that this life is a failure, and the future of the children is also because of my fault and my wishful thinking. ... The worst thing is, I don't want to face these cruel realities, I still have illusory hopes for the future, and when this hope is shattered again and again in myself, I hope and even force others to give me hope. I don't want bad news, I don't want to hear any hints, I don't want anyone to remind me to come back to reality and face myself, I want you to tell me: Tomorrow is a day full of expectations and hope! But no one told me that I was struggling to live my ideal life, but others either took pity on me and gave me alms; or told me that what I wanted was impossible, and even reminded me gently but sharply , even after death, no one will remember me, they will only resent me and only hate me... What is the meaning of my life, the first step of planning when I was young is not completed until I am old, not only destroying myself, but also misleading child. . .
Extended Reading
-
Willy Loman: My father lived many years in Alaska. He was an adventurous man! We've got quite a little streak of self-reliance in our family, Howard. I thought I'd go out with my older brother and try to locate him and maybe even settle in the North with the old man. And I was almost decided to go - when I met a salesman in the Parker House. His name was Dave Singleman. And he was eighty-four years old, and he'd drummed merchandise in thirty-one states. And old Dave, he'd go up to his room, y'understand, put on his green velvet slippers - I'll never forget - and pick up the phone and call the buyers, without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living. And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career that a man could want. Because what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up his phone and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people? You know, when - when he died, by the way he died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers in the smoker of the NewYork, New Haven and Hartford, going into Boston - when he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral. Things were sad on a lotta trains - for months after that. You see, in those days there was personality in it, Howard. There was respect and comradeship and gratitude in it. Today, it's all cut and dried, and there's no chance for bringing friendship to bear or personality. You see what I mean? They don't know me anymore.
-
Willy Loman: I'm talking about your father! There were promises made across this desk! You mustn't tell me you've got people to see. I put thirty-four years into this firm, Howard, and now I can't pay my insurance! You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit!