In the battle between Capitalism and the Ordinary Man, death seems to be the only solution. Comment.
Introduction - one sentence about the play, playwright and when it was first performed. The play criticizes the American Dream. One sentence stating what you are going to explore in your essay = thesis statement.
Setting - New York, USA, 1949 - explore the implications of the time, and the city/country = capitalism in the USA; the American Dream and how it has failed many people. Post Depression, Post World War II.
Characterisation - Willy, Biff - who are not successful as per the A.D.; from the start we get the feeling that Willy is going insane; Happy - who is successful but not happy; Ben, Charley - who are both successful - Ben seems more lucky; Charley is the only one who has worked. Howard is not directly representative of the American Dream as he inherited the business from his father. However, he is running it successfully and unemotionally and therefore almost symbolizes capitalism.
Plot - the death of Willy is foreshadowed continuously, starting with the first part of the Act One; Linda reveals to Biff and Happy how Willy seems to be trying to kill himself - 1. the car crash was not an accident, 2. the tube she has found in the cellar; finally, he decides to plant a garden as though he must leave a legacy for his family; the plot does not proceed in chronological order from the title of the play to the planting of the garden the audience is continuously being prepared for Willy's suicide.
Atmosphere - strained from the beginning [refer to Aditya's earlier post for details]
Dramatic Techniques - flashbacks; foreshadowing; lighting being focused in one area; no blackouts - merging of scenes; music that accompanies certain characters
Symbols - loans and mortgages; fountain pen; stockings being mended; wire recorder; Ben as a symbolic character; Willy's sleeping with the woman in order to get clients to sell his products to - is it symbolic of Capitalism lending itself to some form of prostitution of ones values and ideals in order to make money?
Conclusion - your personal [literary] response TO THE QUESTION
Introduction - one sentence about the play, playwright and when it was first performed. The play criticizes the American Dream. One sentence stating what you are going to explore in your essay = thesis statement.
Setting - New York, USA, 1949 - explore the implications of the time, and the city/country = capitalism in the USA; the American Dream and how it has failed many people. Post Depression, Post World War II.
Characterisation - Willy, Biff - who are not successful as per the A.D.; from the start we get the feeling that Willy is going insane; Happy - who is successful but not happy; Ben, Charley - who are both successful - Ben seems more lucky; Charley is the only one who has worked. Howard is not directly representative of the American Dream as he inherited the business from his father. However, he is running it successfully and unemotionally and therefore almost symbolizes capitalism.
Plot - the death of Willy is foreshadowed continuously, starting with the first part of the Act One; Linda reveals to Biff and Happy how Willy seems to be trying to kill himself - 1. the car crash was not an accident, 2. the tube she has found in the cellar; finally, he decides to plant a garden as though he must leave a legacy for his family; the plot does not proceed in chronological order from the title of the play to the planting of the garden the audience is continuously being prepared for Willy's suicide.
Atmosphere - strained from the beginning [refer to Aditya's earlier post for details]
Dramatic Techniques - flashbacks; foreshadowing; lighting being focused in one area; no blackouts - merging of scenes; music that accompanies certain characters
Symbols - loans and mortgages; fountain pen; stockings being mended; wire recorder; Ben as a symbolic character; Willy's sleeping with the woman in order to get clients to sell his products to - is it symbolic of Capitalism lending itself to some form of prostitution of ones values and ideals in order to make money?
Conclusion - your personal [literary] response TO THE QUESTION
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