An intro to Howard Wagner.

36 years old business man. (11th April, 2011)

Spends money- wire recording machine -> driving him crazy, obsessed- like a new toy.

Unemotional business world. He symbolizes the business world.

Obsessively fascinated with the toy and continuously talking about it.

pg. 61- "You didn't crack up again..."

"Geez, you had me worried there for a minute. What's..." (Howard Wagner)

(Conspiracy thinkers in our class)

Willy wants to be in New York and work with him. Howard is preoccupied with his wire recorder.

pg. 62- Howard giving logical reasons to Willy.

Howard not getting affected by the emotional statements.

"Pulling your own weight." Do your part of the job really well.

Howard's KEY LINE- "Cause you gotta admit, business is business."

Howard is barely interested to whatever Willy is saying. (Stage Direction)

Continued... (12th April, 2011)

"I can't rake blood from a stone" - Something that cannot be extracted.

-Howard objectifies Willy. Howard physically trying to move away saying that he's busy right now. Howard again trying to escape.

-Howard is letting him down gently. Willy got upset as the wire recorder got switched on.

-Howard knows that Willy is in no control of his own. Behaved oddly and stubbornly.

-He doesn't want Willy to get upset again and gets conscious of the impression on other people.

Text-Based Question on DOS

Act II, Section 2 (Page 59 to 66):
Explore how Miller brings out the character of Howard Wagner as a representative of the unemotional business world.

act 2 section 2

Willy wants howard to transfer him to new york and howard is talking about his wire recorder while ignoring him.

9B1 Life With Willy: Act II, Section 2 - (pages 59 - 66)

9B1 Life With Willy: Act II, Section 2 - (pages 59 - 66): "What happens in this section?"

chirag-

*maybe howard wanted willy to wait

*howard is repeatedly changing the topic

*howards ignoring willy

*howards showing off

*he reffering to willuy as a "kid". i think hes trying to show whos the boss

Willy's long speech on Page 63: he talks about what inspired him to become a salesman - a man called Dave Singleman. He appears to be bemoaning the fact that in "those" days it wasn't just about sales, there was "respect, comradeship and gratitude in it". Now, it appears to be only about the money.
Do you see any evidence that Willy was "well-liked"?
He probably WANTS to think and believe that.
Possibly he has a self-esteem problem. He has a lot of negative energy.

Through the pages 59 to 64 he reduces how much he wants Howard to give him as a salary every week. He starts with 65 dollars and goes down to 40.

On page 64 we see Willy growing more and more desperate. We see that Howard is really not interested in any references to the past.
In 1928 Willy may have made a lot of sales - it was when the American economy was booming; it was before the Great Depression.
Howard realizes that Willy is going crazy and exits.
At the end of page 64 Willy begins to hallucinate - he thinks he is talking to Frank, Howard's father, and accidentally switches on the recording machine.

act2 section 2

In act 2 section 2 of Death of a salesman Willy has gone to Howard and he is asking to be posted to the city, but howard is preoccupied with his wired recorder. Hence willy gets fired as he is too old

Act II, Section 2 - (pages 59 - 66)

What happens in this section?

Conflict in Biff's Life

Biff is very young when he discovers that his father has a mistress. He is already depressed as he has flunked his math exam and this adds to his problems.

Empathy question # 2:

You are Biff. You have just discovered that your father has a mistress. Write your thoughts and feelings.

[on paper, please, not on the blog]

Due date: 5 April 2011

[bonus point if you submit it on 4 April]