Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller
Extract #5 – “He had the wrong dreams”
Read the end of the play. Take notes on who is present at Willy’s funeral.
In pairs/groups, answer the following questions. Justify your answers with quotes.
1.a Identify Biff’s and Charley’s respective explanations for what happened to
Willy.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
b. Compare and contrast their opinions.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
c. Describe Happy’s reactions to Biff’s words.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
[Link] up Linda’s speech. What does she mean when she says, “we’re free” (l.28)?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
b. Describe the contrast at the heart of this quote: “Were free and clear.
[Sobbing more fully, released] We’re free (l.28).
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
TRAGEDY
In his Poetics, Aristotle defined tragedy as the imitation of an action that is
serious through language. The tragic hero is a flawed character whose hamartia
leads him to an error or mistake of judgment and a fall from great heights.
Hubris, or excessive pride, is a common hamartia in Greek tragedy. The audience is
moved by the tragic hero and finds pleasure and release in the pity and fear felt
(this is called catharsis). The tragedies of Greek dramatists have evolved
throughout the centuries. Death of a Salesman is considered a modern tragedy by
many critics.
a. Identify the play's tragic hero, his/her hamartia, and the play's cathartic
moment.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
b. Explain how Death of a Salesman may differ from a tragedy. Does the audience
only feel pity and fear for the hero? Does Willy fall from great heights?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
