Death of a Salesman

Biff’s speech at the end of the play is the most important monologue in the entire play. Not only is it a very moving speech, it is Biffs attempt at stopping his father’s suicide attempt. Willy has left a few clues around that he is on the edge of committing suicide, and the (split up) monologue the beginning with No! Nobody is hanging himself, Willy! and continues to  I’m just what I am, that’s all, is Biff giving his all to save his fathers life.  Biff is also trying to bring his father down to earth, as Willy’s standards for himself are out the roof. Additionally, Biff wants to bring his fathers expectations of Biff down to reality. This speech goes along with one of the major themes of the play, that while everyone expects high achieving success, in reality the standards most people set for them selves are often not achieved and dealing with that differentiation is a part of life. Willy Loman tries to deal with this problem, but in the end cannot deal with the pressure. Biff struggles as well, but is more of a realist and has coped while not achieving his proclaimed potential.  This theme is very apparent in today’s time, with the recent economic collapse and ensuing recession. Many people with successful career’s are left without jobs because of factors out of their control.

American Dream

Fires in the Mirror

Reading any controversial issue, there are multiple factors that can lead our thought process to choose one side or the other. With literature in this format, constantly back and forth, the order of information has such a strong impact on swaying the mind. Regardless of my (or any readers) beliefs and personal experiences I feel that Anna Deavere Smith’s choice to have Rabbi Joseph Spielman’s interview placed first in the Crown Heights section of the play had a immense influence on which side of the story I was to believe. As humans we tend to believe people are truthful and side with what we hear first, proven by the fact that most people tend to have similar political views as their parents. So when I read Spielmans recount of the incident my instinct was to believe his recall was the truth and that was how the event on August 19, 1991 really took place.  While this may not have been the case, it was what I subconsciously leaned toward.  Smith tries to force the reader to pick a side, and even with her choice of placing Carmel Cato’s provocative interview last, to me the primacy effect had a much stronger influence on this issue than the recency effect. I am curious as to how my reading of the play would have gone had one of the characters recalling the event from one of the black residents of Crown Heights.

(240 Words)

Week 1

I have read my syllabus and accept the terms of the course.


And in case anyone was wondering the Redskins beat the Cowboys on sunday night