"Nobody dast blame this man. You don't understand: Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine." (Requiem, 1629).
I find it incredibly ironic that Willy said that everyone would come to his funeral. In reality, only Charley and Willy's family came. Charley truly did not like Willy, but he still came. Willy's family basically only attended because they felt obligated to do so. How sad. How very, very sad. I feel as if Willy has some very admirable traits, as much as everyone hates him. For instance, Willy cares deeply for his sons and establishes dreams into their minds as to how they can attain success. Although Willy is a poor example for his kids, he lives and breathes off of the success of his sons. They make him proud. I feel as if Willy is the protagonist of this story because it is told by his own point of view and talks about his own flashbacks. Characters change throughout the course of the play. They do this in many ways. Happy doesn't really change because he stays in his same egotistical ways. However, Biff does change. He talks to his father in the end and stands up for himself. He admits his failure. Willy changes in the sense that he tries to see life from other people's eyes. He tries to reach out to his kids in the end. He doesn't show them resentment. Also, he tells Charley that Charley is his only friend. Willy is too caught up in his own pride to admit failure to accept money from Charley. Still, Willy tries to be his own person and make money on his own.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Foil Characters in Death of a Salesman
"Oh Ben, I always knew one awy or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I!.... Now when you kick off, boy, I want a seventy-yard boot, and get right down the field under the ball, and when you hit, hit low and hit hard, because it's important, boy. There's all kinds of important people in the stands, and the first thing you know.... Ben! Ben, where do I... ? Ben how do I... ?" (II, page 1628).
Ben and Willy are most definitely foil characters in this play. Arthur Miller constantly juxtaposes the characters. For instance, Willy is a character that thinks that his success comes from luck. He believes that the reason he is unsuccessful is based on other people's problems. Willy never takes responsibility for his actions. On the other hand, Ben is a very successful character. His luck has apparently been thrust upon him. Ben appears to be a character who looks at hard work as success, but earned success merely by luck. Willy is a character who refuses to work hard for success, and does not earn success by his luck. On top of this, Willy drowns in his misery instead of doing anthing about becoming successful on his own. Ben has more of a positive outlook on life. I'm not really sure if Ben is real or not, but I feel as if Ben is a figment of Willy's imagination as to how success should be......
Ben and Willy are most definitely foil characters in this play. Arthur Miller constantly juxtaposes the characters. For instance, Willy is a character that thinks that his success comes from luck. He believes that the reason he is unsuccessful is based on other people's problems. Willy never takes responsibility for his actions. On the other hand, Ben is a very successful character. His luck has apparently been thrust upon him. Ben appears to be a character who looks at hard work as success, but earned success merely by luck. Willy is a character who refuses to work hard for success, and does not earn success by his luck. On top of this, Willy drowns in his misery instead of doing anthing about becoming successful on his own. Ben has more of a positive outlook on life. I'm not really sure if Ben is real or not, but I feel as if Ben is a figment of Willy's imagination as to how success should be......
Dramatic Irony in Death of a Salesman
"Willy I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And there'll be nobody home.. We're free and clear... We're free. We're free... We're free....." (II, p.1630).
In this blog, I am going to speak of the constant reminders of dramatic irony in this play. First off, this play is filled with dramatic irony. The quote above definitely displays this as well. For example, Willy spent his entire life trying to be successful, but he always viewed himself as a failure. However, at the end of the play, they had all of their house payments paid off. He actually WAS successful and did not know it. If he would have just opened his eyes up to the actual wonders of his life instead of blaming everyone else for his failures, he would have witnessed the good things in his life. He wuld have realized how much he had going for him. Also, Happy is the most ungrateful person out of all the characters. This is ironic because his name is Happy. Another example is the fact that if the woman that Willy was having an affair with would not have laughed, Biff would not have heard her. If Biff would not have heard her, he would have been successful. Finally, Willy says that everytime he pays something off, he can no longer use it. He pays off his house at the end and can no longer use it because he dies. Woah! Irony.
In this blog, I am going to speak of the constant reminders of dramatic irony in this play. First off, this play is filled with dramatic irony. The quote above definitely displays this as well. For example, Willy spent his entire life trying to be successful, but he always viewed himself as a failure. However, at the end of the play, they had all of their house payments paid off. He actually WAS successful and did not know it. If he would have just opened his eyes up to the actual wonders of his life instead of blaming everyone else for his failures, he would have witnessed the good things in his life. He wuld have realized how much he had going for him. Also, Happy is the most ungrateful person out of all the characters. This is ironic because his name is Happy. Another example is the fact that if the woman that Willy was having an affair with would not have laughed, Biff would not have heard her. If Biff would not have heard her, he would have been successful. Finally, Willy says that everytime he pays something off, he can no longer use it. He pays off his house at the end and can no longer use it because he dies. Woah! Irony.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Scene 3: The Glass Menagerie
Ïda Scott? This is Amanda Wingfield! We missed you at the D.A.R. last Monday! I said to myself: She's probably suffering with that sinus condition! How is the sinus condition?" (iii, 1245).
Holy cow, Amanda is getting annoying. The irony is dripping all over the pages of this scene. Amanda is trying SO hard to get a man for her daughter. She is simply going to extremes. Honestly, it is kind of insulting from Laura's perspective. Amanda is basically saying that Laura cannot find a man on her own that Amanda has to find a gentleman FOR her daughter. Why does Amanda obsess over this? If Laura is meant to find the guy she is meant to be with, God will make it happen. Also, Amanda did not even hold onto the husband that she had. He left her. Why, then, must she work so hard to find someone for her daughter? Shouldn't she be against the men in her life or something? That's not how I would be, but I'm just saying. Why does Amanda care so much? It's just getting ridiculous. Obviously, Laura is not going to find a guy when it is forced upon her. She is going to find a guy naturally and out of the blue. This is who Laura is. This is a reflection of her personality. I can only hope that all works well for her. Also, Scene 3 contains a phrase that alludes back to the title. Tom breaks Laura's "glass menagerie." I feel sympathy towards Laura. Her mom is being over-the-top with this whole gentleman caller business, she's crippled, and her brother just broke her glass menagerie. Poor Laura.....
Holy cow, Amanda is getting annoying. The irony is dripping all over the pages of this scene. Amanda is trying SO hard to get a man for her daughter. She is simply going to extremes. Honestly, it is kind of insulting from Laura's perspective. Amanda is basically saying that Laura cannot find a man on her own that Amanda has to find a gentleman FOR her daughter. Why does Amanda obsess over this? If Laura is meant to find the guy she is meant to be with, God will make it happen. Also, Amanda did not even hold onto the husband that she had. He left her. Why, then, must she work so hard to find someone for her daughter? Shouldn't she be against the men in her life or something? That's not how I would be, but I'm just saying. Why does Amanda care so much? It's just getting ridiculous. Obviously, Laura is not going to find a guy when it is forced upon her. She is going to find a guy naturally and out of the blue. This is who Laura is. This is a reflection of her personality. I can only hope that all works well for her. Also, Scene 3 contains a phrase that alludes back to the title. Tom breaks Laura's "glass menagerie." I feel sympathy towards Laura. Her mom is being over-the-top with this whole gentleman caller business, she's crippled, and her brother just broke her glass menagerie. Poor Laura.....
Scene 2: The Glass Menagerie
"Her hands shook so that she couldn't hit the right keys." (ii, 1241).
This scene gives a little more into the characterization of Laura. For instance, the quote above emphasizes Laura's physical disabilities and anxiety about life. We also find out that Laura once had pleurosis. Also, I found Laura's situation very ironic. For example, on page 1244, Laura does not believe in herself. She does not believe that she can score a man. Laura says, Ï'm- crippled!" Amanda responds to Laura saying, "Nonsense! Laura, I've told you never, never to use that word. Why you're not crippled, you just have a little defect- hardly noticeable, even! When people have some slight disadvantage like that, they cultivate other things to make up for it - develop charm - and vivacity- and - charm! That's all you have to do!" (ii, 1244). Laura's mother is using euphemisms to minimize Laura's defect. She calms down her daughter and makes Laura feel as if her defect makes her special. I also found the final line of Scene 2 ironic. For instance, Amanda says, One thing your father had plenty of: was charm!" (ii, 1244). If Laura's father had charm, then why did he leave? Maybe Amanda was mesmerized by his charm and was mistaken for the person he really was.... Hopefully, Laura will do the same thing to win a man, but in a different way. Maybe Laura will win a man over with her charm and have others look past her disabilities.
This scene gives a little more into the characterization of Laura. For instance, the quote above emphasizes Laura's physical disabilities and anxiety about life. We also find out that Laura once had pleurosis. Also, I found Laura's situation very ironic. For example, on page 1244, Laura does not believe in herself. She does not believe that she can score a man. Laura says, Ï'm- crippled!" Amanda responds to Laura saying, "Nonsense! Laura, I've told you never, never to use that word. Why you're not crippled, you just have a little defect- hardly noticeable, even! When people have some slight disadvantage like that, they cultivate other things to make up for it - develop charm - and vivacity- and - charm! That's all you have to do!" (ii, 1244). Laura's mother is using euphemisms to minimize Laura's defect. She calms down her daughter and makes Laura feel as if her defect makes her special. I also found the final line of Scene 2 ironic. For instance, Amanda says, One thing your father had plenty of: was charm!" (ii, 1244). If Laura's father had charm, then why did he leave? Maybe Amanda was mesmerized by his charm and was mistaken for the person he really was.... Hopefully, Laura will do the same thing to win a man, but in a different way. Maybe Laura will win a man over with her charm and have others look past her disabilities.
Scene 1: The Glass Menagerie
"He is the long delayed but always expected something that we live for." (i., 1235)
This quote represents a foreshadowing of some sort. Tom is foreshadowing a gentleman. Perhaps the gentleman is going to start courting Tom's sister, Laura. This scene is kind of setting the tone and setting for the rest of the play. The first page is all about how to interpret the feelings of the characters. For instance, Tennessee Williams scribes, "Memory (for this play) is seated predominantly in the heart." Obviously, this play is told in the form of a flashback. The narrator is informing the reader what is to come. Also, there was an allusion in this scene. On page 1239, Williams was scribing about how a man had a "Midas touch." Here, Williams is scribing another part of literature from another place that the reader can relate to. Finally, this scene incorporated expectations of women. For instance, in this time period, "It wasn't enough for a girl to be possessed of a pretty face and a graceful figure... She also needed to have nimble wit and a tongue to meet all occasions." I do not know if Laura will be able to get a man due to the fact that she is handicapped. However, perhaps her wit and personality will help her find a man to marry.
This quote represents a foreshadowing of some sort. Tom is foreshadowing a gentleman. Perhaps the gentleman is going to start courting Tom's sister, Laura. This scene is kind of setting the tone and setting for the rest of the play. The first page is all about how to interpret the feelings of the characters. For instance, Tennessee Williams scribes, "Memory (for this play) is seated predominantly in the heart." Obviously, this play is told in the form of a flashback. The narrator is informing the reader what is to come. Also, there was an allusion in this scene. On page 1239, Williams was scribing about how a man had a "Midas touch." Here, Williams is scribing another part of literature from another place that the reader can relate to. Finally, this scene incorporated expectations of women. For instance, in this time period, "It wasn't enough for a girl to be possessed of a pretty face and a graceful figure... She also needed to have nimble wit and a tongue to meet all occasions." I do not know if Laura will be able to get a man due to the fact that she is handicapped. However, perhaps her wit and personality will help her find a man to marry.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Dramatic Irony: As You Like It
Rosalind: "Then there is no true lover in the forest; else sighing every minute and groaning every hour would detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock." (III. ii. 43).
I find this entire part of the play ironic. In Shakespeare's time, female parts were portrayed by men. So, when As You Like it was performed, Rosalind's part is kind of confusing. A man would play Rosalind in the play. However, during the period of Rosalind's disguise in this play, a man would be portraying a woman who was portraying a man. This is just so comical to me! Part of the dramatic irony is that Rosalind does not just come out and profess her love for Orlando. She kind of whips him into shape to find out if he really is the one for her. As a hopeless romantic, I found this part adorable. It also reminded me of She's the Man. I know this play is based off of The Twelfth Night, but there are so many similarities between Amanda Bynes' movie and this play. For instance, Rosalind is in love with Orlando, but she is afraid to tell him. So, she disguises herself as a man to see if his love is true. Phebe falls in love with Rosalind, but Rosalind is actually in love with Orlando. It's simply a complicated love triangle, but I like this play. Why? I like it because it's a happy ending. Yes, I was a bit surprised by this. The only Shakespeare plays that I have read have been about tragedy. I hate reading things where everyone dies in the end. It makes me sad. However, it was nice to know that Shakespeare is capable of writing romantic comedies. I know that a lot of my peers did not like this play, but I was touched by the cheesiness of it. I'm so glad that everyone ended up happy! =)
I find this entire part of the play ironic. In Shakespeare's time, female parts were portrayed by men. So, when As You Like it was performed, Rosalind's part is kind of confusing. A man would play Rosalind in the play. However, during the period of Rosalind's disguise in this play, a man would be portraying a woman who was portraying a man. This is just so comical to me! Part of the dramatic irony is that Rosalind does not just come out and profess her love for Orlando. She kind of whips him into shape to find out if he really is the one for her. As a hopeless romantic, I found this part adorable. It also reminded me of She's the Man. I know this play is based off of The Twelfth Night, but there are so many similarities between Amanda Bynes' movie and this play. For instance, Rosalind is in love with Orlando, but she is afraid to tell him. So, she disguises herself as a man to see if his love is true. Phebe falls in love with Rosalind, but Rosalind is actually in love with Orlando. It's simply a complicated love triangle, but I like this play. Why? I like it because it's a happy ending. Yes, I was a bit surprised by this. The only Shakespeare plays that I have read have been about tragedy. I hate reading things where everyone dies in the end. It makes me sad. However, it was nice to know that Shakespeare is capable of writing romantic comedies. I know that a lot of my peers did not like this play, but I was touched by the cheesiness of it. I'm so glad that everyone ended up happy! =)
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