*screams cutely*

UwU :3

[devpr]

Entry no. 5 of Essay Series

Tonight's book: Death of a Salesman Tonight's pages: 71-90 (until back in the present with Bernard and Jenny) Tonight's question: Unpack the quote: “‘Cause you gotta admit, business is business” (Miller, 80) -- Howard. Today's date: February 15, 2025

Entry number: 5

Outline:

Points:

Hypocrisy

Distinction between types of business

Irony and class struggle?

Essay:

In Arthur Miller's tragic play, Death of a Salesman, the salesman Willy Loman struggles to cope with change in 1940s New York. In act one, Willy loses consciousness a few times while driving on company time. During act two, Willy tries to get moved to a job that doesn't require car travel because it is too hazardous for him in his old age. His boss replies to him no, "'Cause you gotta admit, business is business" (80).

Miller displays Howard's blatant hypocrisy through this quote because of the underlying context of the scene. Howard initially persuades Willy to buy a recorder at the start of the scene, and yet he won't allow Willy to persuade him into giving him a job, as shown by Howard being “barely interested” during Willy’s selling monologue on page 81. The contrast here is that Willy cannot afford a recorder but says he will buy one, and Howard may be able to switch around jobs but will not for Willy. Thus, Miller shows Howard's hypocrisy through the juxtaposition of who can sell to whom.

Howard's quote has verbal irony because business takes on two distinct meanings throughout the scene: business can mean bureaucracy and structured systems, and business can mean sales and survival of the most popular. Here, Howard talks about their company as being structured and systematic, yet his profession is solely based on sales and survival of the most popular. Thus, Miller demonstrates verbal irony through the two contrasting meanings of business in this scene.

Furthermore, Howard's quote shows the naturally-predatory nature of the profession of salesmen, because they profit by persuading other people into committing possibly-harmful financial decisions. Howard can persuade Willy into buying a wire recorder because of the power imbalance they have, and yet Willy cannot persuade Howard to move him into a city job because it does not suit his own interests. Thus, through Miller's use of Howard's hypocrisy, it is demonstrated that the profession of salesmen is naturally predatory and unforgiving to its own.

Thus, through Howard's quote, “‘Cause you gotta admit, business is business” (80), and the hypocrisy and verbal irony demonstrated through Howard's quote, Arthur Miller demonstrates Howard's hypocritical nature and the predatory nature of salesman and their profession.

Work Cited:

Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Plays, 1976.

[devpr]

Entry no. 4 of Essay Series

Tonight's book: Death of a Salesman Tonight's pages: 52-69 (52-end of act 1) Tonight's question: Provide evidence of Willy’s mercurial nature from this section. Today's date: February 10, 2025

Entry number: 4

Outline:

Points:

Intro: Definition of mercurial temper through Merriam-Webster's cited definition, and implications

Targeting Biff then complimenting him then targeting him, and targeting Linda as well

Juxtaposition between Willy's targeting & him being easily offended/insulted on pg. 61-2.

Constant mood swings (smth about irascible mood) on pg. 62-9

Essay:

Mercurial as an adjective is defined by the Merriam-Webster onilne dictionary as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood," or "changing often : very changeable." Mercury, the element, also has the characteristic of being toxic to humans when inhaled. Willy Loman is introduced in the didascalia of act one as having a "mercurial nature," which refers to his constant mood swings, and slightly toxic nature. Miller demonstrates Willy's mercurial nature through Willy's targeted insults, Willy's insecurity, and Willy's constant mood swings.

Primarily, Miller demonstrates the toxic aspect of Willy's mercurial nature through his degrading tone towards Biff and him silencing Linda. Willy constantly mocks Biff by entrapping him with false contradictions which conclude he can do nothing right, and will never make Willy proud. Upon Biff telling Willy that he will interview for a job with Oliver, which Willy previously wanted Biff to do, Willy attacks his choice of employer and questions his decision of profession (Miller, 62). Then, when Willy asks how much Oliver plans on paying him, Biff replies he hasn't talked to him and Willy replies that he is conjecturing that he will get the job (62-3). Willy uses the contradiction of Biff being too good, yet not good enough to be employed by Oliver to hurt his feelings, as shown by Biff walking away (63). As well, Willy constantly silences Linda when she tries to acknowledge Biff's points on pages 62 through 65. Willy silences her by cutting off her lines, telling her to not interrupt (62, 64), and to "let [him] talk" (65). Thus, Miller demonstrates Willy's mercurial nature through his toxic behaviour towards Biff and Linda.

Secondly, Miller further demonstrates Willy's mercurial nature through his blatant insecurities and easy-to-offend nature. For instance, Willy commonly gets insulted over minor or non-existent offenses from others. This includes an example on page 61, where Biff compares Willy to Bernard to defend whistling on a worksite. Biff means to conclude that because Willy whistles in elevators and Willy is not considered crazy, whistling is an acceptable behaviour. Willy misinterprets Biff's point and concludes that Biff is attacking him by linking him to both whistling and Bernard, essentially calling him crazy, foolish and irresponsible. As well, Willy cruelly mocks himself on page 62 by questioning his own salesmanship skill, and Biff replies "All right!" to quiet him. Willy mocks himself with truth, and considers Biff's neutral response as accepting Willy's lack of salesmanship skill, and thus a personal attack. Thus, from Willy's insecurities and easy-to-offend nature, Miller further demonstrates Willy's mercurial nature.

Thirdly, Miller demonstrates the often-changing aspect of Willy's mercurial nature through Willy's frequent mood swings. An example where Willy's mood swings to and fro in a short time period is detailed from pages 61 to 69. When Biff defends his craft and the behaviour of whistling on the job, Willy is solemn with Biff, then gets offended by Biff, then speaks bitterly to Biff, then becomes insulted again, then finally walks to bed (61-2). As well, in a grander scale, Willy starts as agitated at Biff on page 61, then perks up at Biff's mention of employment on page 62. Willy gets angry at Biff over his own false assumptions, then becomes passively excited at Happy's idea (63). Finally, Biff brings up his job interview and Willy becomes very engaged in advising Biff (64). Thus, Miller demonstrates Willy's mercurial through Willy's frequent mood swings.

Therefore, through Miller's depiction of Willy's toxic insults against his family, Willy's insecurities and easily-offended nature, and his frequent mood swings, Miller demonstrates Willy's mercurial nature throughout pages 52 to 69 of Death of a Salesman.

Works Cited:

Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Plays, 1976.

“MERCURIAL Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, 2023. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercurial. Accessed 9 February 2026.

[devpr]

Entry no. 3 of Essay Series

Tonight's book: Death of a Salesman Tonight's pages: 42-52 Tonight's question: Who is Ben? Why does he only appear in hallucinations? What is Ben’s purpose in the play? Today's date: February 8, 2025

Entry number: 3

Outline:

Points:

Ben is Willy's brother, and great entrepreneur

He only appears in hallucinations because he is dead

His purpose is exposition for the flute, and to reveal Willy's ideal form in life

Essay:

Who is Ben? How is Ben? Why is Ben? Ben is a character in Arthur Miller's tragic play, Death of a Salesman, who only appears in flashbacks, and is introduced in act one.

Willy introduces Ben to the audience as his brother, Ben. Contrary to Willy's introduction, Miller introduces Ben as "Uncle Ben" in the stage directions, signifying how the relationship between Willy and Ben is more of an uncle-nephew relationship rather than a brotherly relationship.

Ben only appears in hallucinations because he is dead. Willy states that he got word from Ben's wife that he died a couple weeks ago. Ben only appears in hallucinations because he cannot visit Willy, and would not visit him regardless.

In the play, Ben serves the purpose of disclosing the nature of the flute motif introduced at the start of the play. On pages 48 and 49, Ben says that their dad played the flute, and that he made lots of money selling them. Thus, from Ben's statements, the flute motif takes on the context of Willy growing up watching his dad sell flutes, and associates itself strongly with the American Dream. As well, Ben serves as a foil to Willy in the way that they both had the same dreams, but Ben is a great entrepreneur and Willy is a failing salesman. Ben effectively embodies the American Dream through his entrepreneurial nature, and Willy idolizes him for it. Willy wants himself and his kids to be like him, demonstrated by Willy introducing Ben to his kids as "Uncle Ben, a great man!" (Miller 48). Thus, Ben's death further symbolizes the death of Willy's career and dreams, and in a greater scope, the death of the American Dream.

Thus, from the way Miller introduces Ben, Ben is meant to serve exposition to the audience on the flute motif, to embody the American Dream, and to symbolize the death of Willy's legacy.

Work Cited:

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Plays, 1976.

[devpr]

Entry no. 2 of Essay Series

Tonight's book: Death of a Salesman Tonight's pages: 30-41 Tonight's question: What is the significance of “the jungle”? Today's date: February 5, 2026 (intended to be posted yesterday :0)

Entry number: 2

Outline:

Points:

Connects to the nature imagery and leaves used

Is a metaphor for Willy's world; also how walking into the jungle translates into layman's language

Juxtaposition with reality, and Willy's mention of "The woods are burning!"

Essay:

Nature is a motif in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Primarily, Miller uses nature imagery in the tragedy play to signify whether the play is running in the present or past, along with the faux walls of the Loman house. Through Miller's use of the full-trees motif, the metaphor of 'the jungle', and Willy Loman's mention that 'The woods are burning', Miller draws connections between Loman's loss of opportunity and the metaphor of Ben and the jungle on page 41.

Firstly, Miller frequently uses nature imagery in the play with reference to the play's temporal frame, that is whether the play takes place during the present or in one of Willy's flashbacks. One example of Willy's flashbacks is on page 14, where Willy explains why he turned his car back home. "Linda, the trees are so thick, and the sun is warm. I opened the windshield and just let the warm air bathe over me. And then all of a sudden I'm going off the road! I'm tellin' ya, I absolutely forgot I was driving" (Miller, 14). This is Willy's first flashback in the play, and links the thickness and fullness of the trees to Willy's flashbacks and Willy's opportunities for his life. Thus, through the links between Willy's flashbacks, Willy's opportunities, and full-trees imagery, it can be concluded that nature imagery like full-leaved trees implies opportunity.

As well, Willy mentions that he wishes he joined his brother Ben in Alaska because Ben "knew what he wanted and went out and got it! [He w]alked into a jungle, and [came] out, the age of twenty-one, and he's rich!" (Miller, 41). Here, Miller describes Ben's success using the metaphor of a jungle, which further connects to nature imagery. The parallel between the jungle metaphor and nature imagery is that both are tree- and nature-focused, and that both imply abundance in opportunity. If the fullness of the trees correlates with opportunity, then Ben became rich quickly because he "knew what he wanted," and because he had ample opportunity. As well, Willy was an amazing salesman because he had many opportunities to sell himself and his products to people in response to his charisma, which the fullness of the trees in flashbacks reflect.

Furthermore, if in the present, Willy states that "The woods are burning!" (Miller, 41), that correlates with Willy's loss of opportunity. Willy can no longer drive his car, he is no longer well liked by the majority of the population, and thus he cannot travel or sell properly like the travelling salesman he was. Thus, like burning leaves, Willy's opportunities have turned to ash.

Thus, from Miller's use of the full-trees motif, the jungle metaphor, and Willy's hyperbole-metaphor, Miller demonstrates that full trees correlates with opportunity, the jungle metaphor demonstrates that Ben knew how to best use his opportunities, and finally that Willy's opportunities are vanishing as he ages. Furthermore, Miller uses the aforementioned elements to define the significance of "the jungle" as implying Ben's plethora of opportunities, reinforcing the full-trees motif and possibly his greater well-likedness than Willy's, and demonstrates how Willy's opportunities are burning like leaves in the present.

Work Cited:

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Plays, 1976.

[devpr]

Chat you know those times that life just feels like: pain. And you want to do anything else, yet alas you must continue on with what you're supposed to do, and you can't? I mean like physically you can, but your mind does literally everything except the thing you should be doing? That feeling is so annoying 😔🤧. *screams cutely in mental pain :/*

[devpr]

Also as a note, I am gluten-intolerant/celiac, so when I eat gluten it's like I'm on drugs. As in life feels painful and depressive, as exhibited here. That is not the case with me currently, because as a matter of fact I've been eating less gluten for the last few weeks! Key point: Don't worry I'm chill now, and this is just something that happens to me sometimes :3

(As a sidenote, because I'm off gluten, I gained my ambition and zest for life back, so if I ever go offline it's either because life is hell BC of academic pressure, because I lost interest, or because I am (not literally but kinda) dying because of my body's inability to cope with gluten :3)

[devpr]

Entry no. 1 of Essay Series

Tonight's book: Death of a Salesman Tonight's pages: 11-30 (it starts on page 11 D: ) Tonight's question: What significance does the didascalia at the start of Act 1 hold in setting up major conflicts in Death of a Salesman? Today's date: February 2, 2026 :3

Entry number: 1

Outline:

Points: 1. Juxtaposition between imagery of Salesman house v. the city 2. Foreshadowing of flashbacks 3. Linda's description of Willy

Essay:

Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, is a play about [something, but I have not fully read the play so idk]. As well, Miller [probably] foreshadows the main conflicts of the play in the didascalia (stage directions) at the start of the first act. Among them are the conflicts between Willy Loman and society, Willy Loman and time, and Willy Loman and his family. Thus, Miller uses juxtaposition, foreshadowing, and characterization to introduce the main conflicts of his play, Death of a Salesman.

Primarily, Arthur Miller uses the juxtaposed colors of the light in Act One's didascalia to foreshadow Loman's fear of, and frustration with, the modernization of society. The first example of Loman's fear of modernization is in the didascalia when the forestage and background. Miller writes, "Only the blue light of the sky falls upon the house and forestage; the surrounding area shows an angry glow of orange. As more light appears, we see a solid vault of apartment houses around the small, fragile-seeming home." Here, Miller uses the house and the apartment buildings as symbols for Loman and modernization/society. The visual imagery of the blue light only falling on the house, and the angry orange glow falling on everything else, reveals how society is angry and presses down upon Loman for having hope and for loving his job as a salesman.

Secondly, Miller notes that when people perceive and use the door of the house, the play happens in the present, and when people do not perceive the walls of the house, the play happens in the past. Through Miller's choice to use the house as an indicator of present and past, Miller foreshadows how Loman struggles with distinguishing the two from each other, and foreshadows how Loman struggles to cope with the passing of time. As well, when Miller notes that in Willy and Linda's bedroom, there is a silver athletic trophy, it demonstrates how Willy still clings to the past, and cannot let go of it.

Thirdly, Miller foreshadows Loman's struggle to connect with his family during Linda's introduction. Miller writes, "[Linda] more than loves [Willy], she admires him, as though his mercurial nature, his temper, his massive dreams and little cruelties, served her only as sharp reminders of the turbulent longings within him." In this context, mercurial nature describes Loman's fickle mood, which can switch from pessimistic to optimistic to wistful in a matter of lines. Miller noting that Linda loves Willy, yet including flaws like a fickle mood, fast temper, and little cruelties foreshadows how Willy's flaws alienate him from his children.

Thus, as demonstrated through Miller's use of juxtaposition, authorial choices relating to the nature of the house, and through flawed diction, Miller foreshadows Willy Loman's conflict with society, time, and his family, starting at Act One's didascalia.

[devpr]

Ok ok... So chat, I want to get better marks in English. To do this, I am setting a goal to write out one essay each night, answering one homework question for whichever chapters of our class book that we are reading through. Then, I will post them here, so that there may be public record of my improvement or decline, and to better document my progress and efforts. :3

[devpr]

Chat you know those times that life just feels like: pain. And you want to do anything else, yet alas you must continue on with what you're supposed to do, and you can't? I mean like physically you can, but your mind does literally everything except the thing you should be doing? That feeling is so annoying 😔🤧. *screams cutely in mental pain :/*