Julian Hernandez Period 2 Dialectical Journals - Act Two (21-40)

21. LINDA: Biff was very changed this morning. His whole attitude seemed to be hopeful. He couldnt wait to get downtown to see Oliver. pg. 71

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Biff really wants to make his dad proud and of course his mom as well. This step hes taking is truly making them proud since he might actually do something with his life. With this move Biff is making, Willy might be saved. If it fails, things can go horribly wrong by the end of the story. Its all up to Biff at this moment. As a young kid, career choices were always so hard to decide on. Change in my life has pretty much inspired me to pursue a military career. At first I wanted to do something with medicine, but later everything starts changing. Realization hits you and hopefully my choices can go as planned. The future is near so the planning has to be perfect. This relates to todays world because advertising has become a huge part in this world. What ever product has the best slogan or story to tell will make it to the top market. However, some people will tend to go for the cheaper items since, simply put, its cheaper. Theres always that quote,however: You get what you pay for, and now Willy and Linda are having trouble with their cheap refrigerator. Onomatopoeia is a great literary device and whiz is a great word used here. Willy is expressing his emotion and with this simple sound, you can tell hes extremely happy. Biff is going to talk to Oliver and Willy is happy to hear this. Willy pretty much dedicated a huge part of his life to try and make his sons succeed. He fails as if he failed miserably and this is bringing hi back up to his feet. Back then, when Biff was a football player, Willy was a really happy man. He loved seeing his son succeed. Linda wants it to be like that again but she knows it will be very hard. Biff and Willy have a really bad relationship since they cant get along at all. Theres something that they are hiding because they cant really stand being close

22. WILLY: Hes heading for a change. Theres no question, there simply are certain men that take longer to get- solidified. How did he dress? pg. 72

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23. WILLY: I told you we shouldve bought a well-advertised machine. Charley bought a General Electric and its twenty years old and its still good, that son-of-a-bitch. pg. 73

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24. WILLY: Gee Whiz! Thats really somethin. pg 74

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25. LINDA: ...Oh, Im not worried, darling, because this morning he left in such high spirits, it was like the old days. Im not afraid anymore pg. 76

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together and cant finish a conversation without fighting. 26. HOWARD: Records things. Just got delivery yesterday. Been driving me crazy, the most terrific machine I ever saw in my life. I was up all night with it. pg. 76

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Today, new electronics are extremely popular. For example people will stand in line for hours or even days to buy a new iPhone. Once they get the phone they are on it the whole day. Procrastinators are stuck on such an electronic all day which means no homework is done. This is a huge problem in todays society and I see no way in fixing this. It will only get worse. This is why Willy feels horrible. This quote was directed towards him. Willy feels as if he isnt respected anymore. Howard is obviously showing no remorse for Willys case since he knows he almost killed himself. Willy feels neglected when he thinks he should be treated like a famous person. He wants people to know him as an honorable man. Willy is trying to get back to work. Not necessarily work but more of working to make money since his income is really bad. He wants a job that will guarantee him some money to pay off his insurance and other expenses (house rent). Willy is trying to get a different job with Howard since he is a tired man after all. He cant drive anymore since hes a sick man. This relates to the California Gold Rush because there was a mass migration of people during this time period in 1849. Willy wanted to go to Alaska because of a job offer offered by Ben. Linda does not want Willy to go since its far away and dangerous. The California Gold Rush made people rich who had the tools to dig up good golden nuggets. A regular person trying to find gold would only get a few dollars. Why doesnt Howard listen to Willy? Howard is being a complete jerk towards Willy since Willy is really expressing how he feels about his state of mind. Willy is pretty much saying that todays world of a salesman is completely different than how it was when he was really at his best. There was loyalty and respect and Willy isnt receiving any of that anymore.

27. HOWARD: Sh, for Gods sake!

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28. WILLY: Remember, Christmas time, when you had the party here? You said youd try to think of some spot for me here in town. pg. 79

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29. WILLY: ...Because in those days I had a yearning to go to Alaska. See, there were three gold strikes in one month in Alaska, and I felt like going out. Just for the ride, you might say. pg. 80

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30. WILLY: ...He stands up. Howard has not looked at him. In those days there was personality in it, Howard. There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, its all cut and dried, and theres no chance for bringing friendship to bear--or personality. You see what I mean? They dont know me anymore. pg. 81

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31. WILLY: ... You cant eat the orange and throw the peel away -- a man is not a piece of fruit! pg. 82

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This quote right here is truly inspirational. Willy is pretty much comparing himself to an orange. Howard just fired him and now Willy is at an all time low. He feels like crap since he feels like hes at an oranges level when in fact hes not. Howard doesnt understand how broken Willy really is.Willy feels like he really failed in life. Howard is lying right here. He knows hes not going to employ Willy again since he feels like hes wasting his time. He wants Willys two sons to help him out but he doesnt know that they dont have any money either. Willy feels like he needs to work since he doesnt want to be taken care of. Its a low standard for him. He wants to take care of himself.

32. HOWARD: And when you feel better, come back, and well see if we can work something out. pg. 83

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33. BIFF: I got it, Pop. And remember, pal, when I take off my helmet, that touchdown is for you. pg. 88

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What happened to good relationship Biff and Willy had? I know for sure something happened after Biff failed his math class. Its not completely explained but Biff did go to Boston to visit his dad after this occasion and something happened over there that broke Biff. Maybe Willy did something to him. Whats the significance of the music in the background? Every time theres an important part music is played. If its a sad moment, sad music is played. The music is being used to portray the characters feelings indirectly. For example, in the beginning the flute was being played continuously and it was later explained that Willys dad sold and played flutes. Its also a way to excite the audience watching the play. Willy really started going crazy which was really out of no where but understandable. He talks to himself and goes off into his own little world. Jenny cant even deal with him since hes going insane in the office. Bernard has to calm him down and talk to him. Willy cant stop thinking of his wrong doings and his failures which is causing him to dislike himself as a person. Before, Willy looked down on Bernard. Biff was a great football player and Bernard was more of an academic person. Willy didnt really show any

34. Willy follows him. The music rises to a mocking frenzy. pg. 90

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35. JENNY: Nobody. Theres nobody with him. I cant deal with him anymore, and your father gets all upset everytime he comes. pg. 90

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36. WILLY: ...Im - Im overjoyed to see how you made the grade. Bernard, overjoyed. Its an encouraging thing to see a young man really-really-- Looks

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very good for Biff--very... pg. 92

respect towards Bernard until now since he now saw that Bernard made a life out of himself unlike Biff. Bernard had tried helping Biff by trying to make him go to summer school to pass his math class. Instead Willy didnt really pressure Biff to go to that summer class.

37. WILLY: Why? Why! Bernard, that question has been trailing me like a ghost for the last fifteen years. He flunked the subject, and laid down and died like a hammer hit him. pg. 93

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All the problems started occurring after Biff flunked his math class. It was a whole story of cause and effects. Biff failed his math class and then experienced something at Boston that pretty much changed his life. Its still not known what really happened but Biff saw or heard something that he didnt want to see/hear. This relates to me because I really want to enlist in the Navy to become a Navy SEAL. Its the dream for my future. Its a very hard process but I personally think I can do it. The training is rigorous and only a few make it out of basic training which is BUD/S. Out of 100 students, around 20 will actually graduate. Thats how hard it is and up for the challenge. This relates to a show called Restaurant Stakeout. This show is about setting up hidden cameras in failing restaurants to find the employees that are inexperienced or badly trained or the culprits that are stealing from the restaurant. It really helps restaurant owners with failing restaurants unless their food is just completely bad. This right is what ruined the Lomans life. Willy was cheating on Linda with this woman and Biff had caught them after he went to Boston to tell his dad he flunked his math class and couldnt graduate. This is what caused Biff to dislike his dad for some time and why they couldnt get along together. Linda, never found out which is why she never understood why they had such a bad relationship after having such good and memorable times together as a family.

38. STANLEY: Ah, its a dogs life. I only wish during the war theyd a took me in the Army. I coulda been dead by now. pg. 99

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39. STANLEY: Cause whats the difference? Somebody steals? Its in the family. Know what I mean? Like this bartender here. The boss is goin crazy what kinda leak hes got in the cash register. You put it in but it dont come out. pg. 100

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40. THE WOMAN: Someones at the door, Willy! pg. 114

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