Death of a Salesman (2020)

Lesson 12
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ELA

Unit 14

7th Grade

Lesson 12 of 14

Objective


Analyze how Willy’s self-deception leads to his suicide.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller  pp. 128 – 139 — and Requiem

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

On p. 126, Willy says, “But the funeral—(Straightening up) Ben, that funeral will be massive! They’ll come from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire! All the old-timers with the strange license plates—that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because never realized—I am known, Ben, and he’ll see it with his eyes once and for all…”

Despite his expectations, how does Willy’s funeral demonstrate his mediocrity (his averageness) rather than his greatness?

What to look for in student response: 

Willy Loman’s funeral is a cruel and pathetic end to the salesman's life. As we’ve discussed in class, it is a representation of both his literal and figurative death. Only his family and Charley attend, while none of his customers, friends, or colleagues bother to pay their respects. Since a funeral often shows how much a person was liked and respected, it shows that not a lot of people liked or respected him. This reveals that his status as a salesman was never “great.”

Key Questions


  • p. 129 - What does Willy mean by, “ I want you to know… that you cut down your life for spite”?
  • p. 131 - What does Biff mean by, “I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody! That’s whose fault it is!”?
  • p. 132 - Which sentence highlights Willy’s refusal to accept his averageness? 
  • p. 133 - What is significant about Willy’s line “That boy is going to be magnificent.”? (This shows he has not listened or understood everything Biff was just saying about telling the truth. He is still lying to himself about Biff’s potential for greatness. Willy also associates Ben with knowledge and self-awareness, qualities that he himself is severely lacking. Willy always wants advice and Ben gives it. It’s frequently not good advice and usually the product of Willy’s own imagination. Considering Ben’s self-serving nature, the word “dark” in the jungle connotes evil. He plays an evil alter ego that pushes Willy to continue down his road of self-deception and ultimately toward suicide.)
  • p. 134 - What does Ben mean by “The jungle is dark but full of diamonds?” What is he tempting Willy to do through this metaphor? What are the diamonds? How do you know?
  • p. 136 - How do we know Willy has killed himself? Which words make you think that?
  • On p. 137, Linda says, “Why doesn’t anybody come?” What does this quote reveal about Linda’s character? 
  • p. 138 - What does Biff mean when he says, “He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong”?
  • p. 139 - Does Willy’s suicide resolve any of his problems? (No. Willy believes his suicide will resolve the disorder in his life by assuaging any pain he caused Linda, winning Biff's respect, and demonstrating his popularity as a salesman and individual. In reality, he denies Linda a debt-free husband, Biff a reconciled father, and Happy an improved role model. Thus Willy's refusal to accept life on its own terms results in nothing but disorder and fragmentation for those he loves most.)
  • p. 139 - Why does Linda keep repeating “We’re free…”? (Linda's refrain of "we're free" after her comments about mortgage payments implies the linkage of freedom with economic security.)

Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.3 — Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
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Lesson 11

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Lesson 13

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