death of a salesman willy and howard scene script

Some of these episodes, in fact, may exist only in Willy's imagination, particularly those involving his wealthy older brother Ben, who is now dead although that does not prevent him from making several appearances. The film follows the play in that on a number of occasions the action switches abruptly from the present into the past, as the characters act out episodes from earlier in Willy's life. Biff's lack of success in life does indeed derive partly from his own weaknesses, but Willy's unrealistic expectations are also partly to blame Biff would probably be happiest working with his hands, but Willy tries to pressure him into taking a white-collar job. When his son disappoints him, Willy turns on him fiercely, accusing him of being a 'lazy bum'. The older Willy's hopes are mostly focused on his sons, especially Biff, whom he still believes (in the teeth of all the evidence) to be capable of great things. The younger Willy's optimism was largely focused on his own career, believing that he had a talent for making himself 'well liked' which would lead to a brilliant career. Willy is much given to violent mood swings, alternating between exuberant over-optimism and despairing pessimism. Happy, the younger, has been more successful than Biff in his career, but in his private life is a selfish, cynical womaniser. Biff has been particularly alienated from his father since discovering one of Willy's affairs. Biff, the elder, showed promise when young in both the academic and sporting fields, but failed to win a place at university after failing a maths exam at school, and since has become a rootless drifter, alternating between dead-end jobs and petty crime.

Although his marriage to his loyal wife Linda has survived, despite the fact that he has on occasions been unfaithful to her, his relationships with his two sons are strained. He also sees himself as having failed in his private life. His sense of failure, however, does not derive solely from his unsuccessful career.

In order to make ends meet, he has taken to borrowing from his old friend Charlie.

He is in financial difficulties, struggling to pay the mortgage on his house and the instalments on the consumer goods- refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, car- which were becoming popular in the forties but which represented a major commitment, even in middle class households. Despite his long service, travelling from his New York base all over New England in the service of his employers, he has never enjoyed great success in his job. The salesman of the title is Willy Loman, a man in his early sixties, approaching retirement.

Death of a salesman willy and howard scene script