Well, what can I say? I thought reading Shakespeare was difficult, but I was wrong. This book was really a challenge for me, but I got through. The end of the first half and second part of the book really caught my attention. I started liking the book the more I read it, go figure.
Nell really grew from a girl to a young woman. I guess I felt as if I was watching her grow up. At first I thought she was too into the primer. I thought it was controling her in away, but I see that it helped her grow. She had a lot of friends that influenced her to grow.
When Dinosaur died, I saw him as a father figure. He sarcied his life so that she can continue her journey. Since he was a warrior, he was over protective like any father would be for his child.
Purple was like her mother. She was loving and nuturing like a real mother should be. Purple was the closest thing to a real mother that Nell never had. The audience finds out that her real mother wasn't very caring. So what shw didn't get for her real mother, she got from Purple. When Purple died, I kinda saw that as a wake call for Nell's independence. In reality I believe that young women tend to leave their mother's side to establish their own, but they take the love, nuturing, and life lessons on with them. I think that's what happens between Nell and Purple.
I really don't know what to say about Pick Up Ax. At first I thought it was going a little too slow for my liking, but I started getting into. I thought it was a little too predictable. Brian and Mick thought Keith wasn't a businessman type. Keith had everyone fooled. I knew Mick was up to no good. Especially, after Mick left when Keith and Brian asked who appointment was he. Keith and Brian should have known better.
I don't think Keith betrayed Brian. That's probably a controversial issue. That's a connection between the Death of a Salesman and this play. Who betrayed who? I think Keith just helped Brian realize that he wasn't happy anymore. Plus Brian had an ulcer. Stress makes ulcers worst, so Keith helped him out and possibly saved his life.
I enjoyed reading Soul and Society. Well I was interested in reading more about Death of a Salesman. There were some things mentioned in the text that I didn't even think about. The refrigerator incident. Willy's refrigerator was a piece of junk, but Charley had a refrigerator for 20 years and it still worked like brand new. The refrigerators could symbolize their children. Biff was a bum, but when Willy talk to Bernard was doing very well. He was on his way to argue a case in front of The Supreme Court. That's saying a lot. It seems like Willy made a lot of bad decisions.
I really didn't pay attention to the part of the play when Biff stole the pen. I didn't relate it to his past stealing. He was always stealing to get Willy's approval. After all of the years, Biff was a grown man still trying to get his father's approval. The pen was more than just a pen. On page 137 in the second paragraph we learn that the fountain pen was a symbol for status. It wasn't just a tool anymore. It was apart of the professional look "as with a watch or briefcase".
On page 139 in the second paragraph I like the part about "A man who can't handle tools is not a man". A man who uses tools to preform a job will turn out find, but the machines he buys can fail him. I liked this because in our society I believe we rely on machines to much. We don't rely on ourselves as much as we should.
I finished reading the play earlier this weekend, I just didn't have time to blog. Anyway, overall I liked it. I didn't think I was going to like it, but to my surprise I did.
In Friday's class, the subject of the "American Dream" came up. Willy had the American Dream, keeping in mind the play was written in 1949. Being successful was the American Dream of that time. Don't get me wrong being successful in today's society is still important, but I don't think there is a such thing as the "American Dream". I think it's all about survival. Being able to survive life is enough success because it is a "Dog Eat Dog World".
Another point that was brought up in class was if Linda knew about "The Woman". I think she did. Her character was a little to smart not to know what was going on. If that felled there that thing called women's intuition. In the 40's and 50's women main focus was to be keeping the family together. Meaning taking care of her kids and husband. A woman's place was in the kitchen. Divorce would't have been an option because it was consider a scandal and she still loved him.
Most people might think Biff was a bastard, but I think he is a hero. Not too many people can stand up to their parents and tell them about themselves. If I was Biff I probably would have did the same thing. Biff didn't want to live in lies anymore and I respect that. I respect the fact that he realize who he truly was.
Was Willy at flaw for his condition? I would have to say he had help. He created it and everyone feed into it. No one would call him his actions or anything. Everyone want to protect his pride and ego. I guess they that it was in his best interest, but sometimes enough is enough. No one went to get him help or anything. These flashbacks or whatever you want to call them haunted him because he didn't want to face the present reality. He wanted to believe everything was gravy and all sunshine. In this case Willy was a great salesman. He got everyone to buy into his so called "Crazyness".
"The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell" (97). I would have to say this statement is true. Everyone sells themselves. I'm not saying we sell ourselves like hookers do, but we do sell ourselves. Everytime you go on a job interview aren't you selling yourself to get the job? When you are in the workforce you sell yourself everyday so that you can get promoted to the next level. So we all have sold ourselves in one way or another.