15. How does Ben make Willy feel about himself? What qualities in Ben does Willy want for himself? For his sons? (p. 35)

Ben makes willy to feel regret. Because Ben offered him an opportunity to come with him and work with him in Alaska but Willy didn’t accept the offer because of Linda. Willy believes if he had taken that offer everything would have been different for himself and his family.

Willy wanted to be as rich and successful as his brother was in life. And he wanted to know all the answers how to reach success in life. because Willy believed one of Ben’s quality was that he knew everything about success. And the ways to reach them.

Willy wants his sons as same as their uncle Ben to use every opportunity that they see in their way and used them in the most effective way that can change their lives and reach their American dreams. And make them rich and successful businessman.

 

16. Biff tells Linda to “stop making excuses” for Willy. How does she defend Willy? Is she really making excuses for him? Explain. (p.41)

She defends Willy by sticking up to Biff for him and telling him that Willy “has never made a lot of money, his name was never in the paper, and he’s not the finest character that ever lived but he’s a human being and a terrible thing is happening to him. (p.56)”. Linda keeps going on about how people view Willy and how she will love him unconditionally. She told Biff that he can’t just come home to see her, because she loves Willy and she doesn’t want him to feel unwanted, low, and blue. She enlightens her sons on how their behaviour and lack of affection affects Willy, his mental state, and herself.

Up to this point, I believe that she is not making excuses for him and that her sons should be making more of an effort to connect with their father, considering he’s at a point in his life where his mental state and health is weak and according to Linda “he’s been trying to kill himself”. Knowing that Willy is not mentally healthy is what drives my belief that Linda is not making excuses for him, however, if you take that factor out and see the way that Willy treats his wife and kids, it’s understandable for Biff and Happy to be hostile and indirect towards Willy and angry at Linda because he believes that she’s “making excuses” for Willy.

 

17. Why is Willy so confident that Happy and Biff’s business plan will work? (p. 48) Why does Willy himself need their plan to work?

Biff isn’t declining the Happy’s idea for them to sell sporting goods – “Biff: I’m in great shape as far as that’s concerned” (p.63) Biff is making plans to see Oliver in the morning (p.64) Oliver and Biff are on good terms (p.64) “Biff: He did always like me. Always liked me. Linda: He loved you!”

Willy tells Biff what to do and what not to do; he tells him to lie about his previous job. “And if anything falls off the desk while you’re talking to him … don’t pick it up …” “Tell him you were in the business in the West. Not farm work.”

Willy wants Biff and Happy to have successful jobs and to make money. Willy is losing money trying to pay everything off, but it all keeps breaking (fridge, car); he needs them to get money. Willy tells Biff for “No less than fifteen thousand dollars.”