*Death of a Salesman--Day 4.

Act II in Death of a Salesman envelops the reader into the theme of appearance. Previously in the story, Willy chose to purchase a refrigerator based upon the appearance of the fridge in a magazine rather than studying the brand and reliability of the refrigerator. Sure enough, the refrigerator soon breaks, and Willy blames the “junkyard” refrigerator upon Linda. The morning that Happy and Biff leave on business, the house smells of “shaving lotion”, an aroma that Linda adores. The fragrance of the shaving lotion indicates the imperativeness that Willy and Linda feel towards personal appearances.

Along with physical appearances of tangible items, Willy also acquired the job of a salesman because of the “perfect” appearance of the job. Willy was offered a job in Alaska, but rejected the job because of an “eighty four year old” man named Dave Singleman who “drummed merchandise into thirty-one states.” The image of Dave Singleman attracted Willy to the job, based solely on the fact of the appearance of Dave Singleman. Although Dave Singleman appears to be a great salesman, and “hundreds of salesman and buyers” went to Dave’s funeral, the people were only there because they planned to buy items from Dave-they weren’t there because he was “well liked.” Willy discovers that being a salesman is now “cut and dried”- there are no “camaraderie,” “respectability, and “friendship” in sales “these days.” Through the story of Willy becoming a salesman based on image, Arthur Miller presents the theme of appearance, and how just because an item, person, or job appears glamorous, it really is not all that great if one doesn’t have the heart to put effort forth into it.

Willy is soon fired from his job from lacking motivation, and goes to Charley for financial help. Charley’s son, Bernard, shows Willy a “recorder” in which his son recites states and capitols. Throughout the play thus far, Arthur Miller uses objects to remind Willy of memories in life which provides clues to the reader about the unhappiness of Willy. The recorder, for instance, causes Willy to reminisce back upon the memory of another reason why Willy rejected the job in Alaska and also why Willy is bitter towards Biff. The day of Biff’s football game at “Ebbet Field,” was the day that Willy was supposed to leave for Alaska. However, Willy knew this game was important, and therefore stayed. As Willy speaks to Bernard more, Bernard questions as to why Biff did not go to summers school after “failing math.” Biff returned home, and burned his “University of Virginia sneakers” behind the furnace. The reader then understands why Willy chose to attempt suicide from the furnace- because it was Willy’s fault that Biff did not go to summer school. The attempt of suicide in the place that Biff “killed” his dreams signifies the guilt that Willy feels towards the failure of Biff. The question the reader has yet to unearth is what is Biff’s reasoning for not going to summer school? What did Willy say that day in Boston that prevented Biff to follow his dreams?

*Death of a Salesman--Day 3.

As the reader continues in Death of a Salesman, one begins to understand the reasoning for Willy being in the mental state he is in. Willy feels as if his life has not been successful as he hoped, therefore, Willy is living out his life through Biff. Willy falsifies his own life by making it seem as if he is an optimum salesman, when in reality the company Willy works for “took his salary away.” The constant struggle that Willy feels within himself induces perfection upon Biff. Biff does not wish for the life that Willy wants for him, so Biff never “tries to please people.” The “whistling” spoken of that Biff does while on the job symbolizes the lack of interest within the jobs Biff has, ultimately symbolizing how Biff correlates with his father in that neither are pleased with their lives.

Not only does the title “Death of a Salesman” come from the “death” of Willy’s American Dream, but the reader learns that Willy experiences suicidal thoughts. Willy is so unhappy with the achievements he has failed to accomplish and that his sons have accomplished, that Willy has attempted to take his own life. Although Biff often becomes frustrated with his father’s behavior, at the end of Act I, Biff is seen removing the “rubber tubing” from “behind the heater” in which Willy used to attempt suicide.

Before Act I comes to an end, Willy is reminiscing to Linda about the younger years of Biff. Meanwhile, Biff is down in the kitchen, as a “golden pool of light” is elucidating him. As Willy’s story proceeds, he speaks of how the “sun was around him” and there were “three representatives” from colleges standing by that were going to recruit Biff. Willy deduces how a “star like that…can never really fade away” as the imagery of “light” on Willy begins “fading.” The light illuminating Biff shows content that Willy had towards Biff’s accomplishments, however, once the realization of Willy’s dream for Biff faded, the light fades on Willy as the “gas heater begins to glow” symbolizing the reason for Willy being suicidal is from the loss of the American Dream that Willy envisioned for Biff.

Although Linda portrays a kind, caring character, in reality Linda is not doing any good for Willy. The sensitivity Linda has towards Willy is ultimately driving him towards suicide. Without a stable person in Willy’s life to remind him of where his life is going, all Willy has is the remembrance of his past rather than someone to help him look towards the future. Linda accuses her sons of causing Willy to be the way he is, when in reality Linda should be speaking with Willy about the way he is. Will Linda be able to talk and help Willy before it is too late?

*Death of a Salesman--Day 2.

In the second reading, the reader begins to unearth more reasons as to why Willy is the way he is. Willy strives to live the perfect “American Dream,” and by doing so, Willy must make his life appear flawless. Willy is so desirable of his own happiness and self achievements that Willy continues to hallucinate recollections of the past, and altering the memories to make his family appear “better.” In one recollection, Willy recalls Charley, whom Willy remembers as being not very “well liked” by the majority of the population. However, after Willy’s past remembrance, the reader finds out that Willy once again contradicted reality, as Charley is better liked than Willy is.

Not only does Willy wish for himself to appear successful, but also his two sons. Bernard, Charley’s son, is in reality more successful when it comes to studying, as Biff is almost “failing math class.” Willy tells his children that they will be more successful not because they are book smart, but because they are more “well liked.”

One of the main characteristics of Willy thus far is the constant struggle for himself to be “well liked.” Willy’s brother and father leaving and becoming more successful than Willy exposed an emotion in Willy that he wasn’t good enough and could not live up to the standards of his family; therefore, Willy constantly battles self resentment. In Willy’s memories, he alters the true memory to seem as if everyone enjoys his company. However, when Willy recalls back onto present life, he realizes that people know him as a “fat walrus” and that he is not as superior of a salesman as he wishes he was—Willy barely makes enough money to support his family. Throughout all of Willy’s constant inner battles, he has ultimately attempted to commit suicide more than once. Will Willy achieve success and be satisfied with the way his life and his family’s life is going, or will the disappointment prove too much for Willy?

*Death of a Salesman--Day 1.

The opening of the play “Death of a Salesman” illustrates a home of lesser quality. The home is lit only by the “blue light of the sky” which illuminates a scene of a kitchen that has the basic necessities, but no “fixtures.” Beyond the kitchen, is a “draped entrance” that contains a living room, and then a bedroom, “furnished only with a brass bead stand and a straight chair.” The simplicity of the home does not necessarily denote that the family that occupies the space is pitiable, but perhaps that the family is just unadorned people. To the viewer, the home is “transparent” and the roof-line is “one-dimensional” again denoting the simplicity of the family.

As the reader is introduced to the first character, Willy, an “exhausted” man of “sixty years of age” the reader gains insight of the lack of mentality Willy has. While driving, Willy all of the sudden begins “goin’ off the road” from daydreaming. Confusion emerges when Willy starts speaking of his “lazy bum” son Biff for not working, but then a couple of lines later, Willy goes on speaking of how Biff is “such a hard worker” and if there is one thing about Biff, it’s that “he’s not lazy.” Ironically, Willy then complains to his wife how he is “always being contradicted”, yet Willy contradicts each statement he makes. As soon as Willy spoke about opening the windows in the truck, he soon says that the “windshields don’t open on the new cars” and then goes on reminiscing about how he believed he was driving his “chevvy” today. The reader begins to wonder what is wrong with Willy and why his mental state is so amiss.

Another contradiction within the play thus far is the character, Happy’s, name. The reader would think that someone with the name of “Happy” would be joyous and content with one’s life; however, Happy is unstable with the life he is living thus far. Although Happy has a nice job, he doesn’t enjoy what he does, and only finds peace in sleeping around with women. Happy has gone as far as sleeping with a girl that is “engaged to be married in five weeks.” Although Happy feels “disgust” with himself, he also gains satisfaction , as if it is a sort of “competition” and Happy has won and overachieved what the “vice president” has accomplished.

Happy’s brother, Biff, also does not feel satisfaction from his life. No matter the job Biff has, he has not felt content with his accomplishments. Thus far, the story has been a constant struggle with self happiness and achievement.

*Tale of Two Cities--Week Seven.

The ending of Tale of Two Cities is somber, yet hopeful for a rejuvenation of the upcoming years post-Revolution. The character of Sydney Carton has evolved immensly throughout the course of the story that Carton is now viewed of as a Christ-like figure. The selfless act of Carton tricking Darnay into exchanging clothing so Darnay’s appearance resembles Carton so Darnay can be freed is an incredible endeavor, which honors Carton as a Christ figure. The seamstress that holds Carton’s hands and is executed right before him, claims that Carton was “sent to [her] by Heaven.” In comparison with Jesus, who died so that all of us could live, Carton conveys the same selfless act for not only Darnay, but for all the others. Carton is the true “Resurrection” and “Life” of the story, for whoever “liveth and believeth in [him] shall never die.” Before Carton’s death, he sees a “child upon [Lucie’s] bosom who bore [his] name” along with a peaceful world for his family, in remembrance of him. Carton went from “Jackal” to a well rounded and true hero of the story.

As for Madame Defarge, the reader discovers the stem of her true hatred toward the wealthy, upper-class society. Madame Defarge was the sister of the woman the Marquis raped, and the sister and daughter of the boy and the man that was killed by the Marquis. The “basin” that “fell to the ground broken” as water “flowed to the feet of Madame Defarge” symbolizes and foreshadows the fate of Madame Defarge, all due to the “staining blood” on her “feet” that had brought her there. The reader could say that karma happened to Madame Defarge, as she was shot by Miss Pross. The shooting and death of Madame Defarge along with the serene death and acceptance that Carton had towards the ending of his life symbolizes the ending of the Revolution, and a rebuilding era for the people of France.

Although the Revolution proved brutal and inhumane for the country of France, the characters symbolized rejuvenation that the Revolution provided the country. Many characters transformed throughout the novel, due to the Revolution. Jerry Cruncher realized the consequences and transgression of the job he was associated with, and discovered the art of praying and its importance. Sydney Carton flourished from a character of somnolence to a Christ like character who gave his life so the woman he loved could be with the man she loved. John Barsad, also known as Solomon Pross, realized his wrongdoings as a spy, and helped free Darnay, and also went along with Carton’s plan to help Darnay and Lucie live a happy life. Through the evolution of the characters, Dickens manifests that the wretchedness of a country’s barbaric actions can lead to an era of rebuilding to better the country as a whole.

*Tale of Two Cities--Week Six.Day3.

Previously in A Tale of Two Cities, the character of Sydney Carton was viewed as a “Jackal”—a lazy drunk. As the story progresses and Carton enters the city of Paris, the reader begins to see a metamorphosis in Sydney Carton. In Paris, Carton does whatever possible to make Lucie Manette happy, which means that Carton must help free Darnay. When comforting Darnay’s friends and families, the characters notice a “true feeling and respect” in both Carton’s “tone and in his touch” that the neither the characters nor the reader “had never seen the better side of.” The repetition of the phrase “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die” relates back to the motif of “Recalled to Life.” The reader discovers that the true resurrection man within the story is not Jerry Cruncher, but is Sydney Carton. While walking, Carton spots an “eddy that turned purposeless, until the stream absorbed it, and carried it onto the sea” a metaphor that depicts Carton’s life thus far. Until Carton find a true purpose in his life, he was simply a “purposeless eddy”, however, Lucie gave Carton a purpose and a reason to try with life. As the phrase “echoes” in Carton’s mind, the realization appears to Carton that he is Darnay’s last hope, and also Lucie’s last hope.

The reader discovers a shocking clue within the upcoming chapter about Charles’s family. A note that Dr. Manette wrote back in the 1750’s reveals secrets about the Evremondes. Charles’s father, the Marquis at the time, wished to be with a woman that was a peasant for the Evremonde’s. The woman was already married, so the Marquis murdered her husband. The woman’s brother reported the event to the woman’s father, who died shortly after. Marquis then killed the woman’s brother, which is why the woman repeats “My husband, my father, and my brother!” The Marquis then raped the innocent woman. At the end of Dr. Manette’s letter, he wrote that all of the Evremonde’s family heritage should be executed. The Marquis then put Dr. Manette in prison for writing the letter and knowing too much about the family. That is why Dr. Manette was in prison and that is why Charles Darnay is going to be executed.

*Tale of Two Cities--Week Six.Day2.

Healthier than ever, the reader is pleased to find that Dr. Manette has strangely not relapsed back into shoe making, even though memories have reoccurred as Dr. Manette has relived experiences in the Bastille. Dr. Manette is no longer “One Hundred and Five, North Tower” anymore after the accomplishment of the “task he had set himself.” All it took to free Dr. Manette of his imprisonment was to redeem his promise of saving Charles, and prove to his family that they could “lean upon him.” Dr. Manette’s triumph freed himself of captivity, but what will happen to Dr. Manette now that Charles has been returned back into the “tribunal”? If Dr. Manette cannot prove Charles innocent, will Dr. Manette relapse again?

Just as soon as Charles was released from prison, he was charged and was forced to be put into prison again. The footsteps that Lucie had heard previously in the book, foreshadowed this very moment when she again heard “strange feet upon the stairs” and “four rough men in red caps” enter the room and take Charles. Charles has been accused by the Defarge’s and one other man, whom the men are not allowed to disclose until the next day at the tribunal. However, later on in the story, Miss Pross surprisingly stumbles upon her son, Solomon! However, Solomon Pross is not the man he claims to be.

It was not until Mr. Cruncher spoke up from remembering Solomon by the name of John that we discover that Solomon is now who he says he is. When Sydney Carton unpredictably enters the story again, Mr. Carton recognizes the man by the alias of John Barsad- a man the reader previously met in the story as the man who attempted to put Charles Darnay in jail for treason, and also who Madame Defarge knitted on her registry because John Barsad is a spy. The reader then discovers, from Jerry Cruncher, that Roger Cly, the man that Jerry Cruncher previously attempted to dig up but found only “paving stones and earth” in Cly’s coffin, faked his own death! Because of Carton’s wit, he played the “right cards” and now has John Barsad on his side to help get Charles out of prison.

The reader knows that the Defarge’s were two of the three people that accused Charles the third time, but there was one other character who aided. Was the character that helped the Defarges Barsad so that he could be redeemed and get his name off of Madame Defarge’s registry? If so, will Barsad keep his agreement with Carton and help Charles?

The reader grasps the theme of “doubles,” as thus far five different characters have pretended to be something they are not. The first encounter was Jerry Cruncher, when the reader learned the man’s true “business.” The second man is Charles Darnay, when the reader discovers the true name of Charles’s last name as Evremonde who has hid his true identity for the sake of himself and his family. The third character is Solomon, who the reader more specifically correlates as John Barsad- a spy. The fourth character is Roger Cly, who faked his own death to save himself from being murdered for being a spy. The final character(s) are Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay. Carton freed Charles once from being imprisoned because of the identical physical resemblance the two men share. Although Carton has not pretended to be anyone else thus far, the reader can predict that Carton will pose as Darnay within the upcoming chapters to save his life. After all, Carton will “sacrifice his life” for the happiness of Lucie Manette.