In Authur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Charley told Willy "the only thing you got in this world is what you can sell". That statement can be interpreted in many different ways, but I believe that Charley was not being literal: however, he meant that Willy had to sell himself, so to say. A good salesman is one who has power over people. He can convince people to buy what he is selling, and he is good at what he does.
In psychology, we learned something called "foot-in-the-door". Basically, it means that salesman wont take no for an answer. They will continuously put their foot in your door to stop you from shutting them out.
Willy doesnt have this trait anymore. Yes, he may have been a great salesman in the past. I know this because he spoke on mulitple occassions about how so many people in all different states loved him and he was very well known. But as he grew older, I believe he lost his spark. He no longer carries this trait, so therefore, he can no longer be a good salesman.
If "the only thing you got in this world is what you can sell", and you arent selling anything, then Willy isnt a good salesman.
Charley and Willy had a conversation, and Charley mentioned to him something about giving him a job, and after Willy denied, he made that statement. I think that all ties into selling yourself. Willy cant make a living if he doesnt sell himself.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
My Brother
Friday, February 4, 2011, my best friend, brother, other half, etc. was taken from me. (Not just me, but the world) This was the hardest day of my life. I find it easy to talk about when it is just casually brought up in conversation (which is often), and I also find it easy to joke about what happened (because my brother was a funny guy), but when it comes down to it, I hate to think about it. I hate everything about it. Everyone always tells me how strong I am, but Im really not. I just never allow myself to "feel". I never tell anyone what Im really going through or how I reacted to it. I always stay with the facts. But no one knows what was going through my head that night. But Im about to let it all out.....
So that night, I was working until 9:00 PM. I was on the phone with my friend, Allie, on the way back from work. We were debating on whether or not I should go to her house or go to Matt's house. Since my dad and my brother are constantly going out of town for work, and the were going to be in town on the same weekend, Allie and I decided I should just go to her house, because we had a family dinner planned for the next day. So I drove on over to her house, we did homework, talked about random stuff, talked about how we didnt want to go to work the next morning, and then at about 9:45, I got a phone call from a girl, Alexis. The first thing she said when I answered the phone was "What happened at your brother's house?" Generally, this wouldnt worry me....stupid stuff always happened at Matt's house. But for some reason, I felt like something was wrong. (As did my mother, father, cousins, etc.) So we talked about it, and what she had heard was someone had been shot. She didnt know who, didnt know where, but it was bad. Im rushing out of Allies house, getting in my car, all while shes explaining to her parents where shes going and why. (Her dad HATED my brother.) We leave, and during the madness, Alexis has called me about 3 more times. Finally I answer. "KALEB IS DEAD! KALEB IS DEAD!" (Kaleb was Matt's "best friend") Im freaking out. Kaleb cant be dead. I start screaming and crying, so Allie makes me pull over so she can drive. Im trying to call my dad, who is on his way back from Pennsylvania, and Im trying to tell him. Hes getting mad at me because he doesnt understand what Im saying. Allie is trying to calm me down and tell me that were going to get there, and Matt and Kaleb both will be sitting in the back of a cop car, and we will be laughing at them.
Well, we get there, and there is an ambulance, a fire truck, and 3 cop cars around his driveway. Crime scene tape is all around his property line. I jump out of the car before it stops and run up to the police. "Are you Montana?" (Something I DIDNT want to hear) About the time he says that, Kaleb walks out of the house in hand cuffs. I fell to the ground. Thats supposed to be Matt. Matt is supposed to be alive, not Kaleb. I was in shock. My brother cant be dead. He just cant. Hes only 19. He has a baby girl. This CANT be real.
The rest of the night was a blur. I remember calling my mom. Worst phone call ever. She answered all cheerful and said "Hey baby girl, watcha doing?" I hated that phone call.
Hours passed, more people showed. Everyone was there. Everyone but Matt.
As much as I would like to continue, Professor Lindberg is asking us to stop.
So that night, I was working until 9:00 PM. I was on the phone with my friend, Allie, on the way back from work. We were debating on whether or not I should go to her house or go to Matt's house. Since my dad and my brother are constantly going out of town for work, and the were going to be in town on the same weekend, Allie and I decided I should just go to her house, because we had a family dinner planned for the next day. So I drove on over to her house, we did homework, talked about random stuff, talked about how we didnt want to go to work the next morning, and then at about 9:45, I got a phone call from a girl, Alexis. The first thing she said when I answered the phone was "What happened at your brother's house?" Generally, this wouldnt worry me....stupid stuff always happened at Matt's house. But for some reason, I felt like something was wrong. (As did my mother, father, cousins, etc.) So we talked about it, and what she had heard was someone had been shot. She didnt know who, didnt know where, but it was bad. Im rushing out of Allies house, getting in my car, all while shes explaining to her parents where shes going and why. (Her dad HATED my brother.) We leave, and during the madness, Alexis has called me about 3 more times. Finally I answer. "KALEB IS DEAD! KALEB IS DEAD!" (Kaleb was Matt's "best friend") Im freaking out. Kaleb cant be dead. I start screaming and crying, so Allie makes me pull over so she can drive. Im trying to call my dad, who is on his way back from Pennsylvania, and Im trying to tell him. Hes getting mad at me because he doesnt understand what Im saying. Allie is trying to calm me down and tell me that were going to get there, and Matt and Kaleb both will be sitting in the back of a cop car, and we will be laughing at them.
Well, we get there, and there is an ambulance, a fire truck, and 3 cop cars around his driveway. Crime scene tape is all around his property line. I jump out of the car before it stops and run up to the police. "Are you Montana?" (Something I DIDNT want to hear) About the time he says that, Kaleb walks out of the house in hand cuffs. I fell to the ground. Thats supposed to be Matt. Matt is supposed to be alive, not Kaleb. I was in shock. My brother cant be dead. He just cant. Hes only 19. He has a baby girl. This CANT be real.
The rest of the night was a blur. I remember calling my mom. Worst phone call ever. She answered all cheerful and said "Hey baby girl, watcha doing?" I hated that phone call.
Hours passed, more people showed. Everyone was there. Everyone but Matt.
As much as I would like to continue, Professor Lindberg is asking us to stop.
Death of a Salesman Cast
If I were casting this movie, I would chose Denzel Washington, Hillary Swank, Johnny Depp, and Leonardo DiCaprio to play the roles of the characters. (Partly because all of the men I chose are gorgeous.)
Willy Loman is a hard working, traveling salesman, who is trying hard to be able to provide for his family and give them a great life. However, he is dealing with personal hardships. I would give Denzel Washington the role of this character. Denzel is, in my opinion one of the most diverse actors of all time. He can take on any role given, and this one he would do so well playing!
Linda is Willy Loman's wife. She is a very caring, mother and wife. Overall, she is a great person. I would give the role of Linda to Hillary Swank. Hillary Swank has always shown a very loving and caring side in all of the roles she has played. I think she would be able to portray the character of Linda perfectly.
Biff is Willy's oldest son. In his younger days, Biff was the "poster child" for perfect. Football star, popular in high school, had great friends, and girlfriends. However, he didnt have enough credits to graduate. In the story, he becomes very hostile, so to say, to his father. I believe that Johnny Depp would be good for this role. (Or for any role, actually) Depp, like Denzel Washington, is a very diverse character, and can take on anything thrown his way.
Happy, is...well...kind of happy. Hes the youngest brother, and attempts to bring peace. He doesnt show any hostility towards his family, but I think he resents his brother for always being in his shadow. I believe that Leonardo DiCaprio. I always see him in movies playing the role of a guy that has a lot of heart. I think this would be a good role for him.
Willy Loman is a hard working, traveling salesman, who is trying hard to be able to provide for his family and give them a great life. However, he is dealing with personal hardships. I would give Denzel Washington the role of this character. Denzel is, in my opinion one of the most diverse actors of all time. He can take on any role given, and this one he would do so well playing!
Linda is Willy Loman's wife. She is a very caring, mother and wife. Overall, she is a great person. I would give the role of Linda to Hillary Swank. Hillary Swank has always shown a very loving and caring side in all of the roles she has played. I think she would be able to portray the character of Linda perfectly.
Biff is Willy's oldest son. In his younger days, Biff was the "poster child" for perfect. Football star, popular in high school, had great friends, and girlfriends. However, he didnt have enough credits to graduate. In the story, he becomes very hostile, so to say, to his father. I believe that Johnny Depp would be good for this role. (Or for any role, actually) Depp, like Denzel Washington, is a very diverse character, and can take on anything thrown his way.
Happy, is...well...kind of happy. Hes the youngest brother, and attempts to bring peace. He doesnt show any hostility towards his family, but I think he resents his brother for always being in his shadow. I believe that Leonardo DiCaprio. I always see him in movies playing the role of a guy that has a lot of heart. I think this would be a good role for him.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Are You Living The American Dream?
Most people define the American dream as someone who is living a wealthy life. Someone who has a nice, expensive car; someone who has a trustworthy and dependable significant other; someone who has beautiful, well-behaved children; someone who has the perfect job, owns an envious home, and has perfectly groomed pets. This, to many, many people, is considered a dream life; the American dream. Who wouldn’t want this? I know I do. I would love to have everything I ever wanted and life a “picture perfect” life. People would want to be friends with me. People would want to be around me. People would want to BE me. I would love it; anyone would.
As perfect as that would be, I’m not sure I could actually consider that to be the American dream, of course everyone would like to have that life, but you know what everyone WANTS to have? Happiness.
I believe the American dream is to be genuinely happy. Money doesn’t buy happiness. Love buys happiness. Being wanted buys happiness. Now, I’m not talking about just the romantic kind of love and want; I mean family, friends, etc. Living the American dream, to me, means to have the most loving, and welcoming family in the world. Not only family, but friends as well. Everyone wants to have someone there for them, and to have someone to be there for. If you have that, what else could you ask for? Sure, materialistic things are nice, but if you’re all alone in the world, how can you be happy? I don’t think you can. Love makes everyone happy. It gives a different, warm feeling inside, that nothing else can give to you. That’s what I consider to be the American dream. Having complete, total happiness.
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