Death of a Salesman

There are many reasons that Willy Loman dies. One is that he was an elderly salesmen lost in false hopes and illusions. Another is that the sales firm he works for no longer pays him salary. Because he is working on straight commission, Willy cannot bring home enough money to pay his bills. After thirty-four years with his firm, they have spent his energy and discarded him. You can tell Willy Loman is delusional because everyone knows that his son Biff is a failure, but Willy is the only one who doesn't see it. He wants his son to succeed where he has not. He believes his boys are great and cannot understand why they are not successful. As Willy gotolder, he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present, and is often lost in flashbacks where we find out about much of his past. These flashbacks are generally during the summer after Biff's senior year of high school when all of the family problems began.The reason Biff is not successful is because once, Willy Loman was having an affair with another woman on a business trip and Biff caught him in the act. Biff was so angry at his father that instead of going to summer school he fled and never got his diploma. Now, Biff does not respect Willy and they do not get along. In the end Willy commits suicide so that Biff can have the insurance money to become successful and be everything Willy wasn't.

Third Quarter Reflection

Using blogger during the third quarter was a wonderful surprise. I'm not usual a person who likes to embrace technology for all it's worth, no matter how convenient it is. In a way using this online "blogging" technique is convenient and in some ways it can be an annoyance. It is nice that you can hand in an assignment anytime you want instead of having to wait until the next school day, and you know it will always be there. It is sometimes an annoyance if you do the assignment and there is a technical problem and your posts don't get published. Overall I think it is great that we are using this online system and it is an enjoyable change of pace from the usual homework experience.

A selection of quotes

“Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.”
–Letter, Aug. 1936, to Ernest Hemingway

This quote relates to the saying that money cannot buy you happiness. In this part of the letter he is stating that money and riches are not important to him. The only way that money and riches held interest to him was if it brought something more important to him. Fitzgerald could also be implying the idea that riches can change people. In most cases, riches and everything that comes with it change people for the worst. He wants people to know that in his eyes, if the riches do not bring good character to you then it’s worth nothing and people need to see that.
This quote can be related to The Great Gatsby. Gatsby had plenty of money and lived the way any person would only dream. He had the fortune and the great lifestyle, however he was not entirely happy. He didn’t have the charm like the quote, or the distinction of his character and true love. His past true love Daisy was married to someone else and he longed to be with her again. This hole in his heart proves the quote true. All the money in the world, the big houses or the fame cannot buy your happiness. The only way that it can buy you happiness is if there is something more meaningful attached.