1. Death of a Salesman Act 2

2. Questions for Act 2 of Death of a Salesman This second act continues to reveal new information about the Loman family’s past. What revelations most surprised you? What light to those events shed on the “present”? – Why didn’t Biff go to summer school? What happened in Boston? – Why did Biff steal Bill Oliver’s fountain pen? How did your opinion of these characters change as you read the rest of the play?

3. “Telling the Truth” On p. 939, Biff claims, “We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house,” and Happy replies, “We always told the truth!” What does this exchange, and this scene, tell us about these two characters and the Loman family? What are some of the lies they’ve been telling themselves? WHY? What do you think is the “truth” that Willy has failed to grasp?

4. Is there a possibility for success? This play seems to be very critical of the idea of the “American Dream.” What do you think this play is trying to say about success? Are we all doomed to be like Willy, kidding ourselves that we mean something, or does Miller offer a more positive option?

5. Revisiting Marxist Criticism Now that you have finished reading the play, what additional insights do you think that Marxist Criticism might offer us? – Consider the question of whether or not Willy is “building something” that Ben raises on p. 913, near line 194, and Charley’s elegy on p. 943 – Consider issues of power and money – who has them, and how do those people treat the Loman family? – Consider the significance of Willy valuing his life at $20,000.

6. The Requiem What did you think of the ending to this play? What do you think the future has in store for Happy? For Biff? Why do you think the play ends with Linda’s speech? This is the last piece of dialogue that audiences hear. Why leave them with this?