...Nyonza Musinguzi 7/22/14 American Lit Death of A Salesman The story Death of A Salesman takes place in Brooklyn. It is all about a family that plans to live the American dream. Willy is a sixty three year old father married to Linda and they have two sons named Happy and Biff that are now currently living with them during the play. Biff is a “go with the flow” type of person that currently is moving from job to job trying to find his way in life. Happy is a successful businessperson so far living in the city working his was up the corporate ladder. Willy seems to be determined in his brain that his boys are not reaching their potential and it is his fault. Linda holds it down at the house and is very concerned in Willy’s mental health. Every family in the world main goal is success on all levels, this family has a very difficult path to reach success but they are heading the right direction. Success in America is living comfortably everyday in our economy. You do not have to be super rich to be considered successful, but you cannot be struggling to have food on the table and be behind on payments and still be successful. Some one successful is someone that wakes up and has a job to go to everyday that they enjoy their work and is passionate about it. This person will always have a meal to eat and light to shine in their homes. “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the...
Words: 726 - Pages: 3
...How the authors and readers create meaning from text: Although these three stories are unrelated to each other they share many examples of symbolism that both the authors as well as the intended audience can create meaning from. The descriptive words that the authors used can better help the readers understand the concept behind the story as well as any symbolism that may be in the story. Salvation, by Langston Hughes tells a story of when Langston was younger and he went to a church revival with his aunt. The revival lasted several weeks and culminated with the younger members of the church being saved. Although the readers could probably envision a church revival, especially if they have been to one the descriptive wording further helped to imagine what was going on. The text helped to create the meaning of the purpose of the revival as well as how Langston felt about being saved. Based on the text it was apparent that Langston was unaware of some the language from his aunt as well as older relatives and friends. He was told by his aunt that, “When you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you on the inside! And Jesus came into your life” (pg. 343). I completely understood the meaning of that. I also can understand why a young child would take those comments literally and expect to see Jesus. Throughout the revival because of the lack of vision of Jesus, Langston was confused about being saved. This was the most symbolic meaning...
Words: 485 - Pages: 2
...not what you know, but who you know and how well you are liked. At one point in time Willie was a very successful salesman, when Howard’s father ran the company. Many promises were made between Willie and Howard’s father across that desk in the office. Despite the fact that Willie worked hard his entire life, and was rewarded very little, the promises that he believed in for all his years of work and strived towards fell through. Now that he is old and not able to keep up at the pace he used to Howard thinks he is useless to the company. Evidence of this is found on page 81 when Howard says to him “Kid, I cannot take blood from a stone”. By saying this Howard implies the fact that since he is not getting the amount of sales he wants from Willy, he has to let him go. The environment in which a person lives has a very large impact on the type of decisions as well as how the person perceives...
Words: 987 - Pages: 4
... Willie Loman has failed to live up to the standards of being a tragic hero because he neither accepts nor admits to his faults. Willy loses his dignity and one of his biggest faults is his failure to be a good father. Willy’s problems come from his own delusions, the American Dream and his misunderstandings of his job and family. All of this tells the story of everyday people in American Society. His environment is changing faster than his beliefs which are why he is in the dilemma that he is in. Willy Loman delusions are a result of his father to succeed in life. At age 63, He still believes he is a popular, respected and good looking, which is not the case. Willy s delusion was that there would be many people from across the country at his funeral. Nobody liked him that much and very few people attended his funeral. In the moments where he would realize the truth, his wife would support his delusions in attempt to make him feel better about himself. A tragic hero is someone who dies for personal dignity. Willy dies for his sons dignity . In act two, Willy reveals his desires to win back Biff’s respect by committing suicide. During one of his illusions, Willy says “Ben that funeral will be massive...that boy will be thunderstruck, because he never realized I am known”. In trying to persuade Biff that their father is a great man, Willy will not accept any challenge to his dignity. He refused to realize that the ideas he set for himself and Biff are false and he in fact...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
...Through out the story “Hills Like White Elephants”, Ernest Hemingway shows different views on abortion by explaining different scenic views. In the story, the couple was at a train station debating on going to two different places. The one way of the crossroad displayed a brown, dry, barren type of scenery. The other way on the other hand, had a pleasant, full of life type of background. There were trees, a river, plenty of green plants and one cloud that was going by. To the average reader, they would take this information and see it just as how it was, just the scenery that the author wanted his story to take place in. In this English class and the one I have previously taken, I have learned that there is usually a reason that authors chose the scenery and the other words that they choose. In class we discussed and started explaining how things that were used in the scenery could also be used to show the different views the couple was having on abortion. When Hemingway is saying that the one side of the crossroads was a brown, dry, lifeless looking hillside it could be him showing that that is how life would be without having this child and going through with the abortion. Her life would be just very clean and not have as many things that would be going on. it was not the prettiest of views, especially not exactly what the woman wanted for herself. On the other hand, the other side of the crossroads there was another view. One could say this would be a way...
Words: 475 - Pages: 2
...pivot upon which symbolic interactionism revolves around. However, it is not the behavior per se but the covert and overt aspects and the interactions that utilize these behaviors that carry the symbolisms and meanings. In the article, cockfighting is the observed behavior and through it, a whole cultural identity is revealed. Cockfighting could very much be the physical manifestation of an otherwise subdued strain of culture which glorifies men and their masculinity in the Balinese society. The interaction of the men with their cocks highlights the cock as the physical object as the center of a dynamic display of symbolic interactionism. For example, as foreshadowed by the obvious double entendre, the cocks in Bali villages are masculine symbols. Moreover, its metaphorical uses run in the lines of “hero” and “tough guy”. The big event that is cockfighting shows the importance that the society places upon these masculine concepts. Therefore, the Balinese men show utmost reverence for their cocks not only because they are pried fighters, but also because of the symbolism it carries for them. This, in turn, reflects a core principle of the theory wherein behavior is based on the meaning given to the object receiving the behavior and action. With the object being the cocks and the symbolism being their masculinity and ego, there have been practices as frequent grooming, bathing and even hand-feeding of the animals that show a reflexivity where cocks are equal to men’s ego. Furthermore...
Words: 641 - Pages: 3
...Calling for Newcastle is a short story written by Julia Darling in 2004. It’s about how low self-confidence effects peoples life. Gloria is the main character. She loves her family very much, she thinks they understand and respect one and another. She doesn’t like to go out - she’s kind a isolated from other people. Her self esteem is very low, and for this she blames her weight. She describes her self as a slow moving, heavily breathing giant. This sounds like she doesn’t think very much about her self and that she doesn’t like the way she looks. Gloria doesn’t want to go to university, but manage to get a job at a call centre - she couldn’t get a job any were else, because she’s to fat. The job is a telephone job, were she has to sell house insurances for 6 pounds an hour. The call centre is described as “a square box between roundabouts, where most employees sit in cubicles, boxes in by thin screens”. There are very quite and the employees don’t really talk to each other, because they don’t know what to talk about. I don’t think any of the employees like working at the call centre, because when Gloria asks Deborah if she enjoys working there, she just says “it’s a job”. One day one of the sales man, Gareth hung himself. No one did not say anything to Gloria, she had to read about it in the local news paper. She felt very angry, because no one had informed her. Gareth symbolizes the non-verbal. People at the call centre don’t care about each other - they are people who...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...A veil is an article of clothing or cloth hanging that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. It is especially associated with women and sacred objects. One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space. The actual sociocultural, psychological, and sociosexual functions of veils have not been studied extensively but most likely include the maintenance of social distance and the communication of social status and cultural identity.[1][2] In Islamic society, various forms of the veil have been adopted from the Arab culture in which Islam arose The first recorded instance of veiling for women is recorded in an Assyrian legal text from the 13th century BC, which restricted its use to noble women and forbade prostitutes and common women from adopting it.[citation needed] The Mycenaean Greek term a-pu-ko-wo-ko meaning "craftsman of horse veil" written in Linear B syllabic script is also attested since ca. 1300 BC.[3][4] In ancient Greek the word for veil was "καλύπτρα" (kaluptra, Ionic Greek "καλύπτρη" - kaluptrē, from the verb "καλύπτω" - kaluptō, "I cover"[5]) and is first attested in the works of Homer.[6][7] Classical Greek and Hellenistic statues sometimes depict Greek women with both their head and face covered by a veil. Caroline Galt and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones have both argued from such representations and literary references that it was commonplace for women (at least those of higher...
Words: 3504 - Pages: 15
...The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a touching play about the lost dreams of a southern family and their struggle to escape reality. The play is a memory play and therefore very poetic in mood, setting, and dialogue. Tom Wingfield serves as the narrator as well as a character in the play. Tom lives with his Southern belle mother, Amanda, and his painfully shy sister, Laura. According to Margaret Thornton: “William wrote to himself about himself” (1). Thus, Glass Menagerie’s plot closely mirrors actual events in the author's life. Because Williams related so well to the characters and situations, he was able to portray the play's theme through his creative use of symbolism. The Glass Menagerie reflects Williams's own life so much that it could be mistaken from his autobiography. The characters and situations of the play are much like those found in the small St. Louis apartment where Williams spent part of his life. Williams himself can be seen in the character Tom. Critic writer Andrea Peterson states: “The third Williams child, a boy named Dakin was born after the family moved from Columbus to St. Louis, Missouri, when Thomas was eight. It wasn’t long before the general malaise and unhappiness in young Thomas Lanier’s life would lead him to writing as an escape” (1). One not so obvious character is Mr. Wingfield, who is the absent father seen only by the looming picture hanging in the Wingfield's apartment...
Words: 659 - Pages: 3
...ENGL 102: Literature and Composition Summer 2013 Aleta Byrd APA Format Outline Thesis: Symbolism in The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is descriptive of a young adult's private struggle regarding which path in life to take. I. Thesis and Introduction II. Symbolism of setting a. "Morning" symbolic of beginning of life in line 11 b. "Yellow wood" symbolic of sunrise and beginning in line 1 c. "Wood" in line 18 symbolic of private/inner struggle in line 18 III. Symbolism showing longing for both paths a. "Sorry" in line 2 b. "And both that morning equally lay" in line 11 IV. Symbolism showing backup plan a. "Kept the first for another day" in line 13 V. Symbolism showing satisfaction with choice a. "Made all the difference" in line 20 VI. Conclusion Symbolism in The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is descriptive of a young adult's private struggle regarding which path in life to take. The many symbols in the poem show a young person who is indecisive about which choice to make and the longing to choose each option in front of them. The symbolism follows the person's indecision through to decision and finally shows satisfaction with the choice made. The first display of symbolism occurs in line 1, where he utilizes the term "yellow wood" to show the earliness of day, reminding the reader of sunrise and also showing symbolically a beginning. Again in line 11, Frost uses the term "morning" to show both the time of day and also symbolize the...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...“The Awakening” Symbolism, Irony In Kate Chopin's short story “The Awakening”, the voice of the story portrays a woman with sexual aspirations, and moral female social rules in search for independence and self discovery. The story is based on the 19th century woman. During this time women barely had any freedom, were not recognized within the society and had no choice but to me submissive to their husbands. The main character of the story named Edna is portrayed to be a happy woman because she has everything; a wealthy, attentive husband, and two children. Thoughtout the story the truth about Edna’s unhappiness is revealed. The voice of the story uses symbolism, irony, and figurative language to express Edna Pontellier’s feelings as she found her way to her happiness and freedom. Throughout the text, Chopin encourages readers to think but using situational irony. “Irony- the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.” (Merriam-Webster). While reading, readers are made to think the opposite of what actually happened at the end of the story. In the beginning of the story, Edna’s husband Leonce tells his wife to send his friend Robert away when he starts to bore her. Unknown to Leonce that he was actually the one who was boring Edna. “"Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave.” (Chopin 1). Another example of irony is when...
Words: 713 - Pages: 3
...1 Student Sample Symbolism in the Golden Movie Beauty and the Beast When one thinks of Beauty and the Beast, pictures may appear of a golden dress, a pink rose, or a Beast outfitted in blue. This brightly colored movie is a favorite for many Disney loving children and adults. In Beauty and the Beast, “the tale as old as time” is depicted through the symbolism of the carefully selected colors as Belle finds her way to the Beast. The town’s people’s attire is dull: bleak browns, greens, and reds; this shows the conformity of the people and the simple mindedness of the town. Belle’s Papa’s green attire shows conformity as well. No matter how hard he tries to break out and be different, he is always sucked back and consumed by the poor provincial town. Then when Belle becomes happier in the castle, she is depicted in the same green because she is conforming to the castle life and ceasing to push back and long to be free. After connecting with Belle, the Beast changes into the same green. This wardrobe change represents the Beast’s desire to be what Belle wants and what he needs to be to break the spell. Gaston, the manly-man antagonist, is shown wearing a bright red shirt with a mustard collar. The mustard is a mock gold; this shows his need to be first, to be royal. He craves the attention he rakes in. The red signifies hostility. The combination of these colors displays his selfish appetite for power. In the Beast’s introduction and throughout the beginning of the movie, he wears...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...The short story "Red from Green" was written by Maile Meloy in 2009. The story is about a fifteen year old girl called Sam. Sam is from Montana, which is also where the setting is played. The narrator - Maile Maloy - is born and raised in Montana. This might be why she chose to set the setting here. Sam's mother is dead, so Sam lives alone with her father. Sam and her father's relationship seem very good. Sam's a near-future sophomore, but has recently been offered a scholarship to a boarding school back east - she hasn't accepted the offer yet. Originally the "going to boarder school thing" was the father idea, but every time the subject came up, he looked very dismayed. (P. 8 L. 6-7). She is very insecure in herself and her choices, which we can see by her way of doubting a lot when having to take choices throughout the story - "She had a sense that she wasn't equipped for it (boarding school). And she was wondering if she really had perfect teeth (she was told that she had perfect teeth earlier in the story)". (P. 9 L. 62-63). For as long as Sam can remember, she has always been down the river every summer with her father. No matter how the weather was - "in dozen rainstorms, and in hot sun that burned the print of swimsuit straps into her shoulders."(P. 8 L. 10-12). But in the story we experience their last float trip down the river. Sam and her father went down the river with her uncle - Harry - and her uncle's client - Layton. At a time in the story Sam and Layton are...
Words: 746 - Pages: 3
...Doralis Veranes Professor Hollands English 104-992 28 September 2015 “Going Home” The place where a person grew up will always be part of that person like a home, but when he leaves and comes back, the return to the familiar becomes unfamiliar. In the poem “Going Home” by Maurice Kenny, a Mohawk descendant captures the emotion that goes along with returning home for Native Americans. It feels foreign and they feel foreign to those that have stayed. Kenny uses imagery and symbolism to portray thoughts of his home he no longer feels is the same. His words are very deep and make readers think about the experiences they have when going back to their birth place. Furthermore, in reality Kenny ran away from home to New York City at the age of sixteen because of his strict father. He stayed there for a while and eventually came back home. He portrays his experience and thoughts on his way back. Using imagery he describes his sights while on the way back, “The book lay unread in my lap; snow gathered at the window” (1-2). He uses more imagery to describe the sight of the field; creating a weary tone that is balanced with the beauty nature has provided. “to country cheese and maples; tired rivers and closed mills” (6-7). Along the way he makes the readers imagine his childhood memories, “home to gossipy aunts… their dandelions and pregnant cats” (8-9). Furthermore he creates an image of his birthplace, fruits of nature and rocky fields, “home to cedars and fields of boulders;...
Words: 677 - Pages: 3
...Benjamin Steele English 113 Dr. Gorman 2/9/2016 Question 2 Symbolism is a tool writers can use to imply ideas or qualities by the use of symbols. Stories filled with symbols can turn readers into investigators; keeping an eye out for anything and everything that can have an implied meaning. Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck are masters at using symbolism to communicate to their readers. To no surprise these writers also use symbolism in the title of their stories. Three examples of this would be Raymond Carver’s story “Cathedral”, Ernest Hemingway’s story “Hills Like White Elephants”, and John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums”. The question is; what is the symbolic meaning behind each of to these story...
Words: 802 - Pages: 4
