Questions+for+Act+Two

1. In the morning, Willy tells Linda he will buy something for the backyard. What does he intend to buy and what does Miller seem to mean by this purchase?
 * Death of a Salesman Act Two Section One **//from beginning of scene to ////Howard exits //

2. As he leaves the house, what does Willy plan to ask Howard?

3. What message does Linda relay to Willy from Biff and Hap?

4. Why do Linda’s stockings make Willy nervous?

5. What machine does Howard show Willy? How might Howard’s comments about this machine make Willy uncomfortable?

6. Does Willy receive a non-traveling job or does he continue in his old job as traveling salesman?

7. Who is Dave Singleman and what significance does he hold for Willy?

8. What reasons does Howard give for not granting Willy’s requests and finally firing him?

9. Why does Willy mention Howard’s father?

10. Where does Howard suggest Willy look for support?

1. Who does Willy “meet” after Howard fires him?
 * Death of a Salesman Act Two Section Two **//from Howard exits to “Put up your hands!” //

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. When Willy tells his brother that “nothing is working out,” what opportunity does Ben offer Willy?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. What does Linda think of Ben’s offer?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. What two things does Linda mention to persuade Willy of her opinion about his current job?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. Does Willy accept Ben’s offer? Why or why not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. When Willy asks one last time if Ben approves of his ideas about business and the way he has raised his son, how does Ben respond?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. Why is it an important day for Biff?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. Does Charley expect Willy to accept his invitation to play cards? Why or why not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">9. Why does Willy challenge Charley to fight?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">10. What comment does this scene as a whole make about Willy’s mood after being fired by Howard?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">1. How has Bernard changed from when he was a boy?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Death of a Salesman Act Two Section Three **//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">from “Put up your hands!” to CHARLEY: Jesus! //

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. What is Bernard’s job and what will he do in Washington, DC?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. Why did Biff not graduate from high school?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. What big question does Bernard ask Willy? How does Willy respond?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. According to Charley, why doesn’t Bernard mention the reason for his trip to Washington, DC?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. Why does Willy ask Charley to borrow more than the usual $50?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. Other than a loan of money, what does Charley offer Willy? Does Willy accept?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. Does Willy conceal from Charley the fact that Howard fired him? Why or why not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">9. What does Charley say about Willy’s belief that success would come “if a man was impressive, and well liked”?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">10. What might Willy mean when he says, “you end up worth more dead than alive”?

1. What lies does Hap tell and why?
 * Death of a Salesman Act Two Section Four** //from CHARLEY: Jesus! To They exit. Stanley looks toward the left.//

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. Did Bill Oliver give Biff the loan? Does Biff tell Hap that he got the loan or not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. What particular memory causes Biff to exclaim, “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been”?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. What did Biff steal from Oliver’s office? Why?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. What does Willy want to tell Linda?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. What are the three flashbacks, memories, or hallucinations that Willy experiences while talking to Biff and Hap?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. What story do Biff and Hap concoct when Willy’s behavior becomes increasingly confusing and frightening?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. Why does Biff tell Willy, “I’m no good, can’t you see what I am?”

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">9. Why does Willy excuse himself from the table to go to the bathroom?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">10. Do Biff, Hap, and Willy leave the restaurant together?

1. Who is The Woman?
 * Death of a Salesman Act Two Section Five** //from// //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">They exit. Stanley looks toward the left. To Biff moves outside, Linda following //

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. Approximately what age is Biff when he visits Willy in Boston?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. What event causes Biff to come to Boston to see Willy?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. What favor does Biff ask Willy to do?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. What gift does The Woman insist that Willy give her before she will leave his room?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. How does Willy initially explain the presence of The Woman in his room?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. What is Biff’s reaction to finding The Woman in his father’s room? What does he yell at Willy as he leaves the room?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. Why is Linda angry with Biff and Hap when they return to the house?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">9. What does Linda order Biff and Hap to do? How does Biff respond?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">10. Where is Willy at the end of this section? What is he doing?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">1. What is Willy’s “proposition”?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Death of a Salesman Act Two Section Six **//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">from Biff moves outside, Linda following to end of scene //

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. What effect does Willy think his death will have on Linda and Biff?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. Will the insurance company pay if it determines that Willy’s death is a suicide rather than an accident?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. What is Biff’s solution to ending the conflict between him and his father?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. What object does Biff show Willy?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. Has Biff spited Willy?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. Does Ben approve of Willy’s “proposition”? Why or not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. What effect does Willy anticipate his death having on the continuing competition he imagines between Bernard and Biff?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">9. By the end of the scene, is Willy still angry with Biff? Why or why not?

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">10. How does Willy kill himself? What does the audience see or hear that reveals Willy’s death?