Act Two

• Act Two: The Present

  In the present and the final few hours of Willy's life, a series of calamities push him to his final act.
• The present

  • In the present, events soon begin to spiral downwards.
  • We move outside of the Loman home to Howard’s office, Charley’s office and the restaurant. In each new setting, a new calamity occurs.
• The present cont.

  • Willy is effectively sacked from his job, refuses a job offer from Charley and is then abandoned by his sons.
  • The play moves swiftly towards its climax – Willy’s final confrontation, back home, with Biff.
  • It is after this that Willy decides on his final act.
• Act Two: The Past

  Willy’s memories and imaginings intrude into the present at an ever faster rate, eventually overwhelming him.
• The past

  • As the play moves towards its final act of tragedy, Willy’s memories and imaginings intrude into the present at an ever faster rate:
  • Young Bernard announcing that “Biff flunked Math!”
  • The voice of the telephone operator.
  • Biff entering the Boston hotel room.
  • Ben’s entrance.
• The past cont.

  • Each and every one overwhelms Willy.
  • He has less and less control over his mind and, as “sounds, faces, voices, seem to be swarming in upon him”, each memory propels him closer towards his self-destruction.
• Requiem

  The short final scene allows Willy’s family, and the audience, to reflect on Willy’s life.
• Interpretations

  • The Requiem offers competing judgements, leaving the play (and Willy’s life) open to interpretation and argument:
  • Biff rejects Willy’s values.
  • Happy vows to fight on.
• The mood

  • The play ends as it began, with the sound of a flute, but the mood at the play’s close is one of almost overwhelming sadness.