- Body Paragraph Ben
1) What I will be focusing on?
His dream like nature
His Idealistic sentences
His influence on Willy
The setting
the materials from the play
The fact that he always appears in Willy's flashbacks
What is his general phlosophy?
2) My Research Questions
“In what ways does Arthur Miller express his attitude towards the theme of “The American Dream” in his play Death of a Salesman through the interactions with Willy Loman, his family, Howard and Charley?”
3) While Writing a Paragraph
The Structure
1) Thesis
A brief opening line (or two) establishing the key element to be covered in the paragraph.
2) Development
It is an elaboration of your principal thesis. The meaning of your thesis, the areas it touches upon and so forth.
What should be done?
It should flow naturally from the thesis.
It can offer mini-analyses as you wrestle with the implications of what you’re saying.
3) Evidence
It is the most important part of each paragraph. All theses and points raised in your develoment should be supported by evidence.
This could take the shape of:
Quotes from secondary sources
Examples from real-life situations (news, articles, events and so forth)
Examples and/or events from personal experience (the knower’s perspective)
Facts and data (such as statistical information and measurments)
Illustrations and diagrams (both primary and secondary in nature)
4) Balance
Balance attempts should be made in either the existing paragraph or in a completely new one to offer alternative percpectives to the key thesis under consideration.
5) Analysis
At the end of each paragraph there should be a line (or two) linking the information back to the overall research question.
I should be able to answer the following question in each paragraph:
What insight does this paragraph offer to the overall question?
It could also suggest any contradiction/unresolved issues.
The Languege
1) Personal pronouns in sentences.
Do not use => “I believe/think”
2) Direct YES/NO responses in your introductions and conclusions
Do not use => “No, I dissagree”
Instead use => “It is difficult yo agree with the statemant that …”
3) Incorrect spelling or familiar key words. Whether you like it or not consistent bad spelling of key terms and words creates a negative impression.
4) Excessive narative. Avoid writing a history of events. Examiners are looking for an analysis of events, not a full retelling.
5) Inaccuracies
Ensure you revise your notes so that your content is 100% accurate.
6) Use punctuation marks
Analysis
The key questions:
- How does the information gathered relate to my question?
- What answer (even partial) does the source provide?
When conducting an analysis:
I must draw links to academic theories or approaches relevant to my subject, not simply tell a narrative or provide a description of the data
I must provide evidence to support my various points and highlight the relationship between them. This often means referring to my primary and secondary research findings (including any statistics, tables and diagrams) to support your argument.
4) Collecting Data
His repeated slogans
His dream like nature
His influence on Willy
What is his general phlosophy?
5) Helpfull Sorces
First mention of Ben. First instans of Willy’s fasination about Ben’s succsess
“Why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother Ben that time! Ben! That man was a genius, that man was success incarnate!” (Page 27)
From the Setting (the theather part)
Willy repeats this statement about Ben all the time. This story or in a way a legend is his goal. It is the best ideal life for Willy. At the same time this shows Ben’s succsess.
“What’s the mystery? The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, the age of twenty-one, and he’s rich! The world is an oyster, but you don’t crack it open on a mattress!” (Page 28)
The methoporic connection between Ben’s legendary succsess and myhtology.
Uncle Ben is described definitely in the play. His outlook seems like a business man who has an aura of certainty and authority. This implies that he is a boss / a superior human. Even though he is old, he has power/ dominance in Willy’s eyes.
“UNCLE BEN, carrying a valise and an umbrella, … He is a stolid man in his sixties, with a mustache and an authoritative air. He is utterly certain of his destiny, and there is an aura of far places about him.” (Page 30)
When Ben is present a music is heard. This is a light-motive in music sense and in literary terms. This adds Ben’s unreal nature. It also makes him a legend kinda like a hero to Willy.
“BEN’S music is heard. BEN looks around at everything.” (Page 30)
Being short on time
In the dreams Ben always appears to have short time. This can be connected to that in the dream you have a short time to get and use your chance.
“I only have a few minutes.” (Page 30)
Yet again Ben simply is in a hurry.
“I must take a train, William.” (Page 31)
Willy sees Ben as righteous Figur. Someone who is correct according to him since Ben gave his ideology
“There was the only man I ever met who knew the answers.” (Page 31)
His legend
This sentence repeated numerous times. This is the ideal example of the dream. The quintessential Idea of Ben what he represent and the American dream is this quote. This the goal of Willy. What he is trying to do
“Why boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. [He laughs.] And by God I was rich.” (Page 33)
He says this and the jungle is the world. However Willy tries to fight fairly. He didn’t listen this advice because of it his boss Howard was stronger then him. This was his ultimate demise.
“Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You’ll never get out of the jungle that way.” (Page 34)
This is another sign of Willy’s insecurity when it comes to teaching his sons. This concern is actually true since his teachings aren’t helpful to his sons.
“Ben, my boys-can’t we talk? They’s go into the jaws of hell for me, see but I- William, you’re being first-rate with your boys. Outstanding, manly chaps! Oh, Ben, that’s good to hear! Because sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not teaching them the right kinf of-Ben, how should I teach them?” (Page 36)
The music is a big contrast comapre to lonley darkness, which Willy is in. The music gives the intication of a flashback and the leightmotive of Ben’s music. He calms and changes the atmosphere of the scene. He is kinda like saviour in this situation changing the mood from defeated Willy to succsesful Ben.
But in the other hand this can be seen as a more negative moment since. Willy wasn’t succsesful as Ben and he is feeling his regret right now.
“BEN’S music-first distanly, then closer, closer.” (Page 64)
Ben’s succses it about knowing what to do. In a way this is the Idea that holds all the other main ideas from the American Dream. If you do all the steps, while knowing what to do. You will be succsesful.
“if you know what you’re doing.”(page 64)
Ben’s ideals breakes the tone of the scene
“In accents of dread, BEN’S idyllic music starts up.” (Page 107)
“And it does take a great kind of a man to crack the jungle.” (Page 107)
“The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy.” (Page 107)
“[with greater force]: One must go in to fetch a diamond out.” (Page 107)
“Not like an appointment at all. A diamond is rough and hard to the touch.” (Page 107)
“Best thing!” (Page 107)
THE POWER OF MTYH
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
“who appears, to supply the amulets and advice that the hero will require. The higher mythologies develop the role in the great figure of the guide” (page 66)
Campbell, Joseph,The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 2004
“They teach you that you can turn inward, and you begin to get the message of the symbols.” (Page 14)
The reasson of Willy’s fascnition of Ben.
“The individual has to find an aspect of myth that relates to his own life.” (Page 36)
The reason of Ben’s importance on Willy’s life
It is connected with the quote of the first mention
Campbell, Joseph, The Power of Myth, ApostropheS Productions, New York, 1991
My Writing
1) Thesis
Ben as a mystic figure teaches Willy the American Dream, which captivates Willy through his mythological backstory.
2) Development
Ben has a dream-like nature highlighted by the music and lights, which enhances Willy’s fascination with him.
Thus, Ben’s teachings have a staying power in Willy’s life.
Furthermore, his teachings are the most prominent in his backstory, which is related to his success.
3) Evidence
Setup for his dream-like state
Mythologic analysis
The influence on Willy
Whenever Ben enters the stage his theme song is heard.
Although this is a common occurrence in the play, Ben’s music breaks reality of Willy.
“BEN’S music-first distanly, then closer, closer.” (Page 64)
Even though in this instance Willy is having a mental breakdown, Ben is the character who changes the environment proved by Willy’s reaction “Oh, Ben,” (page 64).
The same effect can be also seen in the later parts of the play by the description “In accents of dread, BEN’S idyllic music starts up.” (Page 107).
In addition, Ben is described by the play as a dominant and a supirior character “ an authoritative air. He is utterly certain of his destiny, and there is an aura of far places about him.” (Page 30)
This is the ideal example of life, that Willy wants in the present.
Ben’s most repeated sentences are connected to his success in the past.
“when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. [He laughs.] And by God I was rich.” (Page 33)
Additionally, Ben’s success has similarities to a mythological legend.
These similarities start with dangerous places, which only a hero could manage.
In Ben’s words “it does take a great kind of a man to crack the jungle.” (Page 107)
Furthermore, Ben as a hero was able to get a massive reward, which was gained from the challenging jungle.
“[with greater force]: One must go in to fetch a diamond out.” (Page 107)
As a result of his heroic accomplishment, Ben holds the mentor figure in Willy’s life.
This position is applauded by Joseph Campbell’s book ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’ by definening a mentor figur as someone, “who appears, to supply the amulets and advice that the hero will require.” (page 66)
When Ben is first mentioned by Willy, it could be seen that Willy has a very huge liking for him.
“ Ben! That man was a genius, that man was success incarnate!” (Page 27)
From the word chouses as “genius”, “success” and “incarnate” Willy’s fascination with Ben enhanced, which is also connected to the mentor figure role.
This element is supported by another of Joseph Campbell’s books “The Power of Myth”, in which it stated “The individual has to find an aspect of myth that relates to his own life.” (Page 36)
In this case “an aspect of myth” is Ben for Willy’s life.
Furthermore, Willy’s fascination is consistently present in his life.
“Ben, that’s good to hear! Because sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not teaching them the right kind of-Ben, how should I teach them?” (Page 36)
In addition, Willy sees Ben as a righteous figure.
Someone correct him since Ben gave his ideology.
“There was the only man I ever met who knew the answers.” (Page 31)
4) Balance
Even though Ben taught Willy most of his beliefs, there is one element where both of them clashed.
It was Willy’s stubbornness for having a career in the city instead of having success in Alaska.
6th September
6th September
(06.09.2022)
The future in Alaska as the possibility for success could be seen by Willy “Why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother Ben that time!” (page 27)
However in Act 3 Ben and Willy are having a conversation about success.
During this conversation Ben’s hatred towards business in the city with “full of talk and time payments and courts of law.” (Page 64)
On top of that Ben leaves the scene when Willy insists on his importance for “contacts,… contacts!”(page 65)
In this case, Ben’s mentor figure wasn’t fulfilled.