Respect in a Scene from Death of a Salesman :: essays research papers

In every book there is a scene, one specific scene that the whole entire story can relate to. In The Death of a Salesman, Willy talks about a salesman, Dave Singleman who was well known and respected. Dave was a true salesman and Willy wanted that not only for himself but also for his son, Biff. Therefore he tried whatever he could to try and lead a life based on Dave. This scene portrays the respect that one person could have and the reflection and inheritance from one person to another. Willy Loman is an aged salesman who has found a fork in the road. Willy lost his job and so in this scene Willy tries to earn a job by explaining his story of Dave Singleman. Willy is telling this story to Howard, a businessman in which he wants to earn a job from. After explaining the story, hoping to gain respect from Howard, Willy has not succeeded because Howard had not given the Willy a job, and doesn?t plan to in the future. Though Willy still finds strength and determination in himself and soon turns to his son, Biff. Biff is an adult who has yet to find a job because of his failing math grade. Willy wants Biff to follow his footsteps and invest in a job as a salesman. Even though in this scene Dave is only mentioned once throughout the entire book, it takes on a lot of importance to relate his story to the book as a whole. Dave?s respect and gratitude towards others is what Willy had and what Willy wants Biff to have as well. In this scene Willy says how much respect Dave Singleman had as a salesman before he passed away. ? ?Cause what would be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people (Act 2, page 61). This sentence shows how Dave and Willy are alike because they both are known wherever they go. This shows how much they are respected and loved by their buyers and how Willy wants to pass this characteristic of a salesman on to his son Biff. In the book, many scenes show how well Willy was known and no one would forget his name. ? Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead.