Discussion Thread 3 - Is Willy Loman Tragic?

One definition of "tragedy," from Edward Quinn's Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms (Checkmark 1999), reads, in part, that it is "a form of literature that depicts the downfall of the leading character whose life, its disastrous end notwithstanding, represents something significant." Does the story of Willy Loman fit this definition? What's so significant about him or his life? Many suggest that Miller's play is a rueful commentary on the American Dream. Is Willy's failure to achieve that dream his tragedy? How then do we account for the success that Charley and Bernard enjoy?

Consider any and all of these questions in your entries. Also, please emulate Laura Love's entry from Discussion Thread 2 and try to respond to one or more of your colleagues' ideas.

Discussion Thread 2 - Death of a Salesman

This week, as we read Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, consider the role of societal pressure in the play and in your life. What effect does living in mid-twentieth century society have on Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy? How does each one of them respond to those pressures? Without revealing too many personal details - this blog is not meant to be like a group therapy session - discuss some of the societal pressures that you feel as a person, as a student, as an artist. How are the pressures that the Lomans feel similar to or different from your experience?

Discussion Thread 1 - Ship Fever

If there is one common thread that runs through the stories in Ship Fever, it is the practice, study, and obsessions of science. Whether her characters are world famous scientists like Gregor Mendel, Carl Linnaeus, or Alfred Wallace, or fictional creations like Alec Carriere, Sarah Anne Billop, or Dr. Lauchlin Grant, each is engaged in science in some way. Citing specific evidence from the text, focus on one character in the collection and discuss how Barrett presents the role of science in that character's life. It would be ideal for different students to discuss different characters, but also to comment on common threads that run through the stories as they are revealed in their fellow students' comments.