The Different Versions of Willy Loman
Storyboard Text
- Tired/ Confused Business Man
- Angry Husband/Father
- Supportive Father/Husband
- We are introduced to this version of Willy right at the start of the play. When he comes back home he seems tired and defeated. His mind is overactive and drifting causing him to accidently swerve off the road a few times. We see this version of him again throughout the play mumbling random things. He often talks about the past. Examples of this are when he thinks he drives his old Chevy and says that Biff is too young to date. This version is similar to someone with dementia.
- His Arrogant Past Self
- This version of Willy is very hostile and angry. He is constantly yelling about random things. He yells at his wife about everything from cheese to open windows. He also calls Biff a lazy bum in act 1. When he is this version, his speech is clearer and more confident opposed to how he sometimes acts confused and mumbles. He is thinking pretty clearly and is in the present when he is like this but is irrationally angry.
- Desperate Business Man
- This version of Willy is very sentimental. An example of Willy right after he Biff lazy in Act 1. Immediately something in him shifts and his outlook changes. He says that Biff is not lazy and starts talking about how girls used to love him and says that he'll have a nice talk with him and help get him a job. He then offers Biff advice towards the end of Act 1. He also calls his wife his foundation and support. He is very reminiscent in this version with a wandering mind.
- Cheating Husband
- In this version Willy is extremely lively and slightly arrogant in front of the men (his sons, Bernard, Charley, Ben). He constantly craves attention and believes he and his sons can do no wrong.#160;An example of this is when he is hanging out with Biff and Happy in a flashback and is making fun of Bernard. One of his core beliefs that cause him to act like this is that all you need to be successful in business is that you need to be well liked, even if that approach is not working for him.
- This version of Willy was insecure and desperate. Examples of this is when he asks Charley for 50 dollars and tells Linda that it is his pay. Another example of this is when he goes to Charley's office after he gets fired and tells him he can't pay his insurance. He is extremely upset and his mind wanders with excuses for himself and his sons. This version is ultimately what causes him to kill himself to give Biff the insurance money because he is so desperate for his family's business success.
- This is another version of Willy Loman because it differs to how he feels about Linda being his support. He tells the woman he is lonely and gives her Linda's stockings. He acts more in love with 'The Woman' than he does with Linda.#160;He was level headed when Biff came to the room and knew what to do to keep him from finding out. Ultimately it fails because Biff forgot his suitcase in the room, but Willy was composed and came up with a lie.
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