Nick Beck

A Tale of Two Cites Entry 1:
Charles Dickins starts off this story by first explaining the setting, “it was the best of times it, it was the worst of times”. France was extremely bloody, the revolution would start in about 10 years, America was about to break away from Britain, and Britain had their own problems. Mr. Lorry when he is riding in a carriage gets a message telling him to wait for a woman and he replies with “Recalled to Life”. Later we find out that this is what he has been called to do to a man named Manette, who has been locked away for a number of years with the help of Manette`s daughter Lucie, who had thought he was dead. Why do you think that they are going to recall this man to life? Is he important? I mean he obviously must be if all of this is done in secret and he has been locked away all of this time. Why do you think that when Manette was asked what his name was he replied, “One hundred and five, North Tower? I think that he must have been locked away in prison or something even before he was locked up in the wine shop. Speaking of the wine what do you think was the deal with the man who when the wine was spilled dipped his finger in and wrote “blood” on the wall of a building? The only answer I could think of was that it had to do with the revolution that was about to start in France, only a few years in the future. I only say that because of the three revolutionaries all referred to as Jacques in the wine shop looking at Manette. Do you think that Manette will have anything to do with the revolution?

Jaden Stevenson

Mrs. Disher

AP Literature pd. 3

2/8/18

Reader-Response: Death of a Salesman

            Arthur Miller’s play titled Death of a Salesman follows the life of a man named Willy along with his two sons Biff and Happy and also his wife Linda. Willy is and has been a salesman for most of his life, he chose this life because he believed it would bring him closer to obtaining the “American Dream” type of life. However, after all this time, Willy has finally realized that this path he chose to go down has brought him no closer to his dream. As explained by Willy, “After all the highways, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive” (act 2). I believe that the point Arthur wants to make to his audience when they read this story is that the “American Dream” that so many people fantasizes about and strive for is not all that great. Through this story Miller demonstrates that even with years of hard work spent on making a better life for yourself can leave you unsatisfied and empty. It is in this state that we originally find Willy in at the start of the play and it is this state of mind that eventually leads Willy to take his own life.

            We see this hopelessness manifest in not only Willy, but also in his son Biff. Biff exclaims to his father, “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been” (act 2). Another quote to ponder, “Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be…when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am” (act 2). Both of these statements cause me to wonder, does Miller believe that there is any hope in pursuing the American Dream? A quick glance through the novel might lead one to believe that there is no actual hope, however I see it as you must find what you hope for. In other words the American Dream cannot be a universal ideal. The American Dream must become YOUR American Dream, set goals and work hard to accomplish them. If the path you have chosen to achieve these goals fails to meet your expectations, then forge a new path!

Quote: "Willy (slapping her bottom): Right, Well, bottoms up! The Woman:(He suddenly grabs her and kisses her roughly.) You kill me. And thanks for the stockings. I love a lot of stockings. Well, good night. Willy: Good night. And keep your pores open! The Woman: Oh, Willy!"(26).
Response: This encounter definitely caught me off guard. I understand that this play is set back in a different time but I honestly wasn't ready, and in the quotes that follow it appears that Linda is close by or at least close enough to know what is going on. This was all a little unsettling and it seemed unnecessary. I do not feel as though Willy had to do what he did and he especially did not have to do it in front of his wife! Makes me question what he does when she is not around.