Question
Death of a Salesman
by Arthur Miller
BIFF: Where’d you go this time, Dad? Gee we were lonesome for you.
WILLY (pleased, puts an arm around each boy and they come down to the apron): Lonesome, heh?
BIFF: Missed you every minute.
WILLY: Don’t say? Tell you a secret, boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more.
HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh?
WILLY: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not — liked. He’s liked, but he’s not — well liked.
Use the passage to answer the question.
What does the playwright suggest about the differences between Uncle Charley and Willy?
Willy is not as happy as Uncle Charley because his job keeps him away
from his family.
Willy is more likable than Uncle Charley and will therefore be better at
business.
Willy does not have the resolve to start his own business, while Uncle
Charley does.
Willy has never been as successful as Uncle Charley because he is
jealous and spiteful.
by Arthur Miller
BIFF: Where’d you go this time, Dad? Gee we were lonesome for you.
WILLY (pleased, puts an arm around each boy and they come down to the apron): Lonesome, heh?
BIFF: Missed you every minute.
WILLY: Don’t say? Tell you a secret, boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more.
HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh?
WILLY: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not — liked. He’s liked, but he’s not — well liked.
Use the passage to answer the question.
What does the playwright suggest about the differences between Uncle Charley and Willy?
Willy is not as happy as Uncle Charley because his job keeps him away
from his family.
Willy is more likable than Uncle Charley and will therefore be better at
business.
Willy does not have the resolve to start his own business, while Uncle
Charley does.
Willy has never been as successful as Uncle Charley because he is
jealous and spiteful.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The playwright suggests that Willy is more likable than Uncle Charley and will therefore be better at business. Willy emphasizes the importance of being "well liked" in achieving success, indicating that he believes his charm and likability will lead him to greater business success than Charley, who is liked but not "well liked." This distinction highlights Willy's values and aspirations regarding success and social connections.