Response to Course Material - Dec. 2

Recently in class we have been looking closely at Death of a Salesman. We watched the movie twice and read the book. I really like that we did the second watch of the play and compared it to the book, as it showed just how closely the two were aligned. While there were some differences, I liked how mostly everything stayed the same. For DOS, I personally don't like Willy. For the longest time I couldn't even sympathize with him. I can do that now, though. He worked really hard and granted, they weren't all for the right things, but he worked. And regardless of how much he worked and worked he didn't have any respect from his kids of a job to prove he was worthy. It seemed like everything he worked for during his life slipped out of his grasp in one swoop. Sad. So... I guess the lecture I got from my dad was a little needed. I guess I was kind of ignorant to the idea that people can get exhausted working so hard for their families and trying to keep their kids straight (*echem* Dad... do we need to talk about our feelings?). Anyway, Willy Loman really was a character who was in a constant struggle with life. The one thing I still don't get, and maybe it's just a shame-on-me moment, is why did Willy cheat? I understand that it was for business. I understand that it's the ultimate act of betrayal for Linda. And I understand that with it came the loss of respect from his son. But it had to have occurred to him that Biff finding out was possible. And why so guilt-ridden that he goes insane? Shouldn't he have been just as guilty before? Maybe it's me. Maybe it's a girl thing. Maybe I just don't know. Or maybe I answered my own question. Who knows.