Howard Wagner Quotes

WILLY: Oh. Can we talk a minute?
HOWARD: Records things. Just got delivery yesterday. Been driving me crazy, the most terrific machine I ever saw in my life. I was up all night with it.
WILLY: What do you do with it?
HOWARD: I bought it for dictation, but you can do anything with it. Listen to this. I had it home last night. Listen to what I picked up. The first one is my daughter. Get this. Listen to that kid whistle.

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 2. When Willy goes to his boss Howard’s office to to discuss a job move to New York, the meeting takes a disastrous turn. Howard completely ignores Willy’s request to talk, he is so distracted by his latest technological toy, a wire recorder. He continues to play with his new toy, oblivious to Willy’s needs and wants.

WILLY: I don’t need much any more. If I could take home – well, sixty-five dollars a week, I could swing it…Howard, all I need to set my table is fifty dollars a week…If I had forty dollars a week – that’s all I’d need. Forty dollars, Howard.
HOWARD: Kid, I can’t take blood from a stone, I…

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 2. Willy cuts a pathetic figure as he begs Howard to give him a non-traveling job on a modest salary. At first he says that he could get by on 65 dollars a week, but as Howard remains impassive to Willy’s pleas, Willy drops his price to 50 and finally 40 dollars. Howard uses a "blood from a stone" metaphor to say that he has no job available. Thoughout the exchange the younger Howard repeatedly calls Willy "kid" and adopts a condescending tone to him.

WILLY: Your father came to me the day you were born and asked me what I thought of the name of Howard, may he rest in peace.
HOWARD: I appreciate that, Willy, but there just is no spot here for you.

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 2. Despite the fact that Willy helped Howard’s father name him when he was born, Howard tells him that he has no job for him. This must have seemed like a betrayal to Willy, having met with Howard to plead for a non-traveling position in New York on a lower salary. Willy entered the meeting with Howard optimistic, mistakingly believing that his connection to Howard’s father and his loyalty would win the day for him. But the son of the original boss remains unsentimental and unsympathetic.

Willy, you can’t go to Boston for us…I don’t want you to represent us. I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time now…I think you need a good long rest, Willy…And when you feel better, come back, and we’ll see if we can work something out.

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 2. Willy’s working life comes to an abrupt and undignified end. After begging Howard to allow him continue traveling to Boston for the company, Howard tells Willy that he no longer wants him to represent them. He is cast aside by the company he gave much of his working life to.

HOWARD: Where are your sons? Why don’t your sons give you a hand?
WILLY: They’re working on a very big deal.
HOWARD: This is no time for false pride, Willy. You go to your sons and tell them that you’re tired. You’ve got two great boys, haven’t you?
WILLY: Oh, no question, no question, but in the mean time…

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 2. In this sad scene Howard tells Willy that he no longer has a job and suggests that he take it easy. His statement that he forget false pride and let his "two great boys" take care of him is ironic. For Willy does not have two great sons he can rely on. In raising them, he has taught them his own defective formula for success, which is a formula for failure in life.
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