Death of a Salesman

So today I finally got around to doing the blog for November 10th.  The instructions for this particular entry we to listen to one of several interviews of people who lived through the Great Depression.  There was a great variety of topics and interviewees ranging from auto-workers who were on strike to cleanup after the Oklahoma dust storms.  I chose the interview of a man named Howard Worthington who was a door to door salesman during the pressing times.

Howard has a deep voice that reminds me of Garrison Keillor from "Prairie Home Companion" on NPR.  He talks about how he would go door to door selling "gadgets."  One such gadget that he sold consisted of a box of charcoal that was to be put in the refrigerator to eliminate odors.  He would buy the gadgets for 50 cents then resell them for $1.  On one occasion, his wife spoiled a sale for him when a potential buyer asked if she had used the gadget.  She said the gadget got rid of the odors as promised, and continued to explain that her refrigerator smelled like a public toilet.  Another item that Howard sold was a type of degreaser.  It was a clear liquid that you put on any surface, and you could wash off anything that was put on top of it.  He uses the example of applying the substance to a wall, then drawing on it with a crayon, and simply wiping away the crayon with a damp cloth.  Upon receiving some cans of the chemical he tries to sell it to an auto garage.  Before he enters the shop he dipped his hands in the liquid.  He proceeds into the shop and dips his hands into the grease trap.  He goes to wash the grease off his hands with no success.  Like anyone else, he was quickly embarrassed and left as soon as possible.  Later, he realized that he had washed his hands after using the restroom, therefore washing off the protective liquid.

I enjoyed this interview because it sort of reminded me of Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman" except it wasn't as sad.  The main character in the play is Willy Loman, who is a salesman who can no longer make a living from his job.  Listening to Howard gave me the same feeling as reading "Death of Salesman."